Evening star., 1940-06-14
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
Bp Frederic J. Hdskin.

By Frederic J. Haskin.
A reader can get the ans,Der to any
question OF fact BY tDrittng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
q. Please give some information about
the National Boxing Commission
G. S. e.
A. There Is no National Boxing Com
mission. The National Boxing Associa-
ton, which is now in its 2lst year, is 4
voluntary association OF the athletic COM
missions of the various States banded to-
gether for the purpose Of producing CO.
ordination, uniformity and control. Its
national officers are electsd each year
to serve one year. Its Executive Com
mittee consists OF these national Of
f1cers: A president, four vice presidents.
a secretary and a treasurer, who serve
without pay. The National Boxing As
sociatio meets in convention once each
year in various cities. This year 1t will
meet in Milwaukee, Wis, in September.
@. How did mantles over fireplaces
originate?-L. T.
A. The mantle piece was originally =
shelf above the fireplace with pegs at
tached to 1t on which wet mantles or
other clothes were hung TO dry.
O. What does the circle in the left
hand corner OF the new Jane Adams
stamp mean?-F. E. B.
A. The Postofice Department says
that the symbol on the new l0-cent
stamp represents unity and social SCI
ence.
@. How long has Gordon Hittenmark
Of WRC been broadcasting?-F. X.
A. Mr.. Hittenmark started broad
casting on March 8. 1922. He has been
on the air in Washington, D. c., since
March l8, 1885.
@. What organization started the GUS
tom of placing Bibles in hotel rooms?-
E. T. H.
@. Gideons Band, a society of Christian
commercial travelling men, was formed
at Boscobel, Wis, in 1899 to promote the
work of God by holding meetings in
hotel lobbies and various churches. In
1908 the organization began placing
Bibles in the guest rooms of hotels. The
work has grown until at present over
100000 Bibles have been distributed by
the Gideons.
O. How did Gen. Pershing lose his
wife?-J S. M.
A. The wife and three daughters OF
Gen. Pershing were burned to death
on August u, 1915, in the Preside at
San Francisco, Calf.
@. What is a pundit?-W. H. s.
A. A pundit is a learned Brahman: a
man Of great knowledge, especially one
posing as an authority.
@. Please give a brief history Of neon
lights. G.
A. Neon was discovered by Sir Will
liam Ramsay and W. M. Travers in 1898.
The development of gaseous conductor
tube employing neon gas dates back to
about 1911, but the use of neon in com.
mercial advertising is comparatively re-
cent. Ramsay, disdlling liquid air
chilled to the cold temperature OF more
than 400 degrees below zero. F., obtained
strange gas boiling OFF, which he
named neon" meaning new.
@. Was Man O War ever defeated'-
H. T. R.
A. Man O. War suffered his only de-
feat in the Sanford Memorial Stakes
at Saratoga Springs, August 13, 1919. In
that race he was virtually left at the
post, closed with powerful rush and
barely failed to get up. losing by half a
length to Upset
@. How did it happen that the small
plot of land in Concord. Mass, in which
the two British soldiers were buried who
fell in the Battle of Lexington, was CIV
en- to the British government?-C B.H.
A. 1t does not belong to the British
government. In 1910 the heirs of this
plot decided it to an ANONYMOUS person
who presented 1t to the town of Concord.
q. Who is the patron saint of garden
ers?-C. r.
A. st. Dorothea is patroness OF gar
deners. Her emblem is crown of
flowers and fruits.
Q. Please give directions for removing
shellac from the inside of a chest
NJ. D. G.
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that shellac varnish may be re-
moved by softening a small area at a
time with denatured alcohol and rub
bing with steel wool or scrap ping with a
putty knife
@. What is the Jeanne dare Founda-
tion?-R. D. M.
A. BY an agreement dated June IA.
1927, between the Chase National Bank
and Nine. Carlo Polifeme, Presidente
Fondatrice of lie Lyceum" Societe des
Femmes de France New York, there
was established in the Community Trust
fund Of $1,000 whose income is disburs-
able to the societe, for the upkeep and
beautification of the monument of
Jeanne dare in Washington. or other
public charitable purposes Calculated to
strengthen the ties of friendship between
the people of the Republic of France
and those of the United States" Nine.
Polifeme increased the principal of this
fund on April 8, 1899. by the addition Of
$1,000 par value bonds.