Evening star., 1940-04-15
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Husktn.

"A reader can get the dnsUer to anx
question OF fact by Drtttno The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Hdskin. director, Washtnoton,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp tor reply.
Q. How fast does Paul Sullivan, ths
news commentator, speak on the radio7
r. B.
A. Mr.. Sullivan speaks approximately
1o5 words per minute during his IS.
minute broadcast.
@. For whom is Newport News, Va,
named?-J. C.
A. The name was derived by uniting
the name Of Christopher Newport, an
English sea captain. with that of Sir
William Newce, on whose advice the site
of the city was selected.
@. What are the six largest steel
companies in the United States?-M. q.
A. The American Iron and Steel In
stitute says that the six largest com.
panies In order of their respective capa-
cities to produce steel ingots are as
follows: United States Steel Corp II
Broadway, New York City; Bethlehem
Steel Co., Bethlehem, Pa: Republic
Steel Corp. Cleveland, Ohio; Jones &
Laughlin Steel Corp, Pittsburgh, Pa:
National Steel Corp, Pittsburgh, Pa,
and the Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co.,
Youngstown, Ohio.
@. Is 1t true that, in Washington, D.
c., there Is copy Of every book, maga-
zine and newspaper published IN the
United States?-G. B. c.
A. Under the provisions of the copy
right law, two dn some cases one) copies
OF every book, pamphlet, magazine CT
newspaper copyrighted In this country
must be deposited in the Library Of
Congress.
@. What countries will be linked BY
the Dnieper-Bug Canal?-M. r.
A. The canal will link Germany and
Russia by way Of Poland.
@. How many words are there in the
English language?-A. B.
A. The oxford Dictionary gives 725,-
OOO words IN English.
@. What famous orator was ridiculed
when he first addressed an audience?
It. B. S.
A. When Demosthenes ventured to
address the Athenian assembly, his
feeble voice and ungraceful gestures eX-
cited general ridicule. Determined TO
succeed, he subjected himself to the
most rigorous training in voice culture
and rhetoric. The story of his declalm-
ing by the sea with pebbles in his mouth
IN order to overcome an impeachment IN
speech has passed into tradition as the
classic example Of persistent and ener.
getic application to self-improvemen:.
@. Please explain the chant of the
tobacco auctioneer-J. A. F.
A. The chant of the tobacco auc-
tioneer consists of numbers the words
dollars and bid The auctioneer
opens the bid at the price set by the
owner of the warehouse in which he is
to conduct the auction and then as the
various buyers, representing the differ
ent tobacco companies increase the bid,
he raises the price. The buyers do not
speak their bids audibly, but bid by
certain signs such as glance, wink or
a gesture. AS each bid is received and
accepted the pitch of the chant is raised
or lowered to denote the acceptance Of
the bid. Therefore, if pile of tobacco
is started at $39 and a bid of $40 is
received, the chant of the auctioneer
will raise pitch. When the bid OF SAL
is received and accepted, the chant will
60 up or down. depending upon the
original chant In this way each buyer
knows that his bid has been received
and accepted, and being able to UNDER
stand the chant knows exactly the price
at which he is buying the particular
pile of tobacco in question.
@. What poem is said to have made
the Italian language?-L. c. B.
A. Dantes Divine Comedy" Is said
to have made the Italian language,
which before was so rude and uniformed
that the poet, hesitating to employ it
on such theme, is said to have begun
his poem in Latin. Probably no work in
the world, except the Bible, has had
more influence on literature.
O. Who won the Metropolitan Audi
tions of the Air?-G. B. S.
A. Arthur Kent, bass-baritone Of New
York City, and Eleanor Steber. soprano.
of Wheeling, W. Va, were selected as the
winners of the additions
@. What became of the "Kronprinz
Wilhelm"?-R. T.
A. The "Kronprinz Wilhelm which
was interned at the Philadelphia Navy
Yard at the time of the World War,
was later named the ~. S. S. Won
Steuben." She was scrapped In 1924.
@. Where is the Celery City?-S. H. C.
A. Kalamazoo, Mich, is known as the
Celery City.
@. How many nations are represented
at the Vatican?-F. w.
A. According to information received
by the Department Of State from the
Vatican, there are at present 81 en-
bassies and legations represented at the
Holy See.
@. What vitamins does milk contain?
&C. H. F
A. The principal vitamins found In