Evening star., 1940-08-24
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hasktn.

"A
question OF fact by toriting The Eue-
nina star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
DC. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. How many patents have Deen
granted to women?-R. H. S.
A. Since the establishment y OF the
patent system $50 years ago, women nave
been granted 10000 patents. Each week
to IL Of the 100 or more patents grant,
ed by the United States Patent Once go
to woman inventors.
O. Is there dude ranch association?
j. w. j.
A. The Dude Ranch Association, OF
which Larry Larom is president, has
headquarters at Valley, Wyo.
@. What is the origin of the word tan
talize?-M P. L.
A. In Greek mythology Tantalus, hav-
ing offended the gods, was condemned to
suffer the torments of hunger and thirst.
He was placed in the midst of lake
whose water reached his chin, while over
his head hung branches laden with fruit.
But whenever he tried to drink the water
receded and whenever he tried to satisfy
his hunger the fruit slipped out of reach.
@. Who is Ellery Queen, the mystery
writer?-C. S.
A. Ellery Queen is the pseudonym Of
Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee.
@. What was the first educational en-
dowment in America?-C. P.
A. The bequeathing Of $50 acres Of
land, an adjacent salt marsh and eight
milk COWS, comprised the first educa-
tional endowment. 1t was left by Ben
jamin Symmes to found a free school in
Elizabeth County, Va. Mr.. Symmes died
in 1884.
@. Please give the particulars of the
molasses tank explosion in Boston.-E.
L.C.
molaSses tank on Commercial street
burst. approximately 20 lives were lost,
many persons were injured and many
horses killed. The explosion demol-
ished IA wooden buildings and fire en-
gine house. At the time of the disaster
the tank contained about 100000 gal.
Ions of molasses.
Q. How many people are getting finan-
cial relief from the Government?-H.
w H
A. In March, 1910 (the latest figures
available, there were 1,636,252 persons
receiving general relief from the Federal
Government. This does not include spe-
clal types Of assistance such as the State
old-age pension, railroad retirement or
persons employed on Federal work pro-
grams.
@. How many women are enrolled as
flyers in England?-J R. S.
A. The British Women's Auxiliary Air
Force is estimated to have member
ship of II oOO-1,OO of whom are actively
engaged in flying
@. For whom is Fort Smelling named?
L. NJ.
A. Fort Smelling, in Hennepin County,
MINI, was named for Col Josiah SHELL
ing, a native of Boston. He served in
the battle of Tippecanoe and during the
War of 1872 was with Hulls Army around
Detroit.
@. Did Capt. Kidd, the pirate, have
daughter?-E. NJ C.
A. Capt. William Kidd had two daugh-
ters-Sarah, who married Joseph Lath-
am. and Elizabeth, who married John
Troup.
@. Which of Walt Whitman's poems
was written on the death of Ltncoln?-
L. C. @.
A. Two of his most famous poems were
written on this occasion. 20 Captain!
Ny Captain!" and when Lilacs Last
in the Door Yard Bloomd"
Q. What are the terms of Senators
and Representatives?-H. T.
A. The term of a Senator Is for six
years, and that of Representative two
years.
@. Please give the significance of En-
Der days-W M
A. Ember days are days set apart for
fasting and prayer in each of the four
seasons. They were known to have been
observed in Britain as early as 597 and
were affirmed by the Council of Aenham.
1909 and appointed by the Council Of
Placentia, 1895.
@. Who said: Cotton is King"7-
E. L. S.
A. The expression is credited to David
Christy. who used it in 1855, and also
to Senator James H. Hammond of South
Carolina in speech in the United States
Senate in March, 1853
@. What is the meaning of the word
iron with reference to leather?-K. ]. @.
A. In the manufacture Of shoes, the
term iron" is used as unit of measure
ment equal to one forty eighth OF an
inch. Reference is here made to tho
thickness of the sole.