Evening star., 1939-07-10
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdskin

By Frederic J. Haskin.
reader can get the dnsUer to any
question OF fact by tDrtting The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Hasktn, Director. Washington,
D. c. Please i''close stamp for reply.
Q. Is there any record Of the longest
time . chess player has waited before
making novel;. j. H.
A. In match with Paul Morphy, the
noted chess player, Louis Paulsen Is said
to have denberated II hours and 70
minutes before making q certain move.
The match was won by Morphy.
Q. Are the Indians dying race?-c.
J. H.
A. Until 10 years ago, the Indians were
dying out, but the situation has changed
and now they are increasing faster than
any other population group in the coun-
try.
Q. What is the largest catfish ever
caught?-M. H.
A. The largest catfish ever caught was
q specimen Of the Great Lakes cat,
Ameiurus lacustris, weighing $50 pounds
and measuring S feet in length. It was
caught at st. Louis, Mo-, about 1878 and
Is reproduced in the National Museum
In Washington, D. c.
@. Who rang the Liberty Bell when
the Declaration of Independence was
adopted?-J. D. G.
A. Andrew McNair, the oficial ringer
OF the Liberty Bell from 1759-1776, rang
the bell on that occasion.
Q. How much money is lost in the
United States by people who patronize
song sharks?-E. L. H.
A. Each year from 10000 to 80, 900 per-
sons contribute more than million dol.
lars to the song writing racket.
G. What city had the first major
league night baseball?-T. NH.
A. Major league night baseball was in
stituted by Cincinnati in 1885.
Q. How long should wedding ring be
worn after ones husband has died?-
l.. s. C.
A. A widow continues to wear the wed.
ding ring during her lifetime unless she
becomes engaged to marry a second time.
Following the announcement of her
engagement, she ceases to wear the first
wedding ring.
@. What is the death rate from tuber-
culosis in the District of Columbia2-
r. G. w.
A. The 1888 District of Columbia tu.
bercular death rate, including the deaths
at Glenn Dale Sanitarium, was 938 per
100000 inhabitants.
q. What is the origin of the name
derby as applied to mans hat?-C.Js,
A. This style Of hat was first worn at
the Earl of Derbys race track.
Q. Which is more sensitive, the eye or
the ear?-M. j. p.
A. The eye is 16 times more sensitive
than the ear.
O. Who wrote Columbia, the Gem of
the Ocean"?-I. L. Meg.
A. Columbia the Gem of the Ocean,
is OF uncertain origin. The melody has
been claimed as Of English composition,
under the name of "Brittania, the Pride
OF the Ocean," The text was written at
the request of David T. Shaw for a
benefit, by Thomas a'Becket of the
Chestnut Street Theater, who rearranged
and added the present beginning and
ending to 1t. The date has been given
by the latter as the fall Of 1s43.
Q. What is Fullers earth?-E.
A. Fuller's earth is an impure variety
OF clay which contains enough fine
sandy and limy material to make it non-
plastic. 1t is so called because, originally.
1t was used, in finely powdered form,
chiefly for removing grease from cloth
and WOOL process called "fulling." Full
ler's earth readily absorbs impurities
from oils and fats, and is commonly
used hltering medium in the publication
OF FATS for soap-making. 1t is also used
as a polishing powder.
q. Who Is the youngest person who
was ever appointed to the United States
Supreme Court?-P. C.. B,
A. Justice Joseph Story, who was ap-
pointed to the Supreme Court at the age
OF 81, was the youngest.
Q. Are there many people in the
United States 100 years old7-G. LIE.
A. In 1880 the Bureau of Census re-
ported 1894 persons 100 years of age
and over.
Q. What States have white cane laws
for the blind?-N. H.
A. The American Foundation for th.
Blind says: There are three States in
the Union-Connecticut, Michigan and
California-which have so-called white
cane laws giving the right of way to
blind persons carrying a white cane
There Is no provision in the law COM
pellng any blind person in those States
to carry q white cane. In addition tn
these States, there are cities in practically
every State which have special city ordi-
nances giving the same privilege to
nnnd persons carrying q white cane"
Q. For whom is Hickam Field in Ha-
waii named?-B. F.. r.
A. 1t was named in honor Of 1t. Col.
Horace M. Hickam, Air Corps, who was
killed in an airplane accident at Fort
Crockett. Tex, November s, 1894.
Q. Is there available a book Of sur.
gestions for preparing an automobile for