Evening star., 1939-05-15
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdskin.

By Frederic J. Haskin.
A reader can get the ansper to any
question CT fact By toriting The Epc-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
Q. In what year was the picture Of
Mrs Woodrow Wilson taken which ap-
pears In the frontispiece of her recent
book?-H. l.. B.
A. The picture Of Mrs. Wilson in my
Memoir" was taken by Arnold Genthe in
1914
O. How did the yard originate as .
unit of measurement?-T E. N.
A. 1t is said that the yard was origi-
nally defined by royal decree as the
length of the arm of King Henry I. The
British yard Is now the distance at 81
degrees F. between two lines on bronze
bar kept at the standards Office, West.
minister, London.
@. What State had the first electro
cution?-T r. M
nails was first adopted by the State Of
New York, the law making this mode Of
capital punishment obligatory being
being passed June 4, 1888. The law be-
came effective on the first of January.
1889. The first criminal to be executed
by electricity was William Kemmler, on
August 6, 1890, at Auburn Prison.
| y. For what Senators besides Senator
j. Hamilton Lewis were funeral services
held in the Senate Chamber?&T. D.L.
| A. Funeral services for the following
| Senators were conducted in the Senate
Chamber: Solomon Foot, John E. Kenna.
q. B. Vance, Isham c. Harris, Edward C.
Walthall, Marcus A. Hanna, William 3.
Bate Augustus o. Bacon, Theodore E,
burton, Francis E. Warren, Lee s. Over.
man, William j. Harris, Thomas J,
Walsh and Joe Robinson.
Q. How far does the average postman
walk in day?-HM.
A. 1t is estimated that postman GOV.
ers on foot about II miles and delivers
mail to about 1900 people on his daily
rounds.
@. What kind of food do chinchillas
eat?-W. S.
A. ChlnchlllaS do practically all their
eating early in the evening and during
the night. In captivity, therefore, they
are usually fed once daily, late in the
afternoon. Fresh water should be avail
able to them at all times. Their ordinary
1ood consists mainly Of vegetable matter.
They are fond of rolled oats. rolled
wheat, dried bread, whole corn and
"neat-germ meal. They will thrive on
these grain foods if an abundance of
green food also is given, such as alfalfa
hay, lettuce, lawn clippings, dandelions.
carrots and any kind of weeds, which
they consume readily.
@. How old was the President when
his father died?-B. G.
| A. President Roosevelt was 18 years Of
age at the time of his fathers death.
Q. Please give some famous poets
definition Of poetry.-L. w. H.
| A. Robert Frost says: "A completa
its thought and the thought has found
| the words"
Q. Is there tropical island of the
coast of North Carolina2-G DIV.
A. Smith Island, mile of the coast,
is noted for its tropical vegetation. This
Is accounted for by the presence Of the
Gulf Stream which at that point makes
a sharp swing toward the coast.
Q. Was Bennett Kilpack (Mr. Keen),
the radio actor, ever on the stage?-C. Y.
A. Mr.. Kilpack played the part of Afife
IN "kismet" and appeared in Samson"
with William Gillette He also toured
with Sir Ben Greet's Shakespearean
players for some time
| @. Are there pearls Of different colors7
j. H. S.
| A. According to an article in the
Scientific American by A. E. Alexander of
the Mellon Institute, pearls may be rose,
cream, white, gray, bronze, black pastel
shades OF lavender, blue, yellow, mauve,
orange, brown or green, but the more de-
|
black. The temperature and compost
ton Of the water and the state of health
OF the oyster are thought to determine
the color of any given pearl The appeal
Ing iridescence for which these gems are
priced is due primarily to the reflec-
tion and refraction of light which take
place on the surface Of the pearl.
| q. What Is Joshua tree?-K H.
A. The Joshua tree yucca brevifolia)
is genus OF plants Of the lily family.
1t has rigid, sharp-pointed leaves and
| large greenish white flowers borne in
| huge terminal clusters. Mormons gave
the plant its name because it seemed to
point the way to their promised land It
Is also known as the Praying Tree" be.
cause Its many branches seem to be ex.
tended toward Heaven in prayer. Cali.
fornia has established a Joshua Tree
National Monument, including s25.a40
acres. where these plants grow In abun-
| dance.
@. Please give the quotation about the
wealth Of the Indies which Is on the
Union Station in Washington, D. C-.
F.. H.
A. The inscription Is as follows: @He
| that would bring home the weo1t,, ~ ~.