Evening star., 1940-09-24
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hdsktn.

A reader can get the unsUer to any
question OF fact by Driting The Eve-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington.
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Has the date Of Thanksgiving Day
been decided for this year7-R. r. T.
A. The President has unoficially stated
that he will proclaim the earlier date
again, which would be November 81 this
year. This, however, affects only the
District of Columbia. Each Governor
must set the date for his State.
@. What became of the camels that
were purchased for the use of the Army
at one time?-V. T. j.
A. After several years trial, 1t was
demonstrated that the animals were not
adapted for military transportation in
this country and the entire herd was sold
at auction. On March 8. 1866, the quar- q
termaster at New Orleans, La, was au-
thorized to sell Sc camels then in Texas.
The highest bid received for the animals
was $3l per head, at which price they
were sold.
Q. wish to know how many Christian
denominations there are in the United
States-A. B. L.
A. There are more than 200 Christian
denominations in this country at the
present time.
@. How many Presidents Of the United
States were born west of the Missis-
sippi?-F. c. S.
A. Herbert Hoover is the only one.
Iowa is the only State west of the Mis-.
sissippi River distinguished as the birth.
place of President
@. Is a Chinaman a citizen Of the
United States if born in this coun-
try?-F. S.
A. The Constitution provides that all
children born in the United States are
citizens thereof. This applies to the
Chinese, as well as to members of the
Caucasian race.
@. Who is the pretender to the French
throne?-J. D. j.
A. The present pretender to the French
throne is the Count of Paris, who mar
ried Princess Isabelle Of Orleans ard
Braganza on April 8, 1881 Prince Henri's
father. the Duke of Guise. died AL
gust 26, 1910
@ In making ice. does the ammonia
enter into the ice and does this cause the
whitish streaks often seen?-E. De A.
A. Concentration of impurities in the
water frequently causes the center of
blocks of ice to be milky and have
a peculiar taste. Usually the core water
is removed and replaced with fresh water,
when the block has been nearly solidifed.
1t is possible in a defective. carelessly
operated plant. or by some accident, for
The ice to contain traces of ammonia, but
ordinarily this would not occur.
@ Are elephants really afraid Of
NICER. w. R
A. Elephants are made very nervous
by mice or other small animals An
elephants eyesight is poor and it is diff
cult for it to reach every part of its large
c,
like mice because of the possibility that
the mice will gnaw their feet, run up
their legs or trunks or get into their ears.
@. Please explain where the huge VOL
une Of water that flows over Niagara
Falls comes from-M. L.
A. The water flowing over Niagara
Falls comes from the Great Lakes. Every
minute of the day and night almost
100000 tons of water tumble over the
precipice into the gorge below.
O. How many States observe Arbor
Day?-E. E. B.
A. Thirty-slx States have enacted a
law for the observance of Arbor Day.
In six States it is a legal holiday. and in
three 1t is legal holiday in the schools.
@. Please tell me Just what is meant
by penthouse.-H. J.
A. A penthouse may be shed with a
roof sloping from a wall or. in recent
usage, an apartment or dwelling built on
top of a tall building. The word is
corruption of pentice, derived from the
Lalln VerD meaning 10 attaCn.
@. What is the altitude of the north
boundary of Yellowstone National
Park?-W. o.
A. The average altitude of the north
ern boundary line of Yellowstone Ma
tional Park is 5000 feet. The high point
on the northern boundary is Electric
Peak, with an altitude Of 1855 feet.
O. Please explain briefly why the ocean
Is salty.-J McH.
A. Many authorities at the present day
believe that the water of the oceans has
always been salt. BY others. the salinity
is attributed to the washing out of salts
contained in the earth by means Of
streams, the salts being carried down
to the oceans.
@. When were ice cream cones first
made?-G. H. w.
A. Ice cream cones were introduced at
the Worlds Fair in st. Louis in 1904