Evening star., 1940-04-01
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hnsktn.


reader can get the ansuer to any
question OF fact by ,Drtting The Ere-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Hnsktn, director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp TOR reply
@. Where is che largest gem ir. the
world?-H. c. w.
A. In 1899 the Smithsonian Institu.
tion Washington, d. c., acquired the
worlds largest jewel. an almost fawless
crystal of topaz, Weighing 153 pounds
or 350,000 carats. The gem, which was
discovered in the Minas Geraes Province
Of Brazil, is pale blue on the outside and
pale sherry on the inside
@. What State was the first to have
compulsory birth registration?-R. L. A.
A. Massachusetts,, in lS42 was the first
State to pass law making birth regis
tration compulsory.
Metropolitan Additions of the Air?-J.
I'M
A. The judges are John Erskine, Ed
ward johnson, Wilfred Pelletier and
Earle Lewis.
G. Please give some information about
Marie Walewska.-B B.
A. Countess Marie Walewska was the
daughter of Polish squire named Lac
zlnsN. She was intensely patriotic
from childhood and from the age of 9
adored Napoleon, who was represented
as the potential savior OF Poland. At
II she was married to Count Walewski,
10 years old, by whom she had one son.
She met Napoleon and shortly became
his mistress and retained her influence
over him until his death. After his i'm
prlsonment on ST. Helena, she married
Count Ornano. devoted friend of Ma.
poleon, and died December IS, 1917.
O. What method of fingerprinting Is
used by the Department of Justice?-
G. w. S.
A. The Federal Bureau of Investlga-
ton Of the United States Department
OF Justice says: The fingerprints on file
IN the F. B. I. are filed according to
the Henry system of classification, with
our own notifications. This is, of
course, technical subject and cannot
be covered by a brief explanation.
complete description of this system Is
explained in the publication entitled
Classification of Fingerprints, which is
released by this bureau to duly consti.
tuted law enforcement officers"
W. x. E.
A. Cape Disappointment is at the ex-
treme southwest corner of the State of
Washington. 1t was SO named as
reminder Of the failure of English and
Spanish navigators to discover the
mouth of the Columbia River.
Q. What percentage of the water power
Of the United States has been developed?
E. w. M.
A. The water power Of the United
States is estimated at over 10000 900
horsepower. OF this about 20 per cent.
or 17.94s,9o6 horsepower has been de-
veloped.
@. Did Mark Twain refuse to buv Al
exander Graham Bells telephone stock2
F. H.
A. At the time that Bell offered him
the stock, Mark Twain had just emerged
from an unsatisfactory insurance ven
ture. In some memoranda. made 90
years later, he said: Il said 1 didn't
want anything more to do with wildcat
speculation. Then he tBelD offered the
stock to me at IS. I said didn't want
it at any price. He became eager. in
sisted that I take $500 worth. But
1 was burnt child and I resisted all
these temptations"
O. What percentage of fatal accidents
are caused by motor cycles?-W. D.
A. Of the $1,000 motor vehicles in
volved in fatal accidents in the United
States in 1899, only 800 vehicles or "a
per cent were motor cycles.
q. Please give the real name and
birthplace of Kay Kyser, the orchestra
leader.-B. c. N.
A. His real name is James Kern Kvser
and he was born at Rocky Mount, N, G.
o. What Is the most valuable paint
! Ing in the Ringing Art Gallery at Sara.
sofa, Fla. ?-P. r. S.
A. One of the most expensive works NJ
art in this great collection is the Bur.
gfrmeister of Harlem by Frans Halls
Mr.. Ringing once refused an offer Of
s275,000 for the picture from the late
Lord Duveen.
@. Is "Gulliver's Travels" by Swift, a
satire?-W. r. M.
A. The book is considered one of the
most bitter satires on mankind that has
ever been written In its pages the his.
torian finds illusions that throw m,,ch
light on the history of the age and tvpifv
the quarrels of the period concernino
religion and politics.
@. Where is the Bourne Whaling Mi.
seum?-W. r. G,
A. The Bourne Whaling Museum ~
the old Dartmouth Historical Society 4.
IN New Bedford, Mass. 1t was founded
oy Miss Emily H. Bourne as a memorial
to her father, the late Jonathan Bourn.
one OF the most successful whaling