Evening star., 1940-01-13
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J, Haskin.

~ S'CNS5" - 0UShtWs
A reader can get the dnsUer to any
question OF fact by ,urtting The Eve.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric j. HdSkin, Director, Washington,
d. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Where was Lillian Leitzel, the
trapeze artist, performing when she was
fatally injured?-S. B.
A. Miss Leitzel fell while performing
at a height Of As feet without a net at
the Valencia Amusement Park in Copen-
hagen.
@. On what date was the processing
tax on hogs established?-G. FIG.
A. The act levying a processing tax
on hogs was passed on May 12, 1893,
and was declared unconstitutional by a
Supreme Court decision on January 6,
1885,
@. Is it true that venom from the
African splitting cobra will cause blind
ness?-J. c. H.
A. IT this discharge is received in the
eye it will almost Immediately cause
blindness, and in some cases death. 1t
has been observed that venom from this
reptile can be accurately directed for
distance of feet.
Q. Has Myron G. Taylor, the new en-
voy to the Vatican, home In Italy?-
L. c. r.
A. Mr.. Taylor maintains a residence,
Villa Schifanoia, near Florence.
@. In what year were potatoes the
highest?-A. r. D.
A. The wholesale price per bushel Of
potatoes in 1919 rose to 1924. This Is
the highest price on record.
@. For whom are the Bermuda Islands
named?-E. NJ
A. The islands are named after the
Spaniard, Bermudez. who discovered
them in 1915.
@. What is oil of sleeps wool?-R. E.
A. The oil extracted from sleeps wool
and used as basis for ointments and
cosmetics is known as lanolin.
@. Did Leslie Howard and Ingrid
Bergman really play the violin and piano
IN the motion picture "Intermezzo"?-
J. A. B.
A. The violin selections were played
by Toscha Seidel and the piano selec-
tions by Norma Boleslawski
@. Is there any selection in book form
of the years best radio programs?-T. L.
A. BEST Broadcasts of 1938-9," by
Max Wylie, has recently been published
by Whittlesey House. 1t includes 80 out
standing programs of every type, cover
ing dramas, comedies, children's pro-
grams and news commentaries.
@. How many lynchings were there
last year?-K. S. NJ
A. According to reports of the Com
mission on Interracial Cooperation and
Tuskegee Institute. only three lynchings
occurred in the United States in 1899
This is the lowest number since records
were begun So years ago.
@. What is the origin of mummers?-
L. S. NJ.
A. Mummers were bands of men and
women in medieval times who during
periods of public festivity, particularly at
Christmas, dressed in fantastic clothes
and wearing masks or disguised as ami
mails, serenaded outside homes and in
the public squares. The practice seems
to have been a survival of the Roman
custom of masquerading during the Sat-
urnalian orgies. Mumming led to such
outrages in England in the 18th century
that Henry VIII issued a proclamation
declaring the wearing of mask or dis
guise a misdemeanor.
@. Please give the date of the sled dog
derby at Pocono Mountain, Pat. c.
A. The annual derby held by the Po-
como Mountain Sled Dog Club will take
place February IA, Is and 16.
@. Where is the island that is noted
for its tailless cats?-W. H.
A. The Isle of Man, the home of the
ManX breed of tailless CATS is in the
very center of the British Isles, nearly
equidistant from England, Ireland and
Scotland.
@. Who said: Don't fire until you see
the whites of their eyes"?-D. l..
A. This was the command of Col.
William Prescott at the Battle of Bunker
Hill.
@. What is the origin of the Junior
Leagues of America?-R. S. A.
A. The nucleus of the present organi-
zation was the Junior League of the
New York College Settlement, formed b.!
Miss Mary Harrison in 1900 This W
followed in 1906 by the founding of y
second league in Boston, Baltimore,
Brooklyn and Philadelphia having mean
while joined the ranks. In 1920 the 80
leagues then existing were organized by
Mrs. Willard Straight dorothy Whit
ney) into the present association.
@. How many mineral springs are
there in the United States?-C. B. C.
A. It is estimated that there are not
less than 10000 mineral springs, of which
nearly 1000 produce waters in CONNER
ISL