Evening star., 1940-02-12
Hoskin's S Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic ,. Hasktn,

~ SSSUVSSN ". GUSHtWs
A reader can get the ansuer to any
question OF fact by ,Driting The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington.
D. c. Please irclose stamp for reply.
Q. What color were the hair and eyes
Of Mrs. Lincoln?-R. L. G.
A. Her hair was rich, dark brown; her
eyes were blush gray. DR.. w. E. Barton,
in his Life Of Abraham Lincoln" saws
that Mrs. Lincoln was "a brunette with
rosy cheeks"
@. Please describe the catacombs of
Rome.-T. II. F.
A. These labyrinthine passages honey
comb the environs of Rome, enc.rcling
the city at distance of a mile or two
outside the city walls. They are from
80 to SO feet underground descent being
provided by stairways, and are from 3 to
4 feet wide and IL feet ir height with a
total length exceeding 750 miles. CHAM
bers or chapels were constructed at IN
tervals, their walls being ornamented
with paintings of sacred subjects The
dead were placed in recesses excavated
in the side walls and were closed In with
slabs sealed with cement Burial in the
catacombs ceased with the sack of Rome
by the Goths in 40 AID.
@. How long ago did Steve Brodis
make his spectacular leap from Brook.
lyn Bridge?-N. H.
A. Steve Brodie jumped from BROOKLYN
Bridge on July %, 1886.
@. What was the first unit Of Ameri-
can soldiers to 60 into battle during the
World War?-K. L. G.
A. The War Department SAYS that the
first unit Of the United States ARMY to
engage in major action during the
World War was the 2Sth Infantry. 1st
Division, under the command of Col.
Hanson E. Ely at Cantigny on May %.
1918.
O.. Are there many tabloid newspa-
pers?-N. K. B.
A. The 1910 year book of Editor and
Publisher lists so newspapers in the
United States published in tabloid or
small formal.
@. What was the largest attendance
record at the Olympic Games?-W. BID.
A. The largest attendance was in Ber-
lin In 1885, where approximately 4.5OO 900
tickets Of admission were sold for the
various spectacles at cash return of
about $2,8o0,000.
Q. Please give brief history Of SIM
plified spelling-C. r.
A. While spelling reform may be traced
back as far as 1854 or earlier, the first
real changes were given by Noah Web
ster's dictionary Of 1925 In 1875 the
American Pathological Association adj
vocated a special list of new words.
Later the National Education Associa.
ton revived the idea and proposed an
other list. Then in 1906 President
Theodore Roosevelt gave his support to
the movement and Andrew Carnegie
devoted funds to the cause. The SIM
pliied Spelling Board has continued to
advocate changes.
@. OF what nationality was Scarlet
OHara?-D. M. H.
A. Her mother was Of French descent
and her father was Irish.
Q. Please give the origin Of the use of
buttons on mems coat sleeves.-E. E. o.
A. The theory is that the practice of
having long cuffs of lace was partly re-
sponsible. The lace cuffs interfered con-
siderably with action and tailors put
buttons on to fasten them hack. An
other theory is that a Certain English
King having equipped his soldiers uni
forms with lace cuffs, found the men
were using the latter for handkcrchiefs
and ordered buttons to be put on the
sleeves so that the soldiers would scratch,
their noses If they attempted to make
this improper use Of the lace.
Q. What celebrated portrait by Van
Dyck has been bought by an American
art gallery?-M. H. L.
A. The Fine Arts Gallery Of San Diego
has recently bought a portrait of the
consort Of Charles by Van Dyck. For
merly, 1t was In the collection Of the
Sixth Marques of Ailesbury.
@. What is the religious affiliation Of
Myron c. Taylor, representative to the
Vatican?-M p.
A. Mr.. Taylor is an Episcopalian, Oh
Quaker ancestry.
Q. What is the name of the woman in
New York City who is famous for her
wedding cakes?-R. p. g.
A. For 80 years Nine. Blanche Of that
city has made cakes for weddings, recep-
tions and other large functions Among
her clients have been Presidents, mil
lionaires, statesmen and diplomats. No
two cakes are alike and prices range as
high as $1,000.
@. Can an enlisted man in the British
Army or Navy become an oficer?-I. S.
A. The British Embassy says: Com
missions as onicers in both the royal
navy and army are, and have been for
great number Of years, open to en-
listed men (called "ratingsT In tha@
royal navy. Under present conditiohs
at least 80 per cent of officers commits.
sions granted in the army 60 to those
serving In the ranks.
Q. How many Of the feature movies re-