Evening star., 1939-01-05
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hdsktn.

BY Frederic J. Hasktn.
reader can get The ans,Der to any
question OF fact by ,nrtttng The Epe-
ming StcT Information Bureau, Fred.
&. eric J. Hdskin, Director, Washington,
D. c. Please t,,close stamp for reply.
Q. When was, the first sos call7-
c. H. j.
A. On January %, 1909, the steamer
Republic was struck by another ship.
the Florida, in a dense fog OF Nam
tucket Lightship. Jack Binns, Marconi
operator on the Republic, sent out the
COD signal, the first sos call, which
resulted in saving the lives of all on
board the sinking ship.
Q. How many basket ball teams ere
there in Iowa?-E. s. G.
A. There are approximately 1,500 mem
ber teams Of recognized basket ball asso-
Citations in the State.
@. When we're the draft riots?-JHB.
A. In 1863 there was an outbreak in
New York City occasioned by resistance
to the drafting Of New Yorkers into the
Union Army. The mob held possession
of the city for four days, the absence Of
the militia at the front leaving only police
protection. 1t is estimated that more
than 1000 persons were killed, and that
damage to the extent Of 81 500 900 was
done during the riots.
@. Into how many languages has the
book THE Imitation of Christ" by
Thomas a Kempis, been translated?-
D. r. T.
A. 1t has been translated into more
than so languages and there have been
more than 5000 editions published.
@. What is the most valuable metaI?-
w. S. H.
A. Protactinium is the worlds rarest
metal and is worth 81 900 900 an ounce.
Q. How many pores are there in the
body?-S. G. K.
A. The number of pores in the human
body has been estimated at more than
2,00O0O0,000.
@. What is the origin of the Christmas
creche?-M. T.
A. The custom of preparing a creche
at Christmas time has long been popular
in many European countries. In Italy
it is called 'presepio," or manger, and
made the first presepio on Christmas
Eve, 1928, in the little town of Greccio.
@. When was the truce signed be-
tween Germany and Russia in the World
War?-J. F.
A. The truce between Germany and
Russia was signed on December Is, 1917.
Peace was signed at Brest-Litovsk March
3. 1918.
@. In bridge, what contract is played
the most?-E. S. H.
A. Three no-trump is played more
than any other.
@. What are the 10 greatest money
making motion pictures?-A. S. w.
A. The greatest Of all time, in the
order of their box Office gross, are: 1.-THE
Singing Fool" -Four Horsemen Of the
Apocalypse" ben Hur," "The Big Pa
rade," Birth OF Nation" "Cavalcade,"
''The Covered Wagon" 'The Jazz Sing
er," Sunny Side Up" and Broadway
Melody"
@. Are all the automobile speed kings
English?-C. j. H.
A. All of those who have driven cars
at rates in excess of 300 miles per hour
are British subjects. They are Sir NAL
colin Campbell, Capt. George Eyston and
John Cobb.
@. What is the order of rank in the
British Navy?-D. Y.
A. 1t Is as follows: Admiral of the
fleet, admiral, vice admiral, rear admiral,
captain, commander, lieutenant COM
mander, lieutenant, sublieutenant, mid
shipman.
Q. What is meant by matroclinous?-
D. S. G.
A. 1t means resembling the mother.
~. VAio AlVcIlCcU glass eyeS!-M. M. u.
A. The invention of glass eyes is lost
in obscurity. Records show that they
were used by the Egyptians, Romans and
Venetians many centuries ago. The
priests as early as 500 BIC. were known
to have made them. The earliest known
mention of the modern form OF artificial
eye occurs in an illustrated work on
surgery written by a French surgeon
Ambrose Pare, published in Paris in
1861. In this country the first artificial
eyes were manufactured by Pierre Gou-
gelman in 1851, on Van Dam street, New
York, N. Y, from glass imported from
France. The business is still carried on
by his descendants under the name of
Mager & Gougelman, Inc.
@. Why do wild geese fly in v for
mation?-R. H.
A. The Biological Survey says q pos
eSIo of