Evening star., 1939-09-27
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
BY Frederic J. Hnskt11.

"A 'oNACf CuH get LHG QnSUeT 70 Qnu
question OF fact by tDriting The Epe-
ming star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdsktn, director. WASHINGTON,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. What was the first United States
air unit to participate In fighting on the
western front?-T. L.
A. The Gath Aero Pursuit Squadron,
Of which Eddie Rickenbacker was COM
nanding officer was the first American
aviation unit to engage in combat on
the western front This unit was cred.
tied with SO victories the largest number
OF any American unit Rickenbacker
headed the list with 26 victories.
@. Please give Benjamin Franklin's
epitaph which he wrote when a young
man.-E. j. D.
A. 1t is as follows THE body Of Ben
Jamin Franklin, printer (like the cover
OF an old book. its contents torn out,
and stript of its lettering and gilding)
lies here. food for worms But the work
shall not be lost, for 1t will Gas he be-
leved appear once more, in a new and
more elegant edition revised and cor
rected by the author"
@. How many of the men and women
listed in Who's Who" are members of
Phi Beta Kappa?-W. J. r.
A. There are 5,469 Phi Beta Kappas
in who's Who"
@. Are there any plants that catch
fish?-C. H.
A. There are water plants, such as the
bladder-wort, which catch small fish by
spreading ladder-shaped nets into
which the fish enter. Being unable to
escape they die and the plant then
feeds upon their decaying bodies.
@. Where is the highest section of the
District Of Columbia?-J. S. P.
A. The highest point in the District Of
Columbia is in Tenleytown, where the
elevation is 420 feet.
@. How long has the word rubber been
used?-E. T.
A. Rubber was named by Joseph Priest
ley, the famous English chemist. In
TITO friend in America sent him a ball
OF crude rubber. Discovering that it
would erase pencil marks he broke OF
small pieces and called them rubbers.
@. Who said 1--WE may live without
friends. we may live without books, but
civilized man cannot live without cooks?
e. A.
A. This quotation is from Owen Mer-
ediths Lucille"
@. How large was the Circus Maxi
mus?-W. H. G..
A. The Circus Maximus at Rome built
in sos BIC. by King Tarquin, and rebuilt
and enlarged by Caesar, was 3l2 feet
high, 1875 feet long and 625 feet wide.
1t first held 100000 spectators, but the
capacity was increased to 305 900 in the
4th century, AID.
Q. Was Cher Ami, the famous World
War carrier pigeon, mounted after his
death?-M. j. r.
A. The pigeons body was mounted and
placed in the National Museum at Wash.
ington, D. G.
Q. What pitchers in the big leagues
have won the most games in a single
season?-H. r. M.
A. In 1884 Charles Radbourne of the
Providence National League Club won so
games In 1904 John Chesbro Of the
New York Yankees won Al games In
1903 Christy Mathewson of the New York
Giants won 81 games.
@. How did Easter Island get its namea
M. r.
A. 1t is so called from its discovery on
Easter Sunday, 1922.
@. What is used to support the enor-
nous weight of the skyscrapers in New
York City?-D. j. S.
A. The foundations are sunk to bed
rock by means of open coffer-dams or
closed pneumatic caissons. The caisson
may be huge timber box or steel cylin-
der, open at the bottom, but closed at a
height OF 8 or 10 feet so as to form a
working chamber. Above the working
chamber the caisson is filled with
concrete, which is pierced by vertical
shafts for the passage Of men and
materials. When the edges Of the
caisson reach rock, the working chamber
and shafts are filled with concrete, form
ing solid pillar. After the founda-
tions have been completed, the steel
skeleton is rapidly placed in position.
Q. What is meant by kudos?-F. T. r.
A. The word means glory, praise, re-
nown or fame.
@. When was the buried city of Pom
peii discovered?-H P. j.
A. 1t was discovered beneath vineyards
when some workmen were laying an
aqueduct in 1894 1t was almost 200 years
before systematic excavations were be-
gun. Pompeii was buried under volcanic
ash by an eruption of Vesuvius in 70 AID.
@. Please explain the difference be-
tween the American plan and European
plan in regard to rates at hotels.-E s. H.
A. The term, American plan, is applied
to the custom of charging a fiat daily
rate for room. and three meals a day.
Charges made on the European plan rep
resent only the tariff paid for the room.
O. Where was the Rotary Club organ
ized?-N r.
A. The first Rotary Club was formed in .
Chicago in 1905 by Paul P. Harris.