Evening star., 1940-12-13
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
Bu Frederic J. HdSkin.

A reader can get the dnswer to any
question OF fact by iortttng The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
@. How many legs has fy?-N E. B.
A. The house fly has six legs.
@. Why is it considered unlucky to
spill salt?-E. S. T.
A. The ancient Greeks and Romans
used salt in their sacrifices, and if it were
spilled this was considered an III omen.
1t is this same superstition that caused
Leonardo da Vinci in THE Last Supper"
to place before Judas Iscariot an over
turned saltcellar.
@. When is Christmas celebrated in
Puerto Rico?-G. D. S.
A. Christmas, or the Day Of the
Three Kings, is observed on January
in Puerto Rico.
@. How fast did Wendell Willkie speak
in his campaign addresses?-S. DIV.
A. Mr.. Willkie averaged about 80
words minute.
@. What comic strip character ran
for Congress?-M M
A. In the election of 1924, Andy Gump
ran for Congress and was even un-
officially nominated for President.
@. How many streetcars are in opera
ton in the United States?-M E. H.
A. AS of January /, 1910, there were
27000 passenger streetcars in active
service in the United States and lo40O
rapid transit cars
@. What is the coolest temperature
ever recorded in the United States?-
H. W.
A. The lowest winter temperature
recorded in the United States is Sc
degrees F., at Riverside Ranger Station,
Yellowstone Park, on February 9, 1888
@. When did Paul Redfern leave
Georgia on his last fight?-P. c. M.
A. Paul Redfern left Glynn Island
near Brunswick, Ga, for Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil, August 25, 1927. He was flying
a single-seater Stinson-Detroiter mono
plane called the Port of Brunswick.
O. Is cloth made from pineapples?
W. C. H.
A. The long tough leaves of the pine
apple plant yield valuable fiber which,
in the Philippines, is woven into fabrics
The delicate, transparent cloth called
pima is made from the finer fbers.
O. Who was the first Presidents widow
to be given the franking privilege?
F. R. L.
A. Martha Washington. In 1900 i.
was enacted that an letters and pack
ages to and from Martha Washington
relict of the late Gen. George Wash
ington, shall be received and conveyed
life"
@. Please give the number of member
In the British Houses of Parliament
j S.
A. The full membership of the House
Of Lords consists of about TAO member
The House of Commons numbers 615
members.
@. When did James G. Blaine run for
President?-B F. S.
A. James G. Blaine was the Repub-
lican candidate for President in 1884.
@. Why is the stork associated with
/ birth?-S. M. B.
| A. The connection of the stork with
newborn babies is traced to Germany
and Holland, where the black stork is
| commonly seen in the smaller towns re-
/ turning to the same spot year after year
| to build its nest on the roofs of houses
| The bird has from early times been re-
garded with superstition and respect by
the natives.
Q. How large is the late John D.
Rockefeller's home at Ormond Beach
| Fla.?-L. s. H.
A. The Easements, former winter
| home of Mr.. Rockefeller, contains 40
rooms and 20 baths. The grounds con-
sist of seven acres The house has been
sold and will be converted into a private
| school,