Evening star., 1940-06-28
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hdskin.

By Frederic J. Hdskin.
A reader can get the nnswer to any
question OF fact by Drittng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please t1close stamp for reply.
@. How many men are employed by
the United States Government In the
Panama Canal Zone?-F. 4
A. AS of May l, 1910, the total number
Of men employed by the United States
Government In the Canal Zone, exclusive
of those employed by the War Depart.
ment, was 1850. In addition there were
1885 Panama Railroad employees.
@. Why is New York called the EN-
pire State?-L. M. H.
A. New York Is called the Empire
State because of its commanding posi-
ton, vast wealth, and the enterprise Of
its people
@. What is the yearly mileage Of
Washington, D.. c., taxicab?-W. G.
A. The average taxicab in this city ID
driven about $4,000 miles year.
@. Is there any country which has no
illiteracy?-C. F.
A. Denmarks splendid educational
system has eradicated illiteracy In that
country.
@. Why is member of the House Of
Representatives referred to on the floor
as "the gentleman from New York." for
example, instead of by name?-D. ]. r.
A. 1t is the custom in all large delib-
erative bodies to avoid the use of the
personal name in debate or procedure.
The original purpose Of this was to pre-
vent any possible breach of decorum and
TO separate the political from the per-
sonal character Of each member.
Q. Is there any newspaper in the
United States which has copies of all its
issues microflmed?--W. T. N.
A. In it's reference library the New
York Herald Tribune has a microfllm
record of every issue the Tribune and
the Herald Tribune have published since
April 10, lS4l. Occupying only % cubic
feet of space, these microhlm newspaper
records are the most comprehensive in
the world.
@. Were tanks used during the World
War?-A. L.
A. They were introduced by the Brit.
ish during the Battle of the Somme In
1916.
@. Please give the width of a single,
double, and three-quarters bed-E. T.
A. A standard single bed is 80 inches
wide. three-quarters bed is 4S inches
wide, and double bed is 54 inches in
width. Authorities on sleep estimated
80 inches of space as the minimum width
which each sleeper should be allowed
to induce restful slumber.
Q. Please give brief sketch of Ernest
Ball. the composer-R. E. K.
A. Ernest r. Ball was born in Cleve-
land. Ohio, July 81, 1878. His musical
education was obtained at the Cleve-
land Conservatory. Later he made ex-
tensive vaudeville tours over the United
States. Among the 300 songs which he
/ SoAAiItooSo d4C LoNC INC dllu Lie WOIlQ
Is Mine" Mother Machree" and "'Til
the Sands of the Desert Grow Cold" He
died in 1928.
@. Who established the National
Poetry Center in New York City?-C.
E. E.
A. The National Poetry Center was
founded in December, 1884, by the late
Harriet Reynal Browne, mother Of the
present director of the center, Anita
Browne
@. When will the Rockingham Turkey
Festival at Harrisonburg, Va, be held
this year?-W. S. R.
A. The Second Annual Rockingham
Turkey Festival will be held on October
10 and IL. Rockingham County produces
anywhere from $4,000 to 100000 turkeys
| annually.
@, Do the Army and Navy offer med
ical training courses to boys who enlist?
&C. C. C.
A. 1t is not possible to obtain training
in the Army and Navy leading to de-
gree in medicine. Army and Navy doc
| tors are graduates of recognized civilian
medical colleges.
Q. In ordinary solitaire is the per-
centage in favor of the player or the
deck?-J. C. R.
A. Ernie Pyle, the columnist, states
that during a vacation he played $50
| games Of solitaire and kept an accurate
record to solve this question At the start
of each game he charged himself $500
for the deck and credited $500 for each
card he got out on the ace stacks. At the
end OF $50 games he had total loss of
$7,132, and total gain of $3,462-a net
loss of $3.50. The average loss per game
was $10.48. During the $50 games he had
| only II complete wins, or one winner for
every 80 games. At the beginning he
played "a hands before winning, and at
the end he lost the last 43 hands.
Q. What kind of cleaning fluid should
be used on cellophane?-M. D. S.
A. Cellophane should never be treated
with cleaning fluids or pastes, as the
luster will be dulled. Articles made of
cellophane are easily wiped clean with a
soapy sponge and lukewarm water. When
clean, rinse by sponging with clear, cold
water. Dry with an absorbent cloth.
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