Evening star., 1939-09-22
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hdsktn.

"A Te1deT can get the 1nStDe1 to ann
question OF fact by ,Driting The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin. director. Washington.
d. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
@. How much did the World War cost
the United States?-H. MP.
A. The estimated money cost of the
World War to the United States Gov
ernment to June 80, 1884, was $41,7s5,-
100000, as shown by the annual report
OF the Secretary Of the Treasury for the
fiscal year ending June 80, 1884.
Q. In what States do colored and
white children attend separate schools?
L. G. r.
A. The following States require the
complete segregation of schools for the
white and Negro races: Alabama, Arkan-
sas, Delaware, District OF Columbia,
Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North
Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West
Virginia. In Arizona and Kansas the
mandatory provision applies only to ele-
mentary schools.
@. What animal weighs the least at
birth and which one the most?-T. P. S,
A. The opossum at birth weighs only
1/140 ounce, while a newborn whale
weighs TONS
@. Please give the name of the maga-
zine which ran a series of articles on
"Frenzied Finance" about IS years ago.
e. D. C.
A. The articles were by Thomas w.
Lawson and appeared in Everybody's
Magazine in 1904-19O5.
@. How fast does sound travel?-H. A,
A. The velocity of sound varies with
the different media through which it
passes. In air, sound has a speed Of
1000 feet per second; in water, at A. c.,
4,674 feet per second. The velocity Of
sound through metal, such as steel, is
$500 feet per second.
@. What is the origin of the word
hack as applied to vehicle?-L. J. M.
A. Hack is an abbreviation of the
word hackney which was originally q
riding horse from the French haquenee.
an ambling horse or mare, especially for
ladies to ride.
@. Will there be shortage of dyes
and other coal-tar chemicals because of
the war in Europe, as was the case in
the World War?-H M.
A. No shortage is expected Whereas
in 1914 the United States imported more
than 80 per cent of her dyes and other
coal-tar chemicals, such as medicinals,
the country now imports less than 10
per cent and is in fact on an export
basis. The imported items are specially
chemicals which, if necessary, can be
produced here.
@. What were Franklin's 13 virtues?
M L. S.
A. Temperance, silence, order, resolu.
ton, frugality, industry, sincerity, jus.
tice, moderation, cleanliness, tranquility.
chastity and humility.
@. When did the song Saw Mill River
Road" come out?-L. D. L.
A. "Saw Mill River Road" was pub
lished in 1921. 1t was from the musical
comedy Chickens
@. How much land does the Govern
ment own?-J. c. M.
A. On June 30, 1899, the Federal Gov
ernment owned 20,8l7,228 acres of land.
@. What State pays the largest amount
Of income taxes?-T. H. N.
| A. In the fiscal year ended on June 80,
New YorkS State paid $557 ,298 673 in
income taxes, including excess-proflt
taxes. This amounted to one-fourth Of
the total amount paid for all States.
| @. Why do the Kentucky mountaineers
refer to Jean Thomas. the author and
folklore authority, as the Traipsin'
| Woman?-J. D.
A. Miss Thomas sobriquet is the
| result of having at one time been court
| stenographer for a circuit judge which
necessitated travelling or "traipsing" from
one town to another.
@. Please give the origin of the wake.
ID. B. S.
A. The custom OF the watch over the
| dead until the final burial or disposal,
extends to prehistoric times, and prob
| ably originated in the desire to guard
| against the occupying of the body of the
deceased by adverse or diabolical spirits.
| In Britain the custom of waking" a
corpse appears to have existed before the
| Christian era, and was probably Celtic.
| The Anglo-Saxon called the custom lch-
wake, from lie, corpse. This name was
corrupted later into lykewake. The body
was often placed under the table on
| which was liquor for the watchers, and
such wakes tended to become drinking
orgies. After the reformation, the custom
became obsolete in England. but survived
| in Ireland, and exists in modified form
among the Irish and other nationalities
in America today.
| @. On what date did an airplane crash
| occur while William T. Tilden was play
ing tennis?-E. B.
A. An airplane crash occurred in the
final match of the mems singles cham
pionship, September 6. 1920. between
William T. Tilden and William M. john
| ston. This accident occurred at Forest
Hills, Long Island, N. Y and resulted in
the death of news photographer and
the pilot of the airplane.