Evening star., 1939-12-19
Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdsktn.

A reader can get the ansUer to any
question OF fact by 1Oriting The EUe.
ming Star, Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin. Director. Washington,
D. c. Please iuclose stamp for reply.
@. If camel can 60 for long periods
without drinking water, how much does
it consume at one time?-L. B. N.
A. A camel can take a load of water
amounting to as much as IS or 20 gal
Ions.
@. Can you tell me about the Christ
mas Creche; what is the origin Of the
name?-L. H.
A. Creche is French word meaning a
crib. Usually, the creche represents the
stable at Bethlehem with the Infant
Jesus surrounded by the Virgin Mary.
st. Joseph, the adoring shepherds and
Magi, as well as oxen and asses. Tho
Italian equivalent is "presepio" or man
ger, and tradition says that st. Francis
of Assist made the first presepio on
Christmas Eve, 1928, in the little town
of Greccio.
@. What is the distance across Bering
Strait, between Russia and Alaska?-A.
A. H.
A. The distance from East Cape
Dezhnev), the most easterly point Of
Russia, to Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska,
is only about 54 miles. This is the closest
approach of any part of Russia to the
American shore.
@. Are horses ever born completely
White?-B. R.
A. Very few horses are white at birth.
They may be born gray and as they
grow older turn white. Circus horses are
usually Arabian horses. Gray is common
in this breed. If they are very light
gray at birth they may turn pure white
by the time they are 4 or years old.
@. What should be used to keep leath-
er storm boots in good condition?-M. G.
A. The National Bureau Of Standards
says that leather boots should be pc
riodically dressed with neatsfoot oil or
other recommended water -repellent
dressings. If the boots have become wet,
they should be given light coating Of
neatsfoot oil and dried at temperature
not higher than that of the ordinary
living room.
@. have heard that one portrait of
George Washington shows the smallpox
scars which he actually had Please give
the name Of the painter and the present
location of the pictured. c. c.
A, Undoubtedly, the portrait referred
to is the painting by William Williams,
for which Washington sat, and which is
in the Masonic Memorial at Alexandria,
Va.
O. Where, in this country, is the Per-
sian lime grown?-L. z.
A. The Tahiti or Persian lime has come
into prominence of late for culture in
Florida, and several hundred acres have
recently been planted with this variety.
The chief centers of its culture at present
in the Ridge section of Polk and High
lands Counties.
@. have heard that somewhere in
England there is round church. Can
you tell me where it is?-M T. o.
A. The most famous Of the round
churches remaining in England is the
Temple Church in London, on the south
side OF Fleet street. The other four are
at Cambridge, Northampton, Little
Maplestead Essex and Ludlow.
@. Under what authority are so many
European refugees granted admission to
| the United States?-L. j. H.
| A. Refugees are admitted to this coun-
try either as members of the regular
! quota from their native land, or as visi-
tors who must leave at the expiration OF
their time limit.
O. Please give the number of execu-
tive orders issued by President Roosevelt
since March 4, 1933-A. v.
A. There have been approximately
| 1858 executive orders since the begin
ming Of President Roosevelts first term
@. Who discovered neon, and why wa.
it so named?-L. T.
/ A. Neon was discovered by Sir William
Ramsay and w. M. Travers in 1898. The
development of gaseous conductor tube
employing neon gas dates back to about
1911, but the use of neon in commercial
advertising is comparatively recent
Ramsay, distilling liquid air chilled to
the cold temperature of more than 400
| degrees below zero, F.. obtained strange
gas boiling off, which he named neon, "
meaning new
| @. How much money has been loaned
by the r. F. c. that has not been paid
back by borrowers?-G. M.
A. Disbursements on loans from 1882
through October 3d. 1899, of the Recon-
struction Finance Corp. were s7,632,-
611,7sl. 81 and there has been paid back
$5687 ,095, ,607.34, leaving an unpaid bal.
ance of $1,945,516, ,18418.
| Q. Can you tell me how many general
hospitals and hospital beds there are in
the United States?-R. G.
A. According to the 1899 report Of the
American Medical Association, in 1893
there were 1926 general hospitals and
425,324 beds.
@. What is the meaning Of the word
rubaiyat?-D. E. B.
A. It means quatrain or a stanza of
four lines. Omar Khayyam wrote in
this form his reflections upon life.