Evening star., 1941-01-18
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdstf,t.

By Frederic J. HdSkfn.
A reader can get the answe, to any
question OF fact by ,0rtttno The EDe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. H1sktn, director, Washington,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for reply.
@. How large was the first Montsom.
cry Ward mail order eatalogue?-C.
T. H.
A. When A. Montgomery Ward and
his partner, George r. Thorne, started
business in Chicago in 1872, their first
catalogue was a single sheet by Il
inches.
O. Why is the period of twilight short
er in the tropics than in the temperate
zone?-B. H.
A. Twilight persists until the sun Ia
l8 degrees below the horizon. 1t thus
| follows that its length increases With
the latitude. At the Equator there Is
practically no twilight, the sun sinks very
rapidly, while In latitudes greater than
48.5 degrees, twilight lasts all night In
| the summer.
@. What Is q citizen OF Halifax ealled7
! e. C.
A. A citizen OF Halifax Is referred to
as q Halieonian.
Q. Where is the largest collection Of
Japanese dwarf trees in the United
| States?-J. M. S.
A. 1t is said TO be the collection Of
Toichi Domoto at Hayward, Calf,
near Oakland. These trees range in size
from ginkgo trees six inches high to .
Japanese maple, $50 years old, which is
| four feet high.
@. Where does most OF the sulphur
in the United States come from?-W. w.
A. Texas and Louisiana supply over 90
per cent of the sulphur produced.
@. Who first extracted teeth pain.
lessly?-M. S. L.
| A. In 1910, Horace Wells, a Connec.
ticut dental surgeon, conceived the idea
that teeth might be extracted without
pain by the application of nitrous oxide
gas. He tested the efficacy of this meth.
cd on his own person In 1874 and after.
ward frequently used it in his practice.
O. Where is the Piedmont section Of
the United States?-M. r. L.
A. The Piedmont plain reaches It's
greatest extent in Virginia, South Caro-.
| lima and North Carolina The whole
area is a rich agricultural and manu-.
! featuring district
@. In what year was the Secret Serv.
ice Division of the United States Treas
ury established?-M. D. r.
| A. Appropriations for the suppression
Of counterfeiting were first made in 1850,
and the Secret Service Division was
established in July. 1865.
@. Is the play. Farmer Takes Wife.
based on book?-H. L.
A. 1t is based on the novel, Rome
Haul" by Walter D. Edmonds.
| Q. How far is 1t by air from Wash.
ington, D. c., to Denver, Colo?-H. M.
A. 1t is approximately 1,5Oo miles.
Q. Is there a machine gun that fres
backward?-J. L. K.
A. The Royal Air Force is equipped
with machine gun that fires backward.
1t is fitted under the planes nose and is
aimed and operated by the navigator
through a series Of mirrors.
@. What was the first flower used In
decorative design?-R. w M.
A. The lotus was the first plant form
to be used for this purpose. It was intro
duced by the Egyptians into the mural
painting of their tombs and temples. be-
cause, as perennial, 1t represented to
them the principle of immortality.
@. How many dollar bills does 1t take
to weigh a pound?-A. C.
A. There are 4s5 81 bills in one pound.
O. What was the date Of the first
dining car?-E. K.
first regular dining car, the Delmonico,
in service in 1868.
Q. Who named the vacuum cleaner
| H A. B.
| A. 1t was so named by its inventor,
H. c. Booth, who made and patented the
first successful appliance in 1901.
| @. Are there any animals that never
drink water?-J. R. M.
A. The koala of Australia never
drinks, obtaining enough moisture from
the young eucalyptus leaves on which he
|
desert animals do not actually drink
water. They obtain it from the veseta-
ton they eat. The kangaroo rat and
certain forms Of pocket mice are ex-
amples.
Practical NeedIework