Evening star., 1939-06-30
Huskin's Answers ,
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. HusEin

By Frederic J. HaSkin.
reader can get the ansUer to any
question OF fact by 1Drittng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. HGskin, Director, Wushinoton.
D. c. Please inclose stamp fer replv.
Q. When was the first letter written
In America?-H. w. B.
A. The first of which there is a record
was written by DR.. Diego Alvarez Chanca,
who accompanied Columbus on his Sec
ond expedition. 1t was mailed from the
port Of Isabella, San Domingo, on Febru-
ary 2, 1894. The first letters written in
English in America are believed to be
four letters of Ralph Lanes, the first
commander of Raleighs first colony.
They were written August IL, 1885.
Q. How many miles a year do auto
mobiles in the United States travel?-
c. s. F.
A. survey by the United States
Bureau of Public Roads shows that motor
vehicles travel approximately 2500Oo,-
100000 vehicle miles annually. The aver
dSC NCIllClC was SSIlTHLPO 10 nave
travelled 8,870 miles during 1896
@. Does Shakespeare use the word
senate in his plays?-J w. M.
A. The word senate is used 81 times in
Shakespeare.
q. How many persons were required
to build the Tai Mahal2-C H.
A. Twenty thousand men were en-
ployed in its erection, which covered a
period of 81 years.
@. Please give the inscription on Will
liam Jennings Bryans tomb in Arlington
Cemetery.-G. w. P.
A. The following inscription is on one
side: "Bryan-He kept the faith" On the
other side: William Jennings BRYAN,
colonel, 3rd Nebraska Volunteer Infan-
try, Spanish American War. l86O-l9
Strong, yet friend to truth, of soul sin
cere. In action faithful and in honor
clear His wife and helpmate, Mary
Baird Bryan, 186l-ls3O."
@. Where is the famous leaning tree7
II. r. NJ
A. The Grizzly Giant, an enormous
sequoia tree in Yosemite National Park,
Is known as the leaning tree. 1t is 209
feet high and leans 10 $40 feet off center,
or approximately 4 degrees and So min
utes. Research shows that it has been
of center for centuries, but is in no
danger of falling
@. What percentage of people in the
United States have been vaccinated
against smallpox?-T S. H.
A. 1t is estimated that only from SIS to
go per cent have taken this precaution.
@. Please give the latest figures on the
population of GERMANY. M. j.
A. recent census shows that the
population is 79.600000 not including
Memelland or the protectorate of Bo-
hemia -Moravia There are $4,000. 900
males and 40s00,OO0 females.
@. What kind of paint can be used OF.
model airplane?-E. B.
A. Regular airplane dope diluted with
acetone is used on model airplanes.
Q. Who was the first President to be
interested in baseball?-L w. H.
A. 1t was probably Abraham Lincoln
who was playing baseball when notified
of his nomination and remarked; They'll
have to wait few minutes until make
another base hit
@. Does pound of feathers weigh
as much as pound OF gold?-A 3.
A. There is considerable difference in
weight between pound of gold and a
pound of feathers. Gold is weighed by
the troy system, in which there are IL
ounces to the pound, while feathers are
weighed by the avoirdupois measure in
which there are 16 ounces to the pound,
A trov pound therefore is less than the
avoirdupois pound
@. How many marriages are there in
year?-L. S. H.
A. Approximately 1927 900 persons are
married in the United States annually.
@. How is musk obtained?-M NJ
A. Musk is the name originally given
to perfume obtained from the strong
smelling substance secreted in a gland
by the musk-deer. This gland is present
beneath the skin of the abdomen in the
male only. The sac contains a dark
brown substance of the consistency of
moistened gingerbread. To obtain the
perfume the animal is killed and the
gland completely removed and dried 1t
appears in commerce as either musk in
the pod" that is in the whole gland, or
musk in grain in which the perfume
has been extracted. Good musk is of
dark purplish color, dry. smooth and
unctuous to the touch and bitter in
taste. It's scent is not only more pene-
trating but more persistent than that of
any other known substance.
@. What is the width of William Penn's
hat brim on the statue surmounting the
City Hall in Philadelphia?-N NH
A. The William Penn statue on City
Hall is topped by hat. the brim OF
which from side to side is 9 feet in di-
ameter The rim width. running around
the crown from the bottom of the crown
to outside Of edge of rim, is 81 inches.
@. Please give a list of some English
names with peculiar pronunciations
similar to Cholmondeley which is pro-
nounced Chumly.-E. M.
A. A few are as follows: Powell. pro-
nounced Po-ell; Marjoribanks, Marsh
banks Marlborough, Mawlbra; Berkeley,
Barkly: st. John. Sinjin; Wemyss.
Weems; Crespigny, Crippiny; Beau
champ, Beechham; Ayscough, Askew;
Trotterscliffe, Trosley; Trampleasure,
Trample-sure; Cogenhoe. Kookno, and
LevesOn Cover Looson Cor