Evening star., 1939-06-14
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Haskin.

BY Ffedertc J. H1Sktn.
A reader can get the ansDer to any
question OF fact by writtng The Eve-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
enc J. Hasktn, Director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
q. What kind Of paint can be used on
aWnings?-E. 8.
A. Ordinary paint applied on awnings
Will crack and probably peel of. A good
oil stain, such as is used in staining
shingles, would be better than paint for
the purpose.
Q. Do tornadoes ever occur In the
Eastern States2-W. j.
A. Tornadoes are liable to occur In AL
portions Of the country east Of the Rocky
Mountains, and they have occurred at
rare intervals even to the westward of
those mountains. While these storms are
less liable to occur in the Atlantic Coast
States than in the great central valleys
OF the country, yet many have occurred
IN Pennsylvania and other Eastern
States.
Q. When was liquor first barred from
the White House?-J. B.
A. During President Polk's admins.
tration, due to Mrs. Polk's strict views on
temperance, no wines or intoxicating
liquors were served in the White House.
Q. What is the largest coast defense
gun owned by the United States?-J,
B. G.
A. The 16-inch gun is the largest gun
used In coast defense In the United
States.
@. Should new cards always be pro-
vided at card games?-L. T.
A. While 1t is not necessary to have
packs OF cards with unbroken seals, tho
hostess should be sure that the cards
are in good condition.
Q. Please give some information about
the song Silver Threads Among the
Gold."-J. z.
A. The words are by E. E. Rexford,
The music is by H. F. Danks, who was
born in New Haven, Conn, in 1884 The
oSsSAAA6 w Ollt6T lQIeaOA
among the Gold was inspired by his
love for his wife. In 1873 he became
estranged from her. She died in 1924 in
brooklyn, alone in a rooming house,
Danks died on November 20. 1903, in q
cheap Philadelphia lodging house. Tho
news story published when Harriet
Danks died speaks of her as having been
estranged from her children by the very
song which she had inspired.
Q. How much does it cost to stop an
average passenger train?-J. G. Mem,
A. The cost Of stopping and starting
560-ton passenger train travelling at a
speed Of so miles per hour varies from
about "a cents to $780,
Q. Are there any tin mines In the
United States?-R. GIN.
A. There Is no tin of any commercial
Importance mined In the United states
Since the beginning of statistical com.
pilat'on In 1902. the tin production has
amounted to only about 800 tons all Of
which has come from cassiterite In South
Dakota.
g. In what foreign cities are planetsr,.
ums located?-T. H.C.
A. Planetariums are In operation N
Jena, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Numbers.
Munich and Hanover, Germany; Rome,
Italy; Osaka and Tokyo, Japan.
q. Can you tell me which was the first
toy used in the world?-M.
A. The doll is the oldest toy known and
has been found in various forms among
all nations and tribes from remote an.
tquity. In the British Museum In Lon.
don there Is q collection Of dolls, one Of
which Is 1000 years old, having been
found IN an Egyptian tomb. Dolls were
also common In Greece and Rome.
Recent scientific investigations seem to
indicate that dolls were also used by
some tribes in religious ceremonies.
Q. Please tell me if there is a Harvey
Dam.-D. T. Y.
A. The Harvey Lake Dam in the Con.
necticut River Basin in Vermont is q
project which has been proposed for
flood control The project has been in.
vestigated by the United States Army
but no further action has beer taken.
Q. Can you tell me anything about
the Kaiser-i-Hind decoration given by
the King of England?-L. G. C.
A. The Kaiser -i-Hind Medal was in
stituted in the year 1900 1t is bestowed
as reward with no distinction as to sex,
race, or position on people who have rem
dered useful or important service in the
achievement of the public interest In
India. The name has no reference to the
former German monarch. 1t means
Emperor Of Hindustan and was the title
used by the Great Moguls of Delhi It
was assumed by Queen Victoria in 1877.
There are two classes OF awards, the
first being bestowed by the sovereign and
the second by the viceroy OF India.
Q. Please give some information about
Trappist monks.-P. G..
A. The members of the Reformed
Cistercian Order of the Roman Catholic
Church, better known as Trappists, live
an entirely secluded life, devoting their
time to religious worship, contemplation
and prayer, with hard physical work az
their recreation. There are three monas-
teries: La Trappe, at Gethsemane, KY;
Our Lady Of the Valley, Cumberland,
r. l., and New Malleray, near Dubuque,
Iowa.