Evening star., 1940-03-06
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J, Hdsktn.

BY Fredertc J. HGSktn.
A reader can get the ansvev to any
question OF fact BY ,orsttno The Eue.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Hasktn. director. Washington,
d. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. In what year was the loudspeaker
first used successfully on radios?-C. c. s.
A. The Radio Corporation of Amer
lea says that the first loudspeaker was
used on the Radiola Grand in 1922.
@. Were more men from the city or
country rejected as physically UNIT in
the World War?-L. P.
A. The War Department says that ap-
proximately 3,0000 900 men went to camp
during the World War. Out of this num-
Der 2l-2 per cent were rejected as phys
ically unfit for service; 229 per cent
Of those physically unfit were from the
cities in the United States, while 203
per cent were from the rural districts.
@. Is pyorrhea responsible for large
percentage of loss of teeth?-W. N.
A. According to DR.. Morris Fishbein Of
the American Medical Association,
pyorrhea causes rs per cent of the loss
of teeth that occurs among persons over
IS years of age.
@. Please give the origin of the United
States Botanic Garden at Washington,
D. C-R. o. A.
A. George Washington, who cultivated
lines. lemons and many decorative
plants at Mount Vernon, recommended
botanic garden for the Nation in
l796. His proposal received slight At
tentlon until 1920, when Congress pro-
Vloed the Columbia Institute for the
Fromotlon OF Arts and Sciences with
hVe acres of swamp land. Attempts at
CULTIVATION were not successful, and the
project languished until 1S42. That year
saw the return of the Wilkes Exploring
Expedltlon, with rare plants from the
FlJl' sandwich and Society Islands, New
Zealand and South America, These
were transferred successfully to frames
in 1874, to the first buildings of the
garden after 1850, and to their present
shelter in 1884
Q. Has any President served in Con-
gress after he left ofice?-L. L. p.
A. John Quincy Adams served as a
member OF the House of Representatives
from March 4, 1881, until his death.
Andrew johnson was elected to the
United States Senate and served from
hi
81, 1875.
@. Why is madras, the material so
called?-W. N. G.
A. The fabric was first made in
Madras, India, where it was used for
the headdress of sailors and natives.
q. What is Valhalla?-M P. H.
A. Valhalla Hall of the Slam, ac-
cording to Northern mythology, was the
magnificent palace of Asgard, where
Odln feasted with his heroes. The great
building had golden walls and a floor
and roof of shields. Coats of mail
ana other pieces of armor, the gifts of
the god to his men, adorned the walls.
Long tables set about the hail accommo-
dated the guests, the soldiers slain in
battle who had been brought to ValhalIa
by the Valkyries. These maidens waited
on the table and supplied the men with
food and drink
@. How many feet of motion picture
hlm are there in Gone With the Wind?
C. w. B.
A. The film of Gone With the Wind
is 10000 feet long.
@. When was the German Iron Cross
first awarded?-S. EN-.
A. The Iron Cross was instituted BY
Frederick William III on March 10.
1873 as a reward for distinguished serv-
Ice in the War of Liberation It was
revived by William I in 1870 and by
William II in 1914
@. How much did Stradivari receive
for his violins when he was living?-K, B.
A. The famous violin maker received
from $50 to $75 for his violins and
about twice as much for cellos.
@. Is fair weather at full-moon time
indicative of good weather for a week to
come?-E. B. j.
A. The Weather Bureau says: There
is no scientific basis for the idea held
by some that the type of weather expert
enced about the time of full moon is in
dicatlve of the kind of weather to be
expected for week or so thereafter.
Furthermore a change in the weather
about the time of full moon does not
necessarily mean the continuation of the
same kind of weather thereafter. There
is no basis for this claim except that
there is tendency for continuation OF
any type of weather that has prevailed
without change for several days. This is
especially true of fair weather"
O. How many kittens are born at one
timeo-M M