Evening star., 1940-09-12
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. HGskfn.

reader cdn get the unstDer to any
question OF fact by tDrtttng The EDe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hnsktn, director, Washington,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
@. What percentage Of the daily
newspapers in the country are in favor
of Wendell Willkie?-E. B.
A. AS Of August 81. Mr.. Willkie had
the editorial support of 663 per cent Of
the country's daily newspapers.
Q. Is there any part of the United
States not infested with poisonous
snakes?-R. L. D.
A. Only the northern portions OF
Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont
are free from venomous serpents. Rattle
snakes, the most widespread type, occur
in every other State.
@. When was hydrogen first used in
a f1ight?-E. M. B.
A. On August 27, 1888. hydrogen was
used in balloon by J. j. Blanchard, q
Frenchman.
@. What is the origin Of the express
sion "a whited sepulchre?"-C. r.
A. 1t is from Matthew, xxiii27: "Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypo-
critics! for ye are like unto whited
sepulchres which indeed appear beauti-
full outward but are within full of dead
mems bones, and of all uncleanness"
@. What is the name of the tree that
supplies water to travelers?-K. C. B.
A. 1t is the travellers tree, known
botanically as Ravenala madagascari-
ensis, which grows in Madagascar and
Reunion. The tree bears at the top
number of large long -stalked leaves
which spread vertically like fan. The
leaf has a large sheath at the base in
which water collects in large quantity.
@. How many operas did Caruso
Single. D. M
A. His repertory included nearly so
operas
@. Was branding ever used as
punishment?-M. G. H.
A. The Romans branded criminals
in the Middle Ages the fieur -de-lis was
branded on the shoulders of criminals.
In England branding was not abolished
until the latter half OF the 18th century.
@. Please give the origin of the rock
ing chair-C. M. J.
A. The origin of rocking chairs is
not known, but 1t is definitely believed
to be American. They are known to
have been in use in the United States
since l774 and are referred to in a hand
written bill from William Savery, cabinet-
maker of Philadelphia, February II,
1774. However, they were not known in
Europe until much later. Tradition
ascribes the first rocking chair to Ben
Jamin Franklin, but the invention is not
mentioned in any of his writings. He
possessed very remarkable one which
was described by a visitor in 1877.
@. Who was the greatest chess
player of all time?-F. C. M.
A. Paul Morphy of New Orleans is
generally conceded to be. He was born
in the Vieux Care section of the city in
1887 and died there in 1884 His home
is preserved as a memorial.
@. What is the percentage of salt in
the Black Sea?-B. r. S.
A. The salt content Of the surface
water of the Black Sea is between IS anc.
18 per cent. Below so fathoms it is fror!
20 to % per cent.
@. Who was the wealthy philade'
phian who assumed large Governmer
loan in the War of 1925. ST..
A. Stephen Girard, philanthropis;
merchant and banker of Philadelphie
took an entire Government loan OF
s5,000,000 at that time.
@. What Is rifle-bird7-H P. @.
A. The name rifle-bird or rifeman
bird Is applied to birds Of paradise of the
| genera Ptilorrhis and Craspidornis be-
cause their plumage resembles the green
and black fun-dress uniform of the
British rife regiments.