Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-09-09
Huskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. H1skin.

BY Frederic J. HGSkfn.
A reader can get the unswer to any
question OF fact by iortting The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. HdSkin, director, Washington,
d. C. Please incloSe stamp for reply.
@. Is the original Star Spangled Ban
ner in existence?-W. L. H.
A. The United States flag which was
flown over Fort McHenry, Baltimore,
Md, during the bombardment Of that
fort by the British feet September 13-
IA, 1914, is now preserved in the United
States National Museum in Washington,
D. C.. In 1914 the flag was quilted TO a
backing of Irish linen for permanent
preservation. 1t is now about % by 80
feet in size.
@. What percentage of homes in Paris
are equipped with bathtubs?-C. H. G. ,
A. 1t is estimated that only Is per
cent of that city's population have baths
in their homes.
@. What was the first theatrical per-
| Torrance in the United States to have
a long run?-K. c. w.
A. THE Drunkard" by William n.
Smith, produced by P. T. Barnum in
1849, was the first American production
to have the equivalent of a modern day
run. 1t played for 100 consecutive per-
formances.
@. Has United States battleship ever
been named for woman?-J. T.
A. Harriet Lane, who was the niece of
President Buchanan, and who presided
at the White House while her uncle, a
bachelor, was President, was the only
woman to have fighting ship of the
United States Navy named in her honor.
@. What is the hardest wood?-D. M.
A. The hardest wood known is QUE
bracho, word corrupted from the Span
ish words meaning ak. There are sew
eral species, all of them native to South
America, particularly Chile, Argentina
and Paraguay.
@. What are the most southern points
in the United States?-C. S.
A. Cape Sable, Fla, is in latitude 25
degrees 7 minutes, longitude 81 degrees
minutes. The extreme south point of
Texas is in latitude Is degrees so min
utes, longitude 81 degrees "a minutes.
@. Please give the origin of the word
agony.-E. T. M
| A. In ancient Greece, agon was pub
lie assembly, especially one character
! lied by games and athletic contests for
! which prizes were awarded. Gradually
the word broadened to mean any physi-
cal struggle, probably from the facial
expression of athletes exerting them
selves to the limit of their powers, and
finally to signify any anguish of mind or
! body.
O. What IS the maximum weight of
poultry?-A J. B.
! A. Fifteen pounds is the maximum
weight for poultry. The largest breed is
the jersey Giant.
@. Why are Dalmatian dogs known IS
coach dogS?-H. P. G.
A. The most widely known characteri-
cation of this breed of dogs is their habit
| of following horses and Of running un-
derneath the axles of moving carriages
or coaches.
Q. What percentage Of patents have
to do with automobiles?-C. K S.
A. Of all patents registered, nearly
one-flfth are applicable to automobiles.
Q. How large is the famous painting
of the Mona Lisa"?-L. E. M
A. The dimensions of the canvas are
2 feet 6l2 inches by foot inches.
@. Please describe the underground
rivers of Kentucky-R E. T
! A There are several underground
rivers in Kentucky Sinking Creek, in
Breckenridge County, suddenly disap-
pears and traverseS an underground
course for several miles, after which it
reappears as a great spring flowing
from under hill. Perhaps the most
celebrated is the Green River, to which
the underground system of Mammoth
Cave is tributary by subterranean pas
sages opening along its banks. The
largest of these streams inside of Nam
| iiiOeh SafC 10 TIC GCIlO tblNeI, WHICH Is
three-quarters of mile long, 20 to 200
feet wide and 10 to 40 deep, with
| symmetrical arched roof, varying in
| height from 10 to IS feet At times Echo
| River flows with almost imperceptible
current. At other times it fills its chan
mel quite to the top.
@. What is the Jeffersonian Bible?-
R. T.
| A. Thomas Jefferson compiled for his
own use book entitled 1.-The Morals of
Jesus" in which the sayings and pre-
ceptS of Jesus Christ, taken from the
New Testament, were arranged for easy
reference and study. In 1904 an edition
was ordered published by the Fifty
seventh Congress and 5000 copies were
printed. There have been later editions
issued.