Evening star., 1940-12-19
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdskin.

reddef can get the d7lstDer to any :
question OF fact by tDrittn0 The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin. director, Washington.
D. C. Please tnclose stamp TOR reply.
Q. Who had the first Christmas tree
IN the United States?-R. L. p.
A. August Inward Of Wooster. Ohio,
In 1847 introduced the Christmas tree
custom in Ohio, and, SO far as is known,
in the United States. Some Of the orig
inal ornaments fashioned by a tinsnith
for his tree are still used by his descend
ants every year.
@. Under what circumstances did Sen
ator George Vest make his famous
"Eulogy on the Dog?"-S. T. c.
A. This eloquent tribute was delivered
during the trial of man who had shot
a neighbor's foxhound. Senator Vest
asked 5000 damages. but after two min
utes' deliberation the jury awarded $500.
@. What is meant by Ibid. in book
Of quotations?-M. w.
"A. 4Ulu. 10 CIlC dUUl cF1dClOL VI tllc
word ibidem. This Latin term means
"the same" When 1t is used In a book
which contains excerpts from various
writings, a quotation after which Ibid.
appears is taken from material published
above by the same author.
Q. For what is the Collier Trophy
awarded?-N. j. S.
A. The Collier Trophy is one of the
most coveted honors in aviation 1t is
awarded annually for "the greatest
achievement in aviation, the value of
which has been demonstrated by actual
use during the preceding year." The
award was established in 1911 by Robert
j. Collier.
@. What is the Boxer indemnity
money that is used to send Chinese stu
dents to American colleges?-M. H.
A. The Chinese government paid an
indemnity to the American Government
for injuries to American life and prop
erty suffered during the Boxer Uprising.
There was sizable surplus left from
this indemnity. In 1908, as gesture of
friendship, Congress authorized Presi-
dent Roosevelt to return to the Chinese
government this surplus which the Chi
nese government accepted and used to
prepare Chinese students to study in
American schools to reciprocate this act
of friendship.
@. Who wrote an Irish story called
Castle Rackrent?"-K. N.
A. This is the title Of story by Maria
Edgeworth.
@. How many World War veterans are
living?-W. B. R.
A. AS of June &c. 1910, it was esti-
mated that 4.041, ,017 World War veterans
were living.
@. What is the origin of the wassail
bowl?-E. K. H.
A. Wassail is derived from the Anglo
Saxon waes hael meaning be whole, be
we'll. Formerly this was salutation
used at the New Year over the spfced
ale bowl, hence called the wassau bowl.
@. Has the town in Indiana always
been named Santa Claus?-E. E. r.
A. 1t was formerly called Santa Fe.
In 1853 the name was changed to Santa
Claus.
Q. Please give the words ending in
cion.-C. G. M.
A. The words in the English languagc
ending In cion are: Oion, scion, eptnicion,
suspicion, coercion and internecion.
@. What was the decisive battle of the
Revolutionary Wars. c.
A. The decisive battle of the Reyolu-
ton was the second battle of Saratoga,
which resulted in the surrender of Bur-
goyne and secured for the Colonists the
assistance Of France.
@. Is Jan Struther, author Of Mrs.
Miniver," nlarried?-E. M.
A. She is the wife of Anthony Max
tone Graham, who is serving in the Brit
ish Army.