Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-08-26
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hdsktn.

w.,
eric J. Hdskin, director, WASHINGTON.
D. c. Please inclose stamp for replv.
G. When was the last time the famous
mace in the House OF Representatives
was used?-E. d. H.
A. 1t was probably during the Sixty
fifth or War Congress, when heated
words passed between Representative
Tom Hefiin of Alabama and Representa-
tive Patrick Daniel Norton of North Da-
kota. Norton approached Helm bellig-
erently, but before any damage could be
done the sergeant at arms came between
them with the mace. Mr.. Hefin figured
In another incident with Representative
the same hectic session. Mr.. Heflin, q
leading advocate of war with Germany,
had made some remarks which were con-
Strued as casting aspersion upon the
patriotism Of members opposed to the
passage OF the resolution which took
America into the World War. where
upon Mr.. Burnett inquired why his COL
league did not 20 to war himself. The
mace was required to restore order.
Q. Is it true that Schubert could write
composition in one day?-A. H. S.
A. The Erlking," one of his most
dramatic works, was written in one day.
@. What are the tallest buildings in
Philadelphia T. ].
A. The Philadelphia Savings Fund
Building of 80 stories, topped by pent-
house reaching height of 491 feet, and
the Lincoln-Liberty Building of 20
stories, with height of 473 feet to the
top of the bell tower, are the tallest
buildings in the city.
@. Please give Charles Kingsley's trib-
ute to tobacco-W. c. H.
A. klngsley's apostrophe is as follows:
when all things were made, none was
made better than tobacco; to be lone
mans companion, bachelors friend.
hungry mans food, sad mans cordial a
Wakeful mans sleep, and a chilly mans
fre: There's no herb like it under the
canopy of heaven"
@. Does shaving or cutting the hair
make it grow?-R. P.
A. Tests made at the Mellon Institute
show that no matter how many times
the hair is cut shaved or singed, it will
not grow faster or thicker.
@. What is the bird that has the sexes
reversed in incubation?-P. J.R.
A. 1t is the phalarope, a small aquatic
bird related to the sandpiper 1t spends
the winter on the open sea, and breeds
on both shores of the North Atlantic and
around the Arctic Ocean The male is
smaller and less brightly colored than
the female, and incubates the eggs.
Q. Do wedding presents belong to both
the bride and groom?-S. r. H.
A. Wedding presents are all sent to
the bride, and are, according to law, her
personal property.
q. When were barbed wire entangle-
ments first used in warfare?-E. J.H.
A. They were first used by the Span
iards in Cuba during the Spanish
American War But it was during the
World War that they were used extern
slvely and in some instances were cleo
trifed
@. What is the name of the island
that grows all the palm seed?-C HIS.
A. Lord Howe Island, situated $50
miles of the east coast of Australia. has
developed unique trade in seeds from
the HoWea palms. The demand is so
great that the income derived from the
sale OF the seeds maintains the entire
population.
q. Who was the famous humorist who
became minister?-R. R.
A. Robert Jones Burdette He was on
the staff of the Peoria Transcript and
later became associate editor of the
Burlington Qowa) Hawkeye and of the
Brooklyn Eagle, in which his humorous
sketches won him considerable fame.
He began to lecture in 1876 In 1887
he was licensed as a minister of the
Baptist Church and held pastorate at
Los Angeles until 1909 He was the
author of number of humorous books.
Q. What percentage of people on farms
own cars?-W. J. H.
A. Eighty-flve per cent of the farm
families in the United States own auto
mobiles
Q. When was aluminium discovered?
z. K.
A. The elementary nature of aluminium
was recognized by the English scientist,
Sir Humphry Davy, but not isolated un-
til 1928, when Wohler at Gottingen sue
ceeded in decomposing aluminium chlo-
ride. In France, Deville in 1854 obtained
1t by electrolysis. The manufacture Of
aluminium on a large scale was due to
the discovery of c. NJ Hall in 1886 that
the oxide could be electrolyzed in solu-
ton in molten cryolite.
y. Why Is bottle of champagne
broken on the prov of new ship?-E.
A. Champagne is probably chosen be-
cause it is rare wine, light in color and
ef1ervescent. The custom of breaking
a bottle Of wine on the prov of ship
when 1t is launched Is relic of the an
Gent Ibation which was practiced when
ships were launched The ancients con-
secrated the ship to the god whose image
she bore. The action Of blessing ships is
alluded to by the monks OF st. Denys. In
July, 14l8, the Bishop Of Bangor was
sent to Southampton to bless the Kings
ship to insure successful yovares Tn