Evening star., 1940-02-10
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hdsktn.


A reader can get the dnsUer to any
question of fact by ,pritino The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
d. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Why did John Steinbeck call his
novel "Of Mice and Men"?-L. M. 6.
A. The phrase, "Of Mice and Men," is
taken from the poem, ITO Mouse" by
Robert Burns, which includes the line,
'The best laid schemes O. mice an men,
gang aft a-gley."
| @. Please give the origin Of the blood
bank.-I. M. P.
A. The blood bank was first used in
1892, when Jewish doctor tried to save
Pope Innocent VIII. However, the pres
ent system originated in Moscow, where
| fresh, healthy corpses are drained Of
their blood, which is stored and later in
jected into anemic bodies.
| O. Where is the British Library Of In
formation?-C. P. S.
A. 1t maintains headquarters at SO
Rockefeller plaza, New York City. The
library serves the general public as
source of authoritative public informa-
ton on British affairs
| @. What was the seating capacity of
the stadium in which the 1886 Olympic
games were held?-C. L. S.
A. The capacity of the Olympic Sta
dunn at Berlin, Germany, was 10000.
| @. Where was the piano first played
in England?-M NJ
A. The piano was first heard in Eng
land at Covent Garden in 1857.
@. How large is Yosemite National
Park?-L L.
A. It's total area is 1l76 square miles.
@. Is there any method of distinguish
ing criminal by his physical character
istics?-T. K M.
A. According to Dr. Ales Hrdlicka,
curator of physical anthropology at the
Smithsonian Institution, there are no
physical criteria for distinguishing the
potential criminal. DR.. Hrdlicka bases
his conclusions on his own measurements
of 1000 prisoners of both sexes from to
16 years of age. Physical measurements
of the actual criminal, he believes, can
show only that he tends to be abnormal
There is no possibility of connecting alb
normality with criminality.
O. How many dimes are there In a
mile?-W. M B.
nm
dimes or $4,000 in a mile.
O. Who invented the outboard motor?
w H.
Ain 1906, Ole Evinrude of Milwaukee,
Wis. began experimenting and in 1910
applied for patent on small, light,
single cylinder, internal combustion mo-
tor which could be attached to the stern
of a small boat and readily detached
when desired The new machine rapidly
grew in popular favor and others manu-
factured somewhat similar devices.
@. Has any Presidents wife ever acted
as his secretary?-E. P. D.
A. Mrs. Polk served as secretary to
President James K. Polk.
@. Please give some information about
the United States Travel Bureau.-B. S.
A. The object of the bureau, which is
under the Department of the Interior,
is to develop and increase travel and
recreation by publicity promotion pro-
grams, coordination of and assistance
to travel organizations. 1t furnishes
complete and impartial information on
scenic, historical and recreational attrac-
tions of the United States. This service
is available without charge.
@. Is it necessary to capitalize the
names of the seasons?-R. 7. H.
A. The names of the seasons are not
capitalized except when they are per-
sonihed.
@. What is the origin of the yodel?-
J.. .V.P.
A. The word yodel is the English form
of jodeln. Groves Dictionary speaks as
follows: "A characteristic feature of the
original form of Lander as sung in AUS
trian and Bavarian Tyrol is the jodel.
This term is applied to the abrupt but
not inharmonious changes from the chest
voice to the falsetto which are we'll
known feature in the performance or
Tyrolese singers The practice Is not
easy to acquire unless the voice has been
accustomed to it from early youth; 1t
also requires powerful organ and con-
siderable compass. This form Of song is
so ancient tnat it is probably correct to
say its origin cannot be traced. There is
a record of Roman missionaries having
protested against the popularity OF The
yodel in that part Of the world which
today we call Switzerland"
@. Please give the latest population
figure for Washington, D. C.-L. T, M.
A. Population of the Washington
metropolitan area has increased to ap-
proximately e5O,OOo, compared with only
621, ,o59 in the 1880 Federal census.
@. Who said, "The public be damned"7
N. 9.
A. William H. Vanderbilt, when presi-
dent of the New York Central. said "The
public be damned" Melville E. Stone In
Fifty Years a Journalist" points out
that Mr.. Vanderbilt used the words to a
reporter who had forced his way into
| AEr yyopdorhilt,s rrivate car