Evening star., 1940-01-19
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Haskin,


A reader can get the ans,oer to any
question OF fact by ,Drtttng The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Hasktn, Director, Washington,
d. c. Please trclose stamp for reply.
Q. How long has Queen Wilhelmina
been on the throne?-B. j. B.
A. She succeeded her father as sover-
eign OF the Netherlands In 1890. As she
was only 10 years old at the time, Queen
Emma acted as regent until September
6, 1893, when Wilhelmina was formally
crowned queen in Amsterdam.
Q. Where did tho numbers racket
originate?-S. T. r.
A. The numbers gambling game,
called bolto by some, was imported
from Spain, via the West Indies, after
the Spanish-American War, and for
many years was little known and little
played outside the Negro section 81
Harlem, in New York.
@. How much do women spend On
fur coats and neckpieces2-L. E. 8.
A. It is estimated that American
women spent approximately $350,0O0 900
on furs in 1899 and that about 800, 900
women purchased new fur coats.
@. Please give the names Of some new
ANIMALS that won the al-America
awards-L. r. S.
A. Some of the silver medal win.
ners for 1910 are Petunia Cream Star,
a creamy white or light primrose flower
shaped like blunt five-pointed star;
Rose Pink Sweet Pea, new intermedi.
ate spring Towering variety; and Midget
Blue Ageratum which is only to 6
inches tall and is ideal as border plant,
@. When was slavery declared Illegal
in Great Britain?-T. H. S.
A. The British Parliament on August
%, 1888, outlawed slavery in the empire
as of August /, 1884. About 100000
slaves were liberated at a cost Of 0,0O0,-
600 pounds. Slavery had been unlawful
In the British Isles since June o. 1772,
by a decision of the Court of Kings
Bench.
@. What caused Lon Chaneys death?
C. P. G.
A. Lon CLANCY entered hospital on
August IS, 1880. for treatment of an
anemic condition resulting from a severe
attack Of pneumonia suffered early in.
the year. Following the attack Of
pneumonia, Mr.. CLANCY had throat
af1liction which further weakened him.
A hemorrhage was the immediate cause
of his death on August 26, 1880.
@. Please give the names of New York
City's "billion-dollar" banks.-H. P. S.
A. They are as follows: Chase Ma
tional, National City, Guaranty Trust.
Bankers Trust and Central Hanover.
@. What was the first public building
in Washington, D. C.?-N. K.
A. The White House was the first pub
lie building erected in the Capital City,
the cornerstone having been laid on
October 13, 1892.
Q. Would it be correct to paint the
wood Of a walnut marble topped table
white?-H. G.
A. Walter r. Storey, an outstanding
authority on interior decoration, sug-
gests that near-antiques of the Victorian
and Edwardian period be painted white.
He says that in recent display brought
from London by Alban Conway and
shown at his New York City studio an
old-time parlor table had carved walnut
supports painted as white as its marble
top.
@. What famous lawyer said that
there had never been an impartial
judge?-L. P. B.
A. Clarence Darrow is quoted as say
ing, There never was an impartial
Judge, except one who's dead"
@. Will star sapphire mar easily?-
j. B.
A. Sapphires are about the toughest
stones known. Only the diamond can
scratch them.
Q. What amount of money was paid
for the famous painting the Blue
Boy"?-A. K.
A. The BLUE Boy" was bought from
the Duke OF Westminster by Sir Joseph
Duveen for the late Henry E. Hunting.
ton for 100000. The portrait is now
in the Huntington Gallery at San
Marino, Calf.
@. Who first. used the expression
steam roller" in q political sense?-
K B. c.
A. 1t was first used by Oswald F.
Schuette, then Washington correspond
ent of the Chicago Inter-Ocean, to de-
scribe the rough methods used to pro-
cure the nomination of w. H. Taft as
the Republican presidential candidate
in 1908.
@. Is it true that the Merchandise
Mart in Chicago is built on an air lot?
M H. c.
A. The Merchandise Mart is built over
tracks of the Chicago e. North Western
Railway. The railroad retains owner
ship of the area on which it's tracks
operate. 1t sold air lots, representing
possession of the space above ground
occupied by the entire building, and
numerous miniature ground lots neces-
sary to sink caissons. The air was
actually subdivided into lots and the
diagram Of the aerial real estate filed
in the Office of the recorder Of deeds
of Cook County, Ill.
@. How can I get the most out Of my