Evening star., 1939-09-26
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.

a IeddeT cdn get the Gns1cer to dnv
question OF fact by Urtttng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. HasAtn. director, WASHINGTON,
> d. c. Please trclose stamp for reply.
Q. Where did the draft originate9-
w. H. M.
A. While compulsory military service is
OF ancient date, the French Revolution
initiated the plan Of commanding the
entire manpower Of the nation for ma
tional defense. The National Assembly
In 1892 decreed the levee en- masse. While
this hurried assembling of unframed men
proved ineffective, 1t led to the practice
OF vast drafts upon the able-bodied men
Of the nation for the prosecution Of the
Napoleonic wars.
Q. What Is the total amount Of radium
that has been produced?-C. H. A.
A. Only 26 ounces have been produced
in the entire world.
@. Please give the cost Of the last four
presidential campaigns-I. M.
A. The cost is estimated as follows:
Republican, 1924, $427O, 900: 1928, ss,433,-
600; 1882. s2,67o,0OO; 1886, $4,969, ,129.
Democratic, 1924, 1856, 900; 1928, $7,l52,-
5l1; 1882. s1,7o8, 900; 1886, $2,757,236.
@. How much does dry ice weigh?-
w. We.
A. Dry ice weighs approximately 81
pounds per cubic foot.
Q. Can citizen of the United States
enlist in the British Army?-A. E. w.
A. A citizen of the United States can
not enlist in the British Army because
of the Neutrality Act, which states that
"enlisting or entering into the service Of
belligerent as soldier or as a marine
or seaman on board any ship of war is
forbidden under severe penalty"
@. Is there a tri-city in the Middle
West?-J. S. R.
A. Rock Island and Moline, Ill, and
Davenport, Iowa, are sometimes called
the Tri-city, being closely connected by
electric lines, bridges and ferries.
@. What character in mythology
melted his wings by flying too near the
sun?-A. j. H.
A. Icarus and his father, Daedalus,
made themselves wings fixed to the
shoulders by wax. The former flew too
near the sun and the heat melting the
wax, caused the wings to drop off, and
he fell into the Aegean or Icarian Sea
and was drowned
@. How large are the Trylon and the
Perisphere at the New York Worlds
Fair?-F K.
A. The Trylon is 700 feet in height and
the diameter of the Perisphere is 200
feet.
@. What is Bolivar cake?-E. j. H.
A. Bolivar is an old-fashioned
molasses spiced cookie.
@. What Government department Is.
sues licenses for radio stations?-W.
c. M.
A. All radio licenses, amateur or COM
mercial, must be obtained through the
Federal Communications Commission,
Washington, D. C.
@. OF what material is the Cathedral
Of st. John the Divine?-M. T. s.
A. The walls are constructed OF
Mohegan granite and the wrought work
OF the exterior is of both Frontenac
stone and Mohegan granite. The column
Of the apse is of Penobscot granite and
various kinds of marble are used for
the choir and chapels. The rose-red
bases of the walls and piers are of
South Dakota jasper
O. What does the term R. o. p. mean
as applied to poultry?-C. j. H.
A. Record of performance.
@. Is Helen Hunt jackson, author of
Ramona" buried on Cheyenne Noun
tain, in Colorado?-R. R. J.
A. Mrs. Jackson was first buried on
| Cheyenne Mountain, but as the site be-
came recreation ground for tourists,
| her heirs decided to renter the body,
and it now rests in Evergreen Ceme-
terry at Colorado Springs.
@. What English queen presented her
friends with cashmere shawls?-S. L. M.
A. After the territory of India was
uicoA pol dlCo dS pdlI Ol IIle bTltlST Ems
pire, Queen Victoria used every effort
to promote trade and import of Indian
goods. 1t was her custom on weddings,
birthdays and other anniversaries to
present her friends with valuable India
| cashmere shawlS.
| @. How long have the two flags been
| flown day and night on the United States
| Capitol?-W. c. H.
A. During the World War requests
were received from all over the country
| urging that the United tSates flag be
flown continuously over the public build
! ings in Washington, D. c. Ever since
that time it has been the custom to keep
the flags on the east and west fronts
Of the United States Capitol flying "a
hours day every day in the year. The
| flags. which are 7la by IA feet, are re-
moved only when they become worn and
unfit for further use and are replaced
by new ones.
| @. Were famingos' tongues ever used
| as food?-N. H.
A. The early Romans regarded fam
lingo tongues as a great delicacy, and
these shared with peacock's tongues the
place of honor at the extravagant feasts
Of royal and princely houses.