Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-23
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
Blu Frederic J. Hdskfn.

BIZ Frederic J. Hdskfn.
A reader can get the nns,cer to any
question of fact by torittn0 The Zoe
ming Star Information Bureau, FRED
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. C.. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. How many broadcasting stations
are there in the whole world?-H. r. I.
A. According to records Of the Federal
Communications Commission, as OF De-
cember !, 1889, there were 2,452 regular
broadcast stations listed throughout the
world, of which 814 were in the United
States.
@. What is the meaning of Phi Beta
Kappa, the name Of the honor frater.
nity?-K. H. N.
A. The Greek letters are the initials
of a once secret motto meaning Love
of wisdom, the helmsman Of life"
@. Does a lightning flash or bolt
always strike the earth?-S. K.F.
A. The Weather Bureau says that
many lightning discharges take place
between two parts Of the same cloud. or
between two clouds without striking the
earth.
@. Why are white curbs used on The
highways in New Jersey?-C. G. N.
A. This new type of concrete curb IN
creases night driving visibility to an
astonishing degree. So effective is it that
the curb itself seems to be lighted, but
actually 1t is simply the reflected light
from the drivers headlights. The curb
shows up brightly on both dry and rainy
nights and also dominates the road by
day.
@. What is the vertical and nori-
zontal distance which a shell from a
United States Army anti-aircraft gun
will travel?-J. J. NJ
A. The maximum horizontal and the
maximum vertical range for the 3-inch
anti-aircraft gun are 1920 yards and
l0,l00 yards, respectively.
@. Who is known as the lady Edi-
son?-L. w. N.
A. Miss Buelah Louise Henry OF New
York City is SO called. She has been
granted so patents, the most recent Of
which is for device for keeping tbs
sheets of paper in typewriter or dupli-
eating machine aligned without the use
Of perforations or guide holes.
@. What is meant by the broad arrow
in Great Britain?-L. C. r.
A. The broad arrow is mark which is
used on Government stores in Great
Britain. 1t is supposed to be of Celtic
origin and was first used for that pur-
pose about 100.
@. What are the most popular animals
at the New York Geological Park
c. NJ w.
A. According to a poll made by DR..
c. w. Lester. the assistant curator of
mammals at the zoo, the animals which
attract the largest number of visitors are
the giant panda, bongo. giraffe. orangu-
tan. gnu. hippopotamus. okapi. musk OK.
elephant and giant armadillo.
Q. On what date did Germany invade
Belgium?-H. S. D.
A. That country was invaded by Ger
man forces on May 10, 1910.
@. Why is the stream on which the
Washington Navy Yard is built called
both the Anacostia River and the East.
ern Branch?-C. T.
A. The use of the name Anacostia (of
Indian origin for the river, in place Of
Eastern Branch was due to a suggestion
of Thomas Jefferson, who. in 1892 re-
quested Maj. Ellicott to ascertain the
original name of the stream and add it
to the name Eastern Branch.
@. At what period in Paris were FASH
ions influenced by the monkey and 81.
raffe?-J. j. B.
A. In 1929 the first giraffe came to
Paris and it was Immediately taken up
by fashion and reproduced in hats,
dresses, ornaments, and decorations. A
little later the first chimpanzee arrived
and the same thing happened. Paris
costumes were designed "a la 'Jocko,'
and the fad spread rapidly.
@. What are the requirements in
Washington, D. c.. for butter fat in dairy
products?-S. r.
A.. The District Of Columbia Health
Department says that the butter fat re-
quirements for dairy products in the
District are as follows. Milk, s. per
cent; cheese, 20 per cent: butter. 80 per
cent; ice cream, per cent.
O. Where did the late Arthur Hind Guy
the famous British Guiana 1-cent ma
genta stamp which was recently sold?-
L. S. N.
A. Mr.. Hind bought the stamp for ap-
proximately s32, 500 at the French Gov
eminent auction of the famous Ferrary
collection at Paris in 1921.
O. Is it true that soldiers and sailors
cannot vote in Texas?-M. NJ D.
A. Members of the military and naval
forces are prohibited by State law from
voting in Texas.