Evening star., 1943-12-02
Hoskin's Answers
Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdsktn.

" ~SSAbOHS
By Frederic J. Hdsktn.
When troublesome questions arise
dUaA yourself OF the serptce OF this
information department.. Send in
your inquiry about any tactual matter
and you 1DiU receipe personal reply.
Adpice cannot be 0ipen on hotD to In
pest money. Go to a banker tor help
tn such matters. Address The Epentng
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Haskin. director, Washington, D. c..
and tnclose stamp for return post
age.
Q. When did the present Treasurer
OF the United States take ofice?-
M. B. s.
A. William A. Julian began life as
bank clerk. Later he was shoe mcr-
ufacturer and bank of1icial He hes
been Treasurer of the United States
since June /, 1888
Q. How large Is an opossum at birth?
&C. EN-.
A. The young opossum is about one
half inch in length at birth.
@. What does the name of the Mexi-
can festival, Las Posadas, mean?-
F. K
A. Inc phrase means "the lodgings"
The nine days Of the Christmas cele-
bration which commentaries the Jour-
ney from Nazareth to Bethlehem are
hp1i 1nl but
q. How does the number OF persons
in government employ compare with
those in private industry?-J. N.
A. According to the National Indus
trial Conference Board, in September
OF this year governmental units were
employing 427 persons for every 1000
engaged In private industry.
q. Is the population OF France still
decreasing?-W. Ell.
A. France is losing population rapidly
as a result OF the low birth rate. The
Vlchy commissioner Of family affairs
recently reported the deficiency in pop-
ulation to be equal to the disappearance
each year of town Of 10000 inhabitants
from the map of France.
q. what Is the cost of producing a
single copy of a large mail order cata-
logue?-E. L. H.
A. The average cost. as reported bv
one of the largest mail order firms, was
usually about 81. Recent issues have
averaged go cents copy.
| @. Has an artist ever painted a rain
bow?-W w.
A. The rainbow has been painted upon
numerous occasions In his picture The
Blind Girl" Sir John Everett Millai,
depicts double rainbow.
| Q. Where did the early English silver.
smiths get their supplies of metal?-
E. E. H.
| A. 1t probably was obtained from
Eastern Europe until the conquest of
Peru and Mexico by Spain provided
them with all the silver they needed.
Q. What Is still wine?-N. ER.
A. Still wines are those in which there
is no evolution Of carbon oioXidc e-s
when the bottles are opened Inc!-rc1
are sherry, claret, burgundy, saute-ne,
moselle and certain others.
Q. Did Kentucky join the Confed-
| eracy2-R. N. B.
A. At the outbreak of the Civil War.
al -
but considerable portion of the people
adhered to the Confederacy and the
State actually was admitted to the Con-
1ederacy. However, 10000 troops were
furnished to the Union Army and 40 ooo
to the Confederate Army.
Q. Who controlled the early slave
trade in the Americas?-O MA.
A. The Portuguese had a monopoly
on the trade because of their explora-
tions on the west coast of Africa be-
ginning in l442. The English went into
the slave trade in 1862. when Hawkins
. took slaves to Hispaniola.
@. Is it unhealthful to keep plants
in sickroom?-E. N. C.
A. There Is no harm in keeping a few
plants in sickroom for the amount of
carbon dioxide exhaled is 50 small in
proportion to the air of the room as to
have no appreciable effect.
Q. What Office was held by President
Roosevelt's father?-G. M.
A. James Roosevelt was president of
the Champlain Transportation Co.,
trustee of the Farmers Loan & Trust
Co. vice president of the Delaware e.
Hudson Canal Co. and officer in a steel
concern at West Superior, Wis. He was
president Of the Louisville. New Albany
q Chicago Railroad and vice president
OF the Delaware g. Hudson Railroad.
Q. Who invented the jinrikisha COM
mon in the East?-R. B. w.
A. Rev. Mr.. Jonathan Goble. an
American Baptist missionary, invented
1t In 1871. He was in Yokohama at
the time and devised it as a vehicle in
which his invalid wife might take the
air.