Evening star., 1939-03-06
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hdsktn.

To Readers Questions
BY Frederic J. Hasktn.
A reader can get the ansuer to any
question OF fact by iDrtttnq The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Hdsktn, director, Woshtnoton,
D. c. Please tncloss stamp for reply.
Q. Do any cities have cigarette taxes7
-E. 8. r.
A. At least eight cities, including New
York City. Kansas City, Mo-, and six
Florida municipalities, collect cigarette
taxes.
g. How many telephone calls Q day
are made in the National Capital7-J.
K. l..
A. Telephone calls originating IN
Washington, D. c., now reach an average
Of 100000 per day.
Q. Where are the highest tides in the
world?-T. D. B.
A. The largest known periodic tides
IN the world occur on the Atlantic Coast
IN Minas Basin, Bay OF Fundy, where
the mean rise and fall Is approximately
40 feet.
G. Is the building in which the Ameri.
can Legion was founded still standing?
IT. M. G.
A. The American Legion was founded
IN Paris on March 15-17, 1919, in the old
Cirque de Paris. This has since been
torn down and replaced by an apartment
house. Upon this building a bronze
tablet is to be placed bearing the in
scription: "On this site the American
Legion was born, March 1877, lsls."
Z. what causes the wilI-o the wisp in
sWamps and marshes?-C. s,
A. Ign1s fatuus Is the name applied to
the pale flame, also called will-o'-the.
wisp and jack-o Lantern, sometimes seen
nlckering over marshy ground and, 1t is
said, over churchyards. No entirely salts.
factory explanation Of the phenomenon
has been advanced, but it is generally
believed that the effect is due to tho
spontaneous ignition of gases (especially
methane or marsh gas, CH4 produced
oy the disintegration Of dead plant and.
possibly, animal matter.
Q. Where Is Aintree?-H. r. H.
A. Aintree is the name of race course
Just outside Of Liverpool, England.
Q. Has any citizen Of the United States
ever been canonized?-L. s. c.
A. Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini a
pioneer in charitable work among Ital-
ian-American citizens, was the first citi-
zen OF the United States to become a
Roman Catholic saint. She was beati-
ned IN st. Peters Basilica at Rome on
november IA, 1888, with impressive cere-
monies at which George Cardinal Nun.
delein, Archbishop of Chicago, presided.
Q. Where can I get the latest informa.
ton on collecting first-day covers7-T.
L. H.
A. A 1898 Cover Collecting Guide and
Directory has been issued by the Cover
Exchange. L. P. Miller, secretary, p. O,
Box 773, Scranton, Pa.
Q. What Is the largest country in the
world? The smallest?-H.
A. The largest country In the world Is
the Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics
with 8,14422S square miles; the smallest.
Vatican City, has only 1887 acres.
Q. Can an owl move its eyes?-J.S
A. The eyes Of an owl are fixed In its
head SO that they cannot be moved and
the bird must change its position in
order to change its line Of vision.
Q. BY what authority do yachts fly the
yacht ensign instead OF the Stars and
Stripes?-A. NJ
A. According to an act passed by the
Thirtieth Congress, August 7, 1s4s, all
such licensed yachts shall use q signal
OF the form, size and colors prescribed by
the Secretary of the Navy The United
States power boat squadrons shall carry
flag like the yacht ensign except that
1t wears perpendicular blue stripes where
the yacht ensign wears horizontal red
ones and has red canton where the
yacht ensign has one of blue. The yacht
ensign Is regarded as the full equivalent
OF the Stars and Stripes.
Q. What is the oath taken by the King
OF England?-C. F.
A. King George took the oath as fol.
lows: "Will you solemnly promise to
swear to govern the peoples of Great
Britain, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New
Zealand and the Union of South Africa
OF your possessions and the other terri.
tories to any Of them belonging or per.
tanning. and Of your Empire of India
according to their respective laws and
customs?" King George answered: I
solemnly promise to do So" will you to
your power cause law and justice In
mercy to be executed in all your jude-
ments?" King George: II will" will
you to the utmost of your power main
tain the laws Of God and the true pro-
fessien Of the Gospel? Will you to the
utmost Of your power maintain in the
United Kingdom the Protestant Re-
formed religion established by the law7