Evening star., 1940-05-22
huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hoskt,s.

~ ~ - DNoN6ss
A reader can get the ansuey to anv
question OF fact BY 1prtttng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Hasktn, director, Washington,
D. C.. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
q. What were the first words used on
. phonograph?-E. r.
A. When the phonograph was In.
vented by Thomas A. Edison, the frst
verse spoken into the new instrument
was MARY Had Little Lamb"
Q. When was shaving introduced?--
A. MI.
A. The custom Of shaving can be
traced back to antiquity. The Egyptians
commonly shaved except when in mourn
ing. In Greece. Alexander the Great
ordered his soldiers to shave of their
boards 50 that their enemies might not
seize them by them. The custom was
introduced into Rome about the same
time. In Europe razors were used in
France, Spain and In England before the
18th century.
Q. What air passenger travels the
greatest number of miles3-R. P.
A. During the past year Mrs. Franklin
D. Roosevelt, Orson Welles and Andre
Kostelanetz each has Travelled over l00,-
900 miles by airplane. In 1899 Mrs. Clara
Adams went around the world by COM
mercial airline; q distance Of 25, 900 miles
In 16 dayS 10 hours 4 minutes
@. Please give the age. value and
size of the Steel Pier at Atlantic City,
G. L. H.
A. The pier was built In 1897 and
opened to the public in 1898 Its present
value has been estimated at over $780,
900. The length is slightly over 1000
feet and 1t is ITS feet wide.
@. What was the sarcastic remark
made by Woodrow Wilson about the in
decisiveness Of william Jennings Bryan7
&C. p. D.
A. Mr.. Wilson said that Mr.. Bryan
came out hurriedly, mounted his horse,
and Immediately rode OF In five different
directions.
Q. Is q passport required to enter
Mexico and Canada from the United
States?-H. B.
A. 1t Is not necessary to have q pass
port to enter either Canada or Mexico,
but some certified identification should
be carried.
q. Who originated the Childrens
Crusade7-M. j. D.
A. The idea Of having school children
help the refugee children Of war-stricken
countries was conceived by Dorothy Can
field Fisher, the author.
@. What is a jalap?-E. g. D.
A. 1t Is twining plant belonging to
the morning-glory family. whose root
Is the source Of a well-known laxative
drug Of the same name. It Is found
chiefly around Jalapa, town in Mexico
@. Is Mussolini religious?-J. K.
A. Inside Europe" by John Gunther,
says: ''The Duce is the only modern dc
tator who has come to terms with
religion. In 1879 the LAteran reaty
adjusted the relations of church and
state in italy. Shortly thereafter Nus
solini and the Pope, strong characters
both, clashed over the education Of
Fascist youth; in 1882 the Duce went to
the Vatican. knelt in prayer, and, It is
believed, took holy communion. He was
an avowed atheist like his father, in
youth; latterly he has become very
religious. He prays daily. His wedding
gift to Edda was a golden rosary; his
youngest child, Anna Maria, was his
frst to be given religious name"
Q. When is Fathers Day?-G. o.
A. Fathers Day will be observed on
Sunday, June is.
@. Please give the origin of the term
Jim Crow.-F. r. C.
A. The book Phrase Origins" saws:
This name, as applied to street or rail-
road cars reserved exclusively for Negroes,
was that Of dusky dancer Of about
1880, whose routine included a peculiar
Jump still known to school children as
part Of the wheel about and turn about
and Jump Jim Crow dance. The early
song and dance won wide popularity as
q minstrel number, and Jim Grow became
the generic name for Negro. BY 1851 It
was in print as designating their spe-
cial car"
Q. Where is the statue Of Joan Of
Arc which contains stone brought from
the dungeon at Rouen?-S. D.
A. The statue is on Riverside Drive In
New York City. Erected in 1915, the
pedestal was made in part from l8
tons Of stone from the dungeon at Rouen.
France. The statue Of Joan of Arc on
horseback is Of bronze and is the work
of Anna Vaughn Hyatt. Her niece,
Clara Hunter Hyatt, posed in armor for
the figure.
@. Is 1t true that during the World
War more Negroes than white men were
drafted from South Carolina7-A. L. J.
A. At the time Of the World War the
number Of white men inducted into the
Army from South Carolina was ls,2el:
Negroes, 25,7e8.
@. How many new designs Of postage
stamps have been issued during the
Roosevelt administration?-E. D. K.
A. The Post Once Department says
that l35 postage stamps. including ordi-
nary, airmail and commemorative issues.
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