Evening star., 1940-12-18
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. H1Skin.

A reader can get the ans,Der to any
question of fact By 1Driting The EDe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdskin director, Washington,
D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. What large city in the United
States has gained the most in popula-
ton since 193O?-E. c. R.
A. Washington, D. c., with 1862 per
cent increase in population has made
the largest gain. In 1880 1t was the
fourteenth largest city in the United
States and in the 1910 census it ranks as
eleventh, with a population of 663, ,153.
@. How many miles of freight tunnels
are there in Chicago?-S. F. w.
A. Beneath the streets of Chicagos
business district are go miles of freight
tunnels, electrically operated.
@. Please give the names Of birds
that are extinct.-C. F.
A. According to the Biological Survey,
there are five birds formerly native to
the North American continent which
are absolutely extinct. With the date
Va ChlAllCtlOil, liiCy oIC' Nj eau oC Aooob
Labrador duck, 1875; Pallas cormorant,
1852; passenger pigeon, 1908-14, and
heath hen, 1884.
O. Who wrote the famous "Is There
Santa CLAUSE" letter?-J. B. c.
A. Little Virginia O'Hanlon, perplexed
by the question, "Is there Santa
CLAUSE" wrote to the editor of the New
York Sun, saying: Il am eight years
old. Some of my little friends say there
is no Santa Claus. Please tell me the
truth, is there Santa CLAUSE" An edi-
torial written by Francis Pharcellus
Church, published in the Sun in 1897,
one of the finest essays in English liter
ature answered for all time and all
children this old, old question.
@. In what year was the Maine raised?
r. S.
A. The wreck of the battleship Maine
was raised and on March 16, 1912, was
towed out to sea and sunk
O. What is galacking?-T. J. P.
A. 1t is term applied to the gath
ering of evergreens in the mountains Of
North Carolina. The name is derived
from galax leaves which grow in pro-
fusion only in the Appalachians.
@. If the President of the United
States were impeached, by whom would
he be tried?-J. H.
A. Article I, section 8, of the Con-
stitution provides that The Senate
shall have the sole Power to try all
Impeachments. When sitting for that
Purpose, they shall be on Oath or
Affirmation When the President Of
the United States IS tried the Chief
Justice shall preside; And no Person
shall be convicted without the Concur
renee of two thirds of the Members
present"
O. Why were the girls imported into
Louisiana as wives for the early settlers
called Casket Girls?-E. T. H.
A. Their name is derived from the
small chests (cassettes) in which they
carried their clothes.
@. What are the ten largest fresh
water lakes in the United States?-L. P.
A. The ten largest fresh water lakes.
wholly within the boundaries of the
United States, are: Lakes Michigan,
Okeechobee, Lower Red, Pyramid, VIM
nebago, Mile Laos, Tahoe, Flathead,
Goose and Upper Red
@. What is meant by an encased
stamp?-I. F. S.
A. During the Civil War 1t was some
times the practice to take a postage
stamp and encase 1t in small piece
of metal. The stamp would then be
covered with isinglass which protected
it. This was usually done with three
and five cent stamps and such stamps
were used as currency.
@. Please give the origin of knock
ing on Wood.-C. U.
A. Some authorities attribute it to the
ancient religious rite of touching a
crucifiX when taking an oath; others, to
the touching of beads of the rosary
when praying. Among the ignorant
peasants of Europe the custom probably
began with the habit of knocking loudly
to keep evil spirits away
@. What was the first motion picture
to be shown with an admission price
of sgd. H. l..
A. THE Birth of Nation" was the
first picture to be shown at this price.
@. Where is Thomas Hardy, the Eng
cI, novo1ict yxr
A. His ashes are inferred in the Poets
Corner at Westminster Abbey and his
heart is buried at Stinsford, near Dor
chester.
Budget Book for 1941