Evening star., 1939-08-18
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hdskin,

~ FTeGeT1c J. H1Sktn.
reader can get the ans,Der to ann
question OF fact by writing The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau. Fred.
eric J. Haskin, director, Washtnoton.
d. c. Please inclose stamp for replu.
u. How many crimes are committed
IN the United States?-W. j.. H.
A. In 1888 there were 1,433,s12 serious
crimes committed and approximately
11,0O0, 900 minor offenses
@. What makes the stars twinkle,-
E. X.
A. The twinkling Of stars is a rapid
shaking or vibration of their light caused
mainly by the turmoil of the atmosphere
currents and strata of different tenn
peratures intermingling and flowing past
one another. A stars light seems to come
from mere point, so that when its rays
are scattered by irregular refraction. at
one instant very few rays reach the eye,
and at another many. This accounts for
the seeming changes of brightness In a
twinkling star. Ordinarily the bright
planets are not seen to twinkle, because
OF their large apparent disks, made up
OF multitude of points, which therefore
maintain a general average of brightness.
O. How many steps are there In the
Washington Monument?-P. ST.
A. There are 1898.
O. How did the polecat get its name?
j. M. G.
A. Pole is from the French word poule,
meaning chicken. The animal Is so
called because it preys on poultry.
Q. Where was Tristan und Isolde,
first produced?-J. S. H.
A. The opera had its premiere In
Munich on June 10, 1865, under the baton
Of Hans Won Bulow.
Q. What was the word in the Bible
that was used to determine whether a
person was an Ephraimite?-G T. S.
A. Shibboleth was the test word which
the Gileadites made the Ephraimites
pronounce. AS the Ephraimites could not
say sh, but only as in sibboleth. this
was regarded as a sure indication of an
Ephraimite; $4,000 Ephraimites were
thus detected and executed.
u Are there any magazines that offer
lifetime subscriptions?-E NJ. H.
A. The National Geographic Magazine
and the Readers Digest have life sub.
scrlpt1ons. The former is through mem
bership.
@. Does black clothing attract more
heat than white?-E. L. R.
A. Black substances absorb heat while
white reflect it. This is demonstrated bv
placing two pieces of cloth, one black
and the other white, on a piece of ice.
When the sun shines on them it will be
found that the black piece absorbs the
heat and melts its way into the Ice. but
the white does not
@. What do the chain stores spend
for advertising?-E. Mr..
A. In 1888 chain stores in the United
States spent approximately 5000 900 900
for advertising of all kinds.
@. Was Tolstoi, the great Russian
novelist, peasant?-W. M. G..
A. His family belonged to the old
Russian nobility and he received every
advantage OF cultured environment.
Educated by French tutors and at the
University OF Kazan, he gradually culti-
waited contempt for academic learning.
In later years he renounced a life of
ease and for 10 years labored In the
fields as an ordinary workman. He re-
fused money for his writing subsisting on
what he earned by farming and making
shoes and associated almost entirely
with the peasants.
@. Who said Whatever is. is rieht"7-
c. P. D.
A. 1t is from Alexander Popes Essay
on Man"
Q. Who introduced baseball in Europe,
w. T. G..
A. John McGraw is credited with
having introduced baseball In Europe and
in the Orient.
@. Is there a town called Lone Wolff
J. B. D.
A. Lone Wolf is the name of a town
in southwestern Oklahoma on the North
Fork Of the Red River between Hobart
and Mangum.
@. What building was used as the Cap
itol OF the United States from 1890 to
1800?-J. r.
A. Congress Hall in Philadelphia served
as the Capitol from December 6, 1870,
to May IA, 1900
@. What is kummel?-G. P.
A. 1t is liqueur popular in the Baltic
states, Riga being the principal point of
distribution. Cummin and caraway seeds
give the predominating flavor. A fine
variety is known as allasch Kummels
alcoholic strength is about 40 per cent.
@. How much is the average car worth7
IT. M. H.
A. The average value of all cars on the
highways is only 5000.
@. When was the first commercial
program given on radio network?-
T. j. H.
A. The first network commercial pro-
gram was broadcast on February -.
1924, over the Red Network. Its sponsor
was the National Carbon Co., and the
program was entitled "He Knew Lincoln"
@. Is there available an inexpensive