Evening star., 1939-10-10
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hnskt7,.

By Frederic J. Hnsktr.
A reader can get the ansUer to any
question OF fact by tDr!ting The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin. director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Is there any estimate of the mum.
ber Of casualties there would be in the
event America were involved in war;
J. B.
A. The Army Medical Corps estimates
that in case Of war it would have to
take care of $50 casualties q day for
every 1000 infantry soldiers in action.
Twenty-four OF the $50 would be killed
and about l26 wounded or gassed.
Q. Why is presiding officer called
chairman?-R. c. M.
A. In the days of antiquity chairs
we're used only by chiefs and kings,
others standing or sitting on the floor.
Therefore to occupy a chair means to
occupy the place of authority.
Q/Did Lily Langtry, the Jersey Lily"
appear in the United States in the
l880s?-J. G. r.
A. In 1882 the famous actress toured
the United States, playing in "As You
Like It." "As In a Looking Glass" and
Lady Windermere's Fam" which Oscar
Wilde wrote for her.
G. What was the name of Huey Longs
paper and how long was it published?
G. S.
A. American Progress was published
by Senator Long as daily and later
as a weekly newspaper from August.
1888, to August, 1885.
@. What is a supernova?-G. G. 8.
A. 1t is a star which explodes with
great violence and fades rapidly. A
rare phenomenon, 1t is distinguished by
It's extreme brilliance from the fire.
quently observed and similar novae. In
1886 Hubble discovered supernova in
Virgo In 1887 zwicky discovered two
Gin distant nebulae), each said to be
500,00O0 900 times brighter than the sun.
@. How many women in childbirth
are cared for by midwives?-J. s. C.
A. 1t is estimated that approximately
225,O0O births annually are attended by
midwives.
@. Who was the famous English
jockey who rode IL consecutive vim
ners?-L. w. r.
A. The American Racing Annual says:
Gordon Richards, England's leading
rider for II years, rode IL consecutive
winners. At Nottingham on October 2.
1888, Richards rode Barnaby to vic
tory in the fifth race and had no
mount in the last race of the day. On
October 8 at Chepstow, Richards rode
the entire card of six winners and the
following day at the same course he
rode the first five winners"
@. What is the religious significance
of the palm?-D. H. r.
A. The palm as symbol of victory
was adopted by the early Christians to
represent the triumph of the faithful
over the enemies of the soul. 1t is the
special badge of martyrs, and the Con-
gregation of Rites, 1888, regarded the
representation of palm on a catacomb
tomb as proof that martyr was in
tered there, but this was later declared
and fruit ard hence is emblematic Of
Gods protection and grace.
@. How many beauty parlors are there
in the United States and what is the
amount OF their business?-M. A. J.
A. In 1898, business in the 78624
beauty shops in the United States
amounted to s2O5 .oO0,o0O
@. Where is Mummy Cave?-W. M. @.
A. Mummy Cave is in Canyon del
Muerto Canyon Of DEATH at Canyon dc
Chelly National Monument in Arizona.
1t contains more than 100 skeletons Of
Navajo Indians who sought refuge in the
cave and were massacred there by Mexi-
cans in 1904.
G. What is the origin of the word
trivial?-M. H. C..
A. In Rome place where three streets
came together was known as trivia.
People met here and gossiped and con-
sequently any idle story was branded as
Of trivia source, or trivial.
@. Was there an early druggist in the
United States named Hugh Mercer?-
r. E.
A. Hugh Mercer was one of the most
famous of Revolutionary soldiers At
the suggestion of George Washington,
Mercer moved to Fredericksburg, Va,
where he at once took up the practice Of
medicine and conducted an apothecary
shop This shop is still in existence and
is one Of the show places of Fredericks-
burg.
Q. Who wrote the words of the famous
college song, Fair Harvard"?-R. S. B.
A. In 1886 the Rev. Samuel Gilman,
Harvard graduate and Unitarian min
lister at Charleston, S. c.. wrote the ode
for the university's bicentennial celebra-
ton. It was written in less than l3
hours before 1t was sung at the morning
exercises on September and is called
the noblest college song yet written in
America.
@. How early were there Federal laws
concerning birth control?-C. D.
A. The Federal law of 1873 classified
contraceptive literature and instruments
with pornographic literature and obscene
devices, and prohibited their importation