Evening star., 1940-02-19
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hdskin.

A reader can get the ans,ner to any
question OF fact by tDrtttrg The Ere.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin, director. Washington,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
Q. Please give the origin and meaning
Of the word allergy.-M. T.
A. In 1907 Won Parquet, an Austrian.
devised the word "allergy." The term
was designed to explain peculiar and un-
expected phenomena In animals which
had been injected and reinjected with
foreign proteins-such as egg albumen
or milk. Allergy Is Of Greek derivation
and means altered reactivity." It IL
now used snynonymously with "hyper-
sensitiveness" and "idiosyncrasy" These
terms are applied to humans to denote
an altered capacity in certain indi-
viduals to react to environmental agents.
@. How many times has President
Roosevelt gone to the theater since he
has been in ONCE? What were the
plays?-L. T. e.
A. The four theatrical performances
the President attended since 1888 are
"Dodsworth," "Knickerbocker Holiday"
Outward Bound" and Life With
Father"
Q. What road is called the Broadway
Of America?-W. r. D.
A. The highway from. New York to
San Diego, Calf, is known by this name.
@. Who built the castle in Richmond,
Va, which overlooks CANDLES Hill Park?
w. c. F.
A. Pratt's Castle, which is located on
South Fourth street, was built by vii.
liam A. Pratt, an English architect and
century.
@. When was the Boston police striker
j. T.
A. The strike occurred on September
9, 1919.
@. What philanthropist left money to
found college from which all ministers
would be barred?-H NJ
"a otSPllSll Vii dlu uleu III fIlldQels
phia, Pa, December 26, 1881, leaving an
estate valued at over 100000. OF this
amount s2000,000 was bequeathed to
found college bearing his name for the
benefit Of orphans and to which no min
lister or cleric should ever be admitted.
This was to preserve entire religious
freedom and independence.
Q. Who takes the part Of Ellery Queen
and Nikki Porter on the Ellery Queen
mystery program?-M Y.
A. Hugh Marlowe plays the part OF
Ellery Queen and Marion Shockley plays
the part of Nikki Porter in the radio
drama.
@. What is the salary of the head Of
the Veterans Administration?-EL L. S.
A. Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines, admins
traitor, receives $4,000 a year.
O. Who was the first regent Of the
Mount Vernon Ladies' Association?-
L. B. L.
A. The first woman to bear this title
was Miss Ann Pamela Cunningham, who
served as regent from 1853 to 1874.
@. What Is the name of the organiza-
ton in Massachusetts, that has a camp
for newsboys?-E. r. H.
A. The Borroughs Newsboys' Founda-
ton at Boston conducts a summer camp
for newsboys from all sections of the
country at a small charge.
@. Does Vermont have blue laws?-
w. NJ K.
A. Vermont repealed its blue laws on
February IA, 1889. Under the new law,
cities and towns may decide by ballot
whether they want movies, lectures, con-
certs and baseball on the Sabbath.
Q. What is the largest bill in circula-
tion?-D. B. w.
A. The largest bill in general circula-
ton is the $4,000 bill. Bills of larger
denominations are for transactions be-
tween the Federal Reserve Banks.
Q. Who was the first aviator to at
tempt fight across the north polar
regions?-R. P. B.
A. Solomon August Andree was the
pioneer in this field. Failing in a first
attempt in 1896 because of air condi-
tionS, he set out in a balloon from Spits-
bergen in 1897. On reaching 50 degrees
Sc minutes N. latitude, his men fitted
out three sledges, one with a boat and
after great effort arrived at White Is
land, where they perished of exposure.
Expeditions sent in search received no
clues until, in 1880, the Bratvaag ex-
pedition discovered the remains and
equipment, which contained, among
other things the diaries of Andree.
@. What is the significance of the fir.
ure over the entrance to the R. C. A.
Building in New York City?-A. HI.
A. The sculpture by Lee Lawrie, which
is placed over the main entrance to the
R. c. A. Building, strikes the keynote
OF mans development in mind and spirit.
The central figure of this sculpture rep.
resents the genius which interprets to
the human race the laws and cycles OF
the cosmic forces of the universe and
thus rules over all of mans activities.
On the right Of this central panel is
represented Light, and on the left Sound
two Of these cosmic forces. The com.
pass of the genius marks, on the glass
screen below, the cycles OF light and
sound. The inscription reads: Wisdom