Evening star., 1940-03-19
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hnsktn.

~ FTe1ertc J. HGSktn.
A reader can get the answer to any
question OF fact by Drtttno The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdskin, director, WASHINGTON,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Who made the first transcontd.
mental fight In the United States?-
N. NJ
A. The first coast-to-coast flight was
made by Galbraith Perry Rodgers, who
flew Wright biplane from Sheepshead
Bay, Long Island, on September II,
1911, to Long Beach, Calf, where he
landed on December 10, 1911. He made
SO landings and had IS crackups. The
battered plane in which the fight was
made is now on exhibit at the Smith
sonian Institution in Washington, D. G.
@. Does the ice form at the top or
bottom of a lake?-J. A.
A. A lake or other body of water
freezes from the top down Since wa
ter at the freezing point is less dense
and therefore lighter than slightly
warmer water, it remains at the sur
face, where it freezes AS soon as ice
has formed over the surface it acts as
a blanket, allowing the heat to escape
very slowly from the water underneath.
@. What is the source of the words,
If reasons were as plentiful as black
berries, would give no man reason
on compulsion"?-A. G.
A. These are the words of Falstaff in
Shakespeare's Henry w.
Q. How long have envelopes been
used in the United States?-P. S.
A. Envelopes were first made in 1899
by Mr.. Pierson of New York City in
little store on Fulton street The
first envelope machine patent was
granted January %, 1849 to J. K. Park
and c. S. Watson of New York. The
first practical envelope folding machine
that was successful commercially was
patented January 81, 1853, by DR.. Rus
sell L. Harris of Worcester, Mass VIM
dow envelopes were devised by Thomas
Callahan, patented June 10, 1902.
@. Will it be possible to locate missing
relatives through the new census?-
A. H. S.
A. The Bureau of the Census saws
that it will be impossible to locate lost
relatives through the 1910 census.
@. Please give the story of King Rob-
ert Bruce and the spider-N. J. S.
A. While a fugitive, Bruce lay one
morning on his hard bed in a wretched
hut, and saw on the roof above him a
spider swinging by thread of its own
spinning 1t was trying to swing itself
from one beam to another, and again
and again made the attempt in vain.
When 1t had tried six times Bruce rea-
llzed that that was just the number Of
battles which he had vainly fought
against the English, and he made a VOW
that if the spider tried a seventh time
and succeeded he would renew his cour-
age and try again. The spiders sew
enth attempt was successful and Bruce
took heart and went forth to victory,
@. When was the earthquake in
Charleston, S. C.?-F. G.
A. The Charleston earthquake oc-
CURED on August 81, 1886, killing IL
persons and causing property loss Of
S., 900 900.
@. How much did it cost to build tho
Queen Mary:-R. S.
A. The cost of the Queen Mary was
approximately s30,OO0O00.
Q. Is Felix Schlag, the designer of
the Jefferson scent piece, an Americana
It. G. D.
A. Felix schlag was born in Frank
furt, Germany, in September, 1891. He
has been an American citizen since 1929.
@. What is the location of the Wilder
ness through which the Children of
Israel traveled?-B. E. L.
A. According to the Bible Atlas. the
Wilderness in which the Israelites wan
dered for 20 years is part of Arabia. It
is south of Palestine, between Egypt
and Edom. 1t is triangular in shape ard
has an area of about 22,5O0 square miles.
@. Why does a cement walk bulge in
very cold Weather?-P. G.
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that cement walk bulges or bellies
in the winter or cold weather probably
because frost heaves up the ground under
the walk This is a common trouble
where foundation is not sufficiently deep.
@. Please give the history of Casa
Grande, the National Monument IN
Arizona.-C. H.
A. The first written record of the
Casa Grande having been seen by a
white man occurs in the journal and
reports of Jesuit missionary, Padre
Eusebio Kino, who relates the incidents
of journey northward from his head
quarters, the Mission Nuestra Sonora de
los Dolores, In November, 1894. kino
spoke Of this trip, and of his arrival at
several Indian pueblos on the bank of the
Gila River, near which stood the RUNS
of many ancient villages, and which
contained several casa grandes,"
great houses" He made visit to the
largest, in which he said mass, and
which he described as Having walls
nearly two varas in thickness, polished
to the luster of fine pottery" From
that time onward for nearly $50 years,
according to the writings of the period,
the Casa Grsnde, or the Casa de Moe
tezuma,' as it was sometimes called.
ta Low, Il ,or<f for y,