Evening star., 1939-10-25
Answers
To Questions
BY Frederic J. Hdsktn.

ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
Q. Does thinking increase the size Of
the head?-L. T. S.
A. According to DR.: Ales Hrdlicka, noted
anthropologist of the Smithsonian 1nsti-
tuition, there is evidence that the heads
Of persons doing intense mental exercise
increase in size more rapidly than others.
@. On what days during the World
War were electric signs darkened?-
T. G. s.
A. On December IA, 1917, the Federal
fuel administrator ordered electric ad-
vertising signs darkened on Sunday and
Thursday of each week.
@. Please give some information about
Helen Hayes early stage career-N. G. r.
A. Miss Hayes first appeared on the
stage at the age of 6. She was a MEM
ber Of the Columbia Players of WASH
ington, D. c., for four seasons, later
touring with Lew Fields and John Drew.
Among her earlier plays were polly
anna" "Penrod," Dear Brutus," "Clar-
ence," "Bab" and ITO the Ladies'"
O. Who invented volley ball?-M. P. H.
A. In 1895 William G. Morgan, then
physical director at the Y. M. C. A. in
Holyoke, Mass, invented the game.
O. What became of the chair in which
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated?-
B. j. r.
A. The chair in which Abraham Lin
coin was seated at the time of his assassi-
nation is in Henry Fords Museum of
Lincoln Relics in Dearborn, Mich
O. How can any one get letters post
marked at Byrds headquarters in the
Antarctic?-W. H. G.
A. The Post Office Department an
nounces officially that there will be no
post Office at the South Pole in connec-
tion with the Byrd Antarctic Expedition
and the department has no intention of
establishing a postal service. Cachets
may be applied to mail used in connec-
ton with the expedition, but there is
nothing official about it and it will be
treated like any other mail coming from
any portion of the world No South
Pole or Antarctic postmarks will be used,
as there will be none
Q. Has the name of Siam been
changed?-L. S. R.
A. The country heretofore known as
Siam is now called Thailand and the
word Thai will be used instead of Sia-
mese
O. How much oil is produced in
Louisiana?-R. A. NJ
A. Louisiana in 1888 produced ga
8l2 900 barrels of oil Of AZ gallons each.
making the State the third largest
petroleum producing one in the United
States.
Q. Please give a history of the spiri-
tual, Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
G. r. B.
A. The Negro Year Book says: "A
mother and her babe had been sold
from Tennessee plantation to 90 down
into Mississippi, which was. to her. going
to her death. To prevent the separa-
ton from her child. she was about to
throw herself and babe into the Cum
berland River. An old woman, seeing
the mothers intentions, laid her hand
upon the shoulder of the distressed
mother and said, Wait, let de chariot
of de Lord swing low and let me take
de Lords scroll and read it to you
The mother was so impressed with the
words Of the old slave woman that she
gave up her design and allowed herself
to be sold into Mississippi, leaving her
baby behind. The song. Swing Low,
Sweet Chariot by degrees grew up, as
this incident passed from mouth to
mouth"
@. How large are the NJ B. G. studios
in Rockefeller Center?-M. T. j.
A. The National Broadcasting Co.'S
studios cover approximately 100000
square feet Of space and occupy about
six floors.
@. What hospital observes ether day?
H. P.
A. The Massachusetts, General Hos
pital at Boston celebrates on October Is
the first use Of ether to deaden pain
in surgical operations. This was dem
onstrated in 1886 by Dr. William Thomas
Green Morton, dentist, in removing a
tumor from the jaw.
@. Where is the famous statue of
Black Hawk, the Indian chief?-J. H. G.
A. In 1911 there was erected near
Oregon, ILL.,, on bluff overlooking the
Rock River Valley, a massive concrete
statue in his honor. The figure is so
feet in height and was executed by
dorado Taft. It is not portrait statue,
but embodies the features of more than
one Indian tribe.
@. Has New York City fag?-T. r. H.
A. The official flag of the City Of New
York was adopted in 1915. The colors
are Dutch-blue, white and orange in
| perpendicular bars-the same which
| f1oated over the Island of Manhattan
| more than 300 years ago.
@. What is the longest train ever
| worn by a woman?-M. G. D.
A. 1t was probably the train on the
gown worn by Catherine the Great of
Russia at her coronation In 1762. This
was 225 feet in length and required so
train bearers to support it.
@. should like booklet Of scientific