Evening star., 1939-07-24
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hdsktn.

By Frederic J. Haskin.
A reader can get the answey to any
question OF fact by Writing The Eve-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hasktn, director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. What are the extremes of tempera-
ture on the moon?-R. M. B.
A. The temperature on the moon
reaches 265 degrees F. at high noon and
falls to 1876 degrees below zero F. at the
time Of total eclipse.
q. Is 1t true that drinking sake Is a
| part OF the Japanese marriage cere-
mony?-R. S.
A. The service consists in drinking
sake nine times alternately by the bride
and bridegroom before the matchmaker
and his wife. Next the matchmaker
sings an auspicious song The bride
changes her dress. Then, accompanied
| by her bridesmaid, she enters a room
Where relations are gathered. Another
ceremony OF drinking sake from cup
used by all the guests is performed. The
wedding dinner follows The whole cere.
mony ends with the mother giving her
son and newly acquired daughter final
| cup OF sake and her blessing.
| Q. What is the average daily expendi-
ture OF visitors on the New York Worlds
Fair grounds?-C. H.
A IL is estimated that the average
visitor on the grounds spends about 90
| cents day.
Q. How fast can a person run in
snoWshoes?-W. M. J..
A. The worlds record for snowshoe
travel over the 100-yard route was 11A
seconds in 1888. The one-mile mark was
minutes 1925 seconds.
| Q. Are there taxes on church and
school property?-W. A. B.
A. All property used exclusively for
religious or educational purposes is ex.
empt from taxation.
Q. How did the numbers game oriei-
nate in the United States?-E.
A. Numbers was brought to the United
States soon after the Spanish American
War, coming here by way of the West
Indies, where it was known as bolito and
had been introduced many generations
earlier by the Spanish.
Q. Are there more women than men
in Washington, D. C?-M. w.
| A. According to the census of 1880,
there were 231,833 men and 254 1886 wom-
| en- in WASHINGTON. D. C.
@. Was President Theodore Roosevelt
awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?-J. S. XII
| A. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded
to him in 1906 for his services in bring-
| ing peace to Russia and Japan.
Q. How long have refrigerator card
| been used?-L. M S. 4
A. G. F. Swift built the first refrigerat
| tor car in 1875
Q. What proportion of people in tn
United States have public library serv
ice?-J. NJ S..
| A. The American Library Association
says that in 1888, 80,596,235 persons, or
| 65.7 per cent of the total population, had
| library service.
Q. How did De Quincy acquire tho
opium habit described in his "ConfeJ
| sions Of an English Opium Eater"?+
| T. R.
A. While student at Oxford he began
taking the drug to cure periodical attacks
of neuralgia.
Q. What is the value of skins taken
from fur-bearing animals in the United
| States?-G. j. D.
A. Approximately S65 100000 worth bf
raw furs go to the markets from ira b.
pers in the United States and Alaska
every year.
Q. Please give some information abb hut
Father Damien, the leper priest-T. B !E.
| A. Joseph Damien de Veuster, known
| as Father Damien, was born near Lou
vain. Belgium. Sent on a mission to
Honolulu and learning of the neglected
state OF the lepers, he volunteered to cast
his lot with theirs. He became physician
OF their souls and bodies their teacher,
carpenter, magistrate, and even grave
digger He long worked single-handed,
but was ultimately Joined by other
| priests. For II years he escaped con-
| tagion, but in 1885 he contracted the
disease and continued his heroic labors
until near his death in 1885,
Q. What is the origin of the line "Ser-
mons in stones and good in everything?
| j. M.
A. 1t is from shakespeare's "As You
| Like It."
@. How many embassies has the
| United States now in foreign countries?
/ IT. B. G.
A. The number now stands at 20, with
| the addition of Columbia, Venezuela and
| Panama this year.
Q. What is the meaning of hyperba-
| ton?-E. M.
A. 1t is transposition of words out
| OF normal order as in Browning's title
Wanting Is-What?" or in the line from
Shakespeare "The whittier skin of hers
| than snow
Q. Who was the greatest conversa-
tionalist of all time?-D. U.
A. Probably no one has ever surpassed
Samuel johnson, who was consulted as
an oracle on all kinds OF subjects. He
was the leader of 18th century literati
and his verdict on a new book was