Evening star., 1939-12-08
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdsktn.


eric J. Hasktn, director, Washington,
d. C. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
Q. What Is the longest parade ever
held by the American Legion?-J. M. H.
A. At the American Legion National
Convention held in New York City In
1887 from September 20 to %, inclusive,
the parade began at 1858 am. Tuesday,
September 81, and the last unit passed
the reviewing stand at am. Septem-
Der "a.
@. How much was the national debt
in 1918?-V. w. E.
A. The public debt of the United
States on December 81, 1918. amounted
to $21, ,075, ,931 1871.
@. Is any breed Of dog born without
a tail?-C. H.
A. Many of the old English sheepdogs
are born tailless or with bobtails The
Rottweiler has stump tail and the
Belgian Schipperke usually has no tall
@. How many railroad cars are air
conditioned?-A. L. T.
A. More than 11,000 conditioned
passenger cars are now in operation.
@. Is more than one football used In
q game?-S. M.
A.. Ordinarily only one ball is used in
football game, but the crowd was so
large at recent game at Washington
between the Washington Redskins and
the Detroit Lions that four balls went
into the crowd and could not be recov-
cred.
@. What is the legend about how the
robin got its red breast?-T. Mr..
A. The tradition Is that when our
Lord was on His way to Calvary, a robin
picked a thorn out of His crown, and
the blood which issued from the wound
falling on the bird dyed its breast with
red.
Q. Please give the birth date of the
Dionne ouintuplets.-P. H. F.
A. The children were born on Nav %.
1884.
Q. When was the first trolley car used
in the United States?-A. T.
A. 1t was In Richmond, Va, on
May 4, 1888, that the modern overhead
trolley really got its start as CONNER
cial enterprise. On that day the Rich
mond Union Passenger Co. accepted as
completed double-track line provided
with 80 electric cars, built by Frank j.
Sprague. For so years prior to that date
scores of inventors, beginning with
Thomas Davenport a Brandon (Vt.)
blacksmith, had been working toward
the goal which sprague finally achieved
Q. For whom is the guillotine named?-
D. T. M.
A. 1t Is named for Joseph Ignace
Guillotin, French physician, who pro.
posed its adoption to prevent unneces-
sary pain.
Q. When and where was Hoagy Car
michael, composer Of "Stardust," born9
e. H.
A. Hoagy Carmichael was born at
Bloomington, Ind. on November %,
1899.
@. Is Canadas gold production in
creasing?-M. T. S.
A. The production Of new gold In the
Dominion last year totaled 4,725,1l7
fine ounces with a gross value of $685.
2o5990. The quantity and value of this
output were the greatest ever recorded
in the history of the Canadian mining
industry.
@. What was the story about angels
appearing on the battlefield during the
World War?-B. w. B.
A. After the Battle of Mons, fought
in Belgium during the World War, a
number of stories were published to the
effect that host Of angels appeared
and saved the British forces from an
Inhalation. The origin of this legend
was later traced to story contrib
uted to an evening paper by Arthur
Machen, entitled THE Bowmen." In 1t
the British troops are at the point of
agony and despair. hopelessly outnum-
bered when one of the soldiers invokes
the help of st. George, the patron saint
of England whereupon the saint brings
up the spirits of the ancient bowmen
of Agincourt In battle army and the Ger
mans are completely routed by the
ghostly arrows
@. Who said II would rather be right
than Presideht"?-B H.
A. Henry Clay remarked to Preston Of
Kentucky, when told that his advocacy
OF the Missouri compromise measures of
1850 would injure his chances for the
presidency, II would rather be right
than be President" When Congress.
man Springer quoted Clay's statement
Thomas B. Reed retorted THE gentle
man need not worry. He will never be
either"
@. Is the writer of "Curfew Must Not
Ring Tonight" living?-S. A. S.
A. Mrs. Rose H. Thorpe. author Of
"Curfew Must Not Ring Tonight" died
on July 10, 1889, at the age Of 80.
@. What is the name of the town In
Oregon where so many articles are made
Of myrtle wood?-L. l.. B.
A. Coquille is famous for the manu-
facture Of myrtle wood novelties.
@. When was "The Childs Spelling
Book or Michigan Instructor" printeds-
r. r. n