Evening star., 1939-11-04
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.

To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.
A reader can get the ansDer to any
question OF fact by tDrtttng The Ept-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Hdsktn, director. Washington,
d. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
@. How does the annual maintenance
and operating expense Of the Panama
Canal compare with its revenue?-L
M. c.
A. For the fiscal year ending June 20,
1898, the total Panama Canal expenses
amounted to $l2y64s,594.4s. The total
earnings Of the canal for that year
amounted to $3,252, 2,97016.
q. How fast can an antelope rum
w. r. H.
A. Antelopes have been known to at
tain speed estimated at 80 miles an
hour.
Q. What portion Of the worlds gold is
produced in the United states7-D. s. P.
A. OF the 37,165. 900 fine ounces Of gold
produced in the world in 1898, only
about 4,245, 400 ounces came from conti-
mental United States.
@. Who created the old comic strip
which was called "Alphonse and Cas-
ton"?-J. G. H.
A. Frederick B. Opper introduced al
phonse and CASTOR" in 1902.
@. What is the longest mountain sys-
tenn In the world?-E. ]. r.
A. The Andes Mountains form the
longest system, extending from the
Isthmus Of Panama to TERRA del Fuego.
q distance Of $500 miles.
@. How many Of the movie extras In
Hollywood obtain work?-J. K. g.
A. OF the 10000 extras registered for
employment in 1888, the average number
employed daily was s44.
@. Has silk purse ever actually been
made of a sow's ear?-W. B. j.
A. A feature Of the exhibit Of Arthur
D. Little, Inc, at the National Exposition
Of Chemical Industries In 1921, was .
silk purse actually made out Of a sow's
ear. The ear was made into glue. soft
ened with water. brought almost to the
point Of precipitation with acetone, then
forced through warm container into
spinneret and through this into hard.
ening solution Of formaldehyde and ace.
tone in V-tube. It was picked out Of
the V-tube, reeled, dried, treated to .
40 per cent glycerin bath In which 1t
was also dyed then reeled and dried
again, woven and sewed up.
@. Is 1t correct to say consensus Of
opinion?-W. G. H.
A. The expression is redundant. Con-
sensus is defined as collective opinion.
@. Was the amethyst ever used as .
charm?-T. R. K.
A. The stone was valued by the an
cient Greeks as a charm against the
intoxicating effects Of alcoholic bever-
ages.
Q. Who invented the railroad ticket7
-E. K r.
A. The ticket owes its origin to Thomas
Edmondson Of Lancaster, England, who
In 1886 was station master and booking
clerk at Milton, on what was then the
Newcastle & Carlisle Railway.
@. When was the Colossus Of Rhodes
built?-E. L. w.
A. The Colossus Of Rhodes was made
to commemorate the successful defense
of that place against Demetrius Polior-
cetes in 304 BIC. It required IL years
for its completion and cost $4,000. It
was probably finished before ESQ BIC.
It represented the Rhodian sun god,
Helios; was over los feet high and was
considered one Of the seven wonders Of
the Old World. It is said to have been
made from the engines of war which
Demetrius was obliged to abandon.
@. Is it good form to have Miss before
ones name on calling cards?-D. J. H.
A. It is not only correct to Use the
title, Miss, on a visiting card by an un-
married woman, but the omission Of the
title Is considered social error.
@. Does an object weigh more below
or above the surface of the earth?-J. G.
A. The weight of body either above
or below the surface of the earth is less
than at the surface. The force Of grav-
ity is greater at the surface than above
or below. A mass weighing, say 100
pounds, at the surface of the earth will
weigh less than 100 pounds II taken up
In balloon or down into q mine.
Q. How does the Venus hytrap catch
and eat insects?-T. M. ].
A. Inside the leaves are six trigger
hairs, which, upon being disturbed twice,
set of the capillary mechanism Of the
trap, the leaf-halves closing swiftly on
the prey. Insects are attracted to the
leaf by . brilliant red lining inside.
After closing down on its prey, with
spikes locked together, the plant digests
the insect, later resuming its open posi-
ton and expelling the skeleton.
Q. What town in Texas Is known for
its turkey trot?-P. s. H.
A. Cuero is famous for its annual tur-
key trot, when 10000 or more turkeys
ro3eod u, that v3n}n}t, orn ArS,,sx -.