Evening star., 1940-06-24
Hoskin's Answers =
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Husktn.

By Frederic J. Hasktn.
reader can get the ansper to anu
question OF fact by tDrtttn0 The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskfn, director, Washtnoton,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
Q. What is the deepest canyon in the
United States?-T. N. M.
A. The deepest chasm on the North
American Continent Is Hells Canyon of
the Snake River, located along the Dor.
der between Oregon and Idaho. The
canyon is rs miles long and averages
$3.50 feet in depth, at some points at
tanning depth Of nearly 5000 feet.
Q. How near did the Germans get to
Paris In the first World War?-T. E. c.
A. The German outpost had come
within is miles Of the city when it was
driven back.
Q. Who is called the Paderewsh of
the belfry?-D. H. M.
A. Anton Brees, the famous carrillon-
neur, has been so described.
Q. Why is the tarantella so calledq-
A. H. T.
A. The dance originated in laramie,
Italy, where formerly 1t was supposed to
be remedy for the bite Of a tarantula.
@. On what occasion did Thomas Edi-
son deliver the address which is quoted
by Spencer Tracy in Edison, the Man'2
L. G. H.
A. The impressive speech delivered In
the motion picture is not a verbatim
quotation from any actual address. It
was composed by the scenarists of the
film as an embodiment of the spirit of
many Of his utterances.
@. What are witch -balls?-H. T. B.
A. Witch-balls were superstitious fad
OF 125 years ago. Glass makers found
that the curvature of certain types Of
glass in ball form reflected various OBJ.
Jects lar and near quite grotesouely,
Ihey were used at that time the same
as the crystal ball of the present and
were called witch-balls because of their
so-called supernatural power of diyina-
ton.
Q. How much money is sent to Italy
by Italians in this country?-C. T. T.
A. In 1899 immigrant remittances to
Italy from the United States amounted
to approximately s20,0Oo,o00.
@. What is the status of the anti
lynching bill?-R B. A.
A. The bill is still pending on the CAL
endar of the Senate.
Q. How many kinds of clubfoot are
there?-A. B.
A. According to the American Medical
Association, the term "clubfoot" in
cludes four varieties of foot deformtty.
About n per cent of all cases Of club
foot are present at birth.
Q. What is the origin Of the word
mass?-C. o.
A. According to "The Faith of Our
Fathers" by Cardinal Gibbons, the word
Is believed by some authorities to be de-
rived from the Hebrew term u,issach
deuteronomy XVD, which means free
onerlng. Others trace 1t to the Latin
word missa, which the priest uses when
ne announces to the congregation that
the service Is over.
Q. Please compare the population of
Paris and London.-H. j. M.
A. The population of greater London
is 8,655,00o and that of London is 45oo
600. The population of greater Paris is
1888 900 while that of the city proper is
about 100000.
Q. What organization is Offering a
prize for novel by college teacher?-
NJ D. T.
A. Reynal & Hitchcock, the publishers,
offer prize of $2,50O for the best nom
fiction book by member of an Ameri.
can college faculty. The book must be
written and submitted before September
1, 1941.
O. How thick is the armor plate m
United States Navy battleships?-J. F.s.
A. The six new 35,000-ton battleships
which are being built for the United
States Navy, according to unofficial In.
formation, will have armor as follows:
l6-inch belt amidships, 6-inch upper
deck, 4-inch lower deck.
@. Where were the earliest airship
hangars?-H. C.
A. A hangar was completed in a Paris
suburb in 1903. In 1910 the British War
ONCE built hangar at Farnborouph
Hampshire.
O. What is the largest shellfsh in the
world?-M G. H.
A. The giant clam of the coral islands
IN the Pacific. The shells often weigh
400 pounds or more and the clam is said
to live from 60 to 100 years.
Q. What are potato rings?-O. E.
A. Potato rings, also called dish rings.
were ornamental stands for circular
wooden bowls to protect the polished
mahogany table from the heat. Thev
were invented by Irish silversmiths In
the last half of the 18th century and
were usually placed in the middle of
the table all during the meal to hold
various dishes.
q. Were the Pilgrims the first to value
turkeys for domestic purposes?-E. C. 3.