Evening star., 1940-08-05
.Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. H4sktn.

By Frederic J. :Hdsktn.
4 reader can get the ansper to amy
question OF fact by writing The Ere-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. HGsktn, director, Washington,
D. c. Please incloss stamp for reply.
Q. How much cotton is destroyed by
boil weevils?-E. T.J.
A. 1t Is estimated that these insects
damage an average Of 2,000, 900 bales Of
cotton . year.
Q. Why are there SO pillars on the Lin.
coin Memorial at Washington, D. Co.
A. B. ~
A. The 36 columns in the colonnade Of
the Memorial represent the number Of
States In the Union when Lincoln died.
q. What nations use flying tanks?-
J. s. H.
A. The Russians are said to be the
first to use these tanks In sctual combat.
They are called "hell bugg.es' and can
be landed directly on battlefield. The
Germans are also experimenting with
them.
Q. What is the literal meaning Of the
word apocalypse?--T. v. S.
A. Apocalypse Is the Greek word for
revelation.
@. Which is heavier, salt or fresh
water?-E. B.
A. Sea water weighs from "a to 64.27
pounds per cubic foot, or from 1.6 to 10
pounds per cubic foot more than fresh
water. varying with the locality and not
Appreciably with the depth.
@. What President used the expires.
sion noble experiment" with reference
to the Governmental. H. p.
A. Herbert Hoover in letter to Sena.
tor Borah on February %, 1928, said:
Our country has deliberately under.
taken great social and economic ex.
pertinent, noble in motive and far.
reaching in purpose" He repeated this
IN an address at Stanford University
when he accepted the Republican nomi.
nation for the presidency.
@. Please give the number Of retail
liquor dealers in this country-A. T. H.
A. According to the latest available
figure, there are 94,309 liquor retailers
in the United States.
@. What countries comprised the Ro.
man Empire at the height of its power?
M. B. B.
A. The Roman Empire, at its greatest
extent under the Emperor Hadrian
about the year lit AID, included the
territory now contained in the following
countries of Europe: Great Britain, the
Netherlands. Belgium, Luxembourg,
France, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland,
Italy, Austria, Yugoslavia Albania, Bul.
garia, Rumania, Greece and Turkey.
O. Does Hitler ever refer to God In
his speeches?-H. E. C.
A. In his proclamation OF June "a he
said: I'm humility we thank God for
His blessing"
Q. Why are the Blue Ridge Mountains
blue?-L. A. G..
A. The blue haze over the mountains
Is owing, mainly, to the scattering Of
light by fine dust in the lower atmos-
phere. The scattering OF blue light is
much greater than that of red or yell.
low.
q. Was Gen. Sherman ever president
Of Louisiana State University?-E. W,D,
A. William T. Sherman was appointed
IN 1859 superintendent of the new mill.
tary college which the State of Louis
lana proposed to establish. He headed it
from its opening on January /, 1860,
until his resignation in the spring Of
1861, when it became evident that
Louisiana would secede.
@. Who is known as the father of the
Sunday newspaper:-R. r. E.
A. The late Morrill, Goddard was the
first to make the Sunday paper a sepa-
rate entity. He introduced the Sunday
magazine idea, colored illustrations and
many other features which are used
today.
Q. Why do goldfish open and close
their mouths so much?-B. w. 8.
A. Goldfish frequently come to- the
surface Of the water and open and
close their mouths in order to obtain q
more plentiful supply Of oxygen.
q. Did Benjamin Franklin make q
speech against the Jews at the Consti.
tutional Convention?-C. r. S.
A. There is no historical evidence that
Franklin ever made such a speech. In
an article refuting the rumor, the
Franklin Institute News says: "One
pertinent and authenticated statement
Is that when the Hebrew Society of
Philadelphia sought to raise money for
religious house or synagogue in Phila.
delphia, Franklin signed the petition Of
appeal for contributions to citizens Of
every religious denomination and gave
pounds himself to the fund"
@. How does racing pigeon get in
the Hall of Fame?-M. X. B.
A. A pigeon to be eligible for the Hall
Of Fame must have made an outstand-
ing performance during the year in
which the award is made. The award
is made under the auspices of the Amer
ican Racing Pigeon Union and only one
prize is given for the year and then only
If the fight made was an unusual per-
formance. A committee of five fanciers
passes on the performance. 8
@. What was the first Gilbert and
Sullivan opera?-N. D. E..