Evening star., 1939-05-11
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. HaSkt7s.

A reader can get the answer to any
question OF tact by tortttno The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
@. How large is the Vatican City?-
r. H. S.
A. 1t has an area Of 1887 acres and
population of 1,006.
@. Please explain the use of P. P. O.
card.-T. r. M.
A. Emily Post says that this Is merely
q visiting card, whether Of a lady or q
gentleman, on which the initials P. P.
C. tpour prendre conge-to take leave)
are written in ink in the lower left
corner. This is usually sent by mail to
acquaintances when one is leaving and
means nothing except 1--WE gone away
good-by." 1t is in no sense q message
Of thanks for especial kindness for which
visit should be paid or note of fare-
well and thanks written.
@. Is the New York constitution older
than that of the United States?-L.
o. B.
A. The original constitution of New
York State is older than that of the
United States for on July 6, 1776 a
constitutional convention met in White
Plains, N. Y, to set up substitute for
the royal regime in the Province of New
York. In April, TIT, the constitution
was adopted at Kingston without sub
mission to a popular vote. The United
States Constitution was adopted on
September II, 1887.
@. In what year did Bleriot fly across
the English Channel?-E. C.
A. On July Is, 1909, Louis Bleriot flew
across the English Channel from Calais
to Dover. distance of 81 miles in 81
minutes.
@. Please give the date Of the Ma.
tional All Club Conventional. M.
A. The national All Club camp will
be held in Washington, D. c., June
Is to 81.
Q. How many people in the world
speak English?-B. OBJ.
A. The English language is spoken
by more than 224 ,995 500 people, of which
more than half are Americans.
@. Who said This is a billion dollar
country"?-H. w. A.
A. The remark This is a billion
dollar country" was made by Speaker
Thomas B. Reed of Maine in answer to
a complaint of a member regarding a
billion-dollar appropriation. The Incl
dent occurred In the second session Of
the Fiftyf1rst Congress in 1891 In the
first session $500, 900 900 had been appro-
priated and slightly larger amount in
the second session, making a total ap-
preparation for that Congress of Some-
what over a billion.
@. What is the distance between the
North Pole and the South Pole?-T. K.
A. The distance between the north
and south geographical poles along the
surface of the earth is 12,430 miles The
distance between the poles straight
through the earth, that is, the diameter,
is 1899 988 miles.
@. How much will the Mellon Art CAL
lery at Washington, D. c., cost and
when will it be completed?-H R. P.
A. The cost will be SIS, 900 900 and the
building will be completed in 1910.
@. Is the heart always the same size?-
r. L.
A. When one is sitting or standing
quietly, the heart is smaller than during
periods of greater activity.
@. What is the name for a female
fox?-T. B. @.
A. 1t is called vixen.
@. Was there a famous Negro actor
named Gilpin?-F r. M.
A. Charles Sidney Gilpin was born at
Richmond. Va. in 1878. In singing
troupes, stock companies and vaudeville
he toured the United States until 1916,
when he. became manager of a stock
company in Harlem. He appeared in
two plays in New York theaters, in
Drinkwaters Abraham Lincoln" 1919,
and in the title role of Eugene ONeills
GiuECIUl OOllCS, 1olS-1oZf. Ills pOT-
trayal of Brutus Jones was recognized as
an artistic achievement.
@. How many babies are born In the
United States each year?-C. D. M.
A. More than 100000.
@. What is the name of the song
sung by Nelson Eddy and the male
chorus in Let Freedom Ring"?-A. v.
A. The song is entitled THE Dusty
Road"
@. Please give few facts about Lord
Lothian, who will succeed Sir Ronald
Lindsay as British Ambassador to the
United StateS.-N. M.
A. Lord Lothian is a wealthy bachelor
and is 81 years old. During the World
War and at the Versailles peace con-
ference he served as Lloyd Georges sec
retary and he is an accomplished public
speaker. He has been active on various
royal commissions and Is Liberal in
politics. Formerly a Roman Catholic.
he has embraced Christian Science. He
has Travelled extensively in this country.
@. Who invented the automat?-
B. H. G.
A. It was invented by Max Sielaff and
exhibited in Germany in 1896. A similar
invention appeared in Sweden about