Evening star., 1939-07-05
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hdsktn,

'Ss~S' W - AANohTt
A reader can get the ansper to am
question OF tact by tDriting The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau. Fred.
ERIC J. H1skin, director, Wdshtnoton.s
D. c. Please inclose stamp for rsply.
Q. What insect carries a parasol?-
CT.
A. The parasol ant, sometimes called
the umbrella ant, carries large pieces Of
leaf resembling parasols.
@. How long have we had airmail serv-
ice?-T. S. H.
A. The United States airmail service
was established on May Is, 1918, over a
single 2l5-mile route between Washing
ton and New York.
@. What is the origin of the express
sion, "A little bird told me"?-M. s. R.
A. The phrase in various forms is
found in many countries and is said to
be derived from Ecclesiastes 1920, RE
vile not the king no, not in thy thought:
and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber
for bird of the heavens shall carry the
'SASS 0AAo liloO WIllCll lldIIl WlIlRS Shall
carry the matter"
@. Was Houdini a Jew?-W. J.B
A. The magician was the son of the
Rev. DR.. Mayer Samuel Weiss a Jewish
rabbi.
@. Please give the names of the players
in the Baseball Hall of Fame at Coopers-
town, N. Y.-R. M.
A. They are as follows: Denton T.. (Cy)
Young, Willie Keeler, Napoleon Garry)
LaJole, Honus Wagner, Christy Mathew
son, Tyrus Raymond Cobb, Edward
TroWbridge Collins, Walter Perry john
son, Tristram E. (TriS Speaker, Grover
Cleveland Alexander, George Harold
Sisler and George Herman (Babe) Ruth.
O. What will soften leather?-R. WI.
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that the f1exibility of leather that
has become hard and stiff in some cases
may be restored by moistening the leath-
er with water and while still damp ap-
plying a liberal dressing of sulfonated
neatsfoot or cod oil. The leather after
oiling should be allowed to dry slowly
at room temperature.
@. When did the steamer Portland
sink between Boston and Portland?-
H. l.. r.
A. The Portland sank on November
1921, 1899 One hundred and fifty-seven
lives were lost.
@. What is the Oldest domestic dog?-
E. j. H.
A. Carvings in Egyptian tombs sup
port the theory that the Saluki or Per-
sian gazelle hound is the oldest known
domestic dog.
@. Did Schmeling ever knock out
Mickey Walker?-I o. L.
A. Max Schmeling knocked out Mickey
Walker in the eighth round of a bout
in 1882.
O. What is the salary of the Speaker
of the House of representatives.
T. G. H.
A. 1t is $4,000 year.
@. When did the Kaiser present part
OF the Holy Land as gift to a religious
organization?-C. E. P.
A. At the time of the visit of the for
mer German Emperor, William the Sec
ond, to the Holy Land in 1885, he an
nounced the gift of piece of land on
Mount Zion, near the tomb of David, to
the Roman Catholic German Society of
the Holy Land, for use as site for the
building of the Roman Catholic Church
and school. The plot of ground was
known as the Dormition, and it was &C
quired by the Kaiser from the Sultan Of
Turkey. Previously the Emperor had
made munifcent donations to the Church
OF the Redeemer, located near the Holy
Sepulchre, and he also designed and
presented the bells used in the edifice.
@. When did Weber and Fields the
comedians, make their debut?-M. C. M.
A. In 1878 they appeared together at
the Old Bowery Theater, New York.
Q. Is there any method of preserving
10O-year-old Paisley shawl so that it
may be used as hanging?-L. E. H.
A. The Smithsonian Institution says
Line the shawl by sewing it down to a
background material which matches the
predominating color. A good quality sa-
teen Of the type generally used for lining
draperies Is suitable for the purpose.
Make lightweight framework of the
same dimensions as the shawl The shawl
can be fastened to this framework by
various methods-preferably sewed to a
tape which has been previously tackled
to the frame, The frame can then be
suspended by wire, like picture, with
out injury to the shawl"
O. Who invented the marker buoy with
which the submarine Squalus was
eouipped?-F. D. S.
A. Following the sinking of the S-4 in
1927, a board of naval officers was assem-
bled for the purpose of investigating and
reporting on submarine rescue and SAL
wage devices. This board received 7O6
suggestions for various buoy ideas. AS
result OF the many suggestions, the pres
ent buoy was developed The total num-
ber of ideas submitted to the board for
rescue and salvage devices was 49l7.
O. Which melts faster, ice cream or
Sherbet?-K. H. S.
A. If equal quantities of sherbet and
Ice cream were exposed to ordinary room
temperature, the sherbet would melt