Evening star., 1939-12-18
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Haskin.

BY Frederic J. Hasktn.
A reader can get the answer to any
question OF fact by iorittng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington.
D. c. Please inclose stamp Jor reply.
@. Is 1t known what bar is referred to
in Tennyson's Crossing the Bar"7-
L. M.
A. Tennyson had in mind the bar
across the harbor at Farringford on the
Isle Of Wight, where he was making his
home. The poem was written after q
stormy night passage.
Q. Is it true that Stanley" was not
the true name of the famous British ex-
plorer?-H. T..
A. Stanley was baptized John Row
lands. Coming to New Orleans at an
early age, he obtained a situation
through the good ofnces Of Henry Nor.
ton Stanley. Later, when adopted by Mr..
Stanley, Rowlands took his name
Q. Please tell me If 1t is proper To
~.
A. 1t is perfectly proper to typewrite
a personal letter, and even preferable II
the letter is long.
O. What steps would be necessary for
Alaska to become State in the Union?
Il. j. S.
A. No steps for admitting State have
been fixed, but substantially uniform
procedure has grown up. Ordinarily the
process is set in motion by the people Of
the Territory sending a petition to Con-
gress for admission as State. If this
is regarded with favor, Congress passes
an enabling act, authorizing the terri
torial officials to arrange for popularity
elected convention to frame State con-
stltutlon. After the constitution is pre-
pared 1t is submitted to the people and,
If adopted, is sent to Congress for ap-
proval. If it is accepted, a resolution is
passed declaring the Territory State.
O. Which are the "Poetical Books" of
the Bible?-F. L.
A. The so-called "Poetical Books" are:
Job, the Psalms, the Proverbs Ec-
clesiastes and the Song of Songs.
Q. Please give me information on how
to grow rosebushes from cuttings-B. R.
A. To get hardwood cutting from
roses, good strong shoots Of the past
summers growth should be selected.
They should be cut between the time
leaves fall and freezing weather. Cut
into pieces of or inches with upper
cut just above bud; tie into bundles
and bury in moist sand, tops down.
They should be placed in a cool cellar
and should be planted in the open
ground in the spring, so that one or two
eyes are above the ground.
@. When and where does the the
Mummers' parade take place?-J. w. P.
A. The Mummers' parade takes place
IN Philadelphia, Pa, on New Year Day.
1t comes directly up Broad street from
South Philadelphia.
@. Should a question mark be placed
inside or outside quotation marks?-s. p.
A. A question mark is placed inside
quotation marks If 1t Is an integral part
OF the quotation. When it punctuates an
entire sentence ending in q quoted
phrase, the question mark Is placed after
the second quotation marks.
Q. Which is the largest planet7-A.
R. o.
A. Jupiter is the largest planet, being
greater than all the others put together.
@. Please tell me If caracul wool comes
from sheep or goats, and also II the
wool from the young Is called Persian
lamb-R. r.
A. Both caracul wool and Persian lamb
come from sheep, but they are Of two
different types, both of which are found
IN Asia. Persian lamb has q longer and
fiatter curl than that of caracul.
@. How does the United States COM
pare with other countries in the produc.
tion of rayon?-G. P.
A. The United States produces IS per
cent OF the worlds rayon. Japan pro.
duces 30 per cent, Germany "a per cent.
and Italy II per cent. These are the
leading producing countries.
@. What is the nickname Of Washing
ton, D. CPL. P.
A. Several nicknames have been given
to washington, notably Capital City,
City OF Magnificent Distances, Federal
City, Executive City. Daniel Webster Is
said to have called 1t the Great Dismal
and Mrs. John Adams the wilderness
City.
@. How may clean an heirloom pic
ture frame with pure gold leaf edaing
and trimming?-D. D. M
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that the frame may be cleaned bv
going over it dncluding the gilded por-
tom with small sponge that has been
moistened with alcohol or spirits of tur-
pentine. The sponge should only be wet
enough to take off the dust and flv
specks and the frame must not be wiped,
but permitted to dry Of itself. Otherwise
the gold leaf may be damaged.
Q. Which Is the Oldest European set
tlement in America?-L. o.
A. Santo Domingo (now Cuidad Tru-
jillo) in the Dominican Republic, found.
ed In 1896, is the oldest.
Q. Where may I obtain q songbook
containing Christmas carols?-E. LII.
A. See Haskin advertisement on Pare