Evening star., 1943-10-25
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hdskin.


tton tn Washington to answer oues-
tions: This bureau cannot attempt
TO diagnose disease. A doctor should
oe called in all such cases. You haze
only to address The EDening Star
Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Hdsktn, Director, Washington, d. C..
ana tnclose stamp for return postage.
@. Will Christmas package be for-
warded to soldier II he is sent overseas
before 1t reaches him?-N. c. D.
A. The War Department says that q
Christmas package sent to q soldier In
the United States will be forwarded Il
he Is sent overseas.
War Savings bond?-C. U.
A. The average annual interest S -
per cent q year.
Q. What do termites eat?-P. NE.
A. Termites are able to live on q dta9
OF dead wood. This is made possible by
the existence in the alimentary canaf
OF minute one-ceued parasites which
digest cellulose.
Q. Do moro people wear eyeglasses
than formerly?-T 8. r.
A. For the decade 193l-l940, opticians
reported an increase Of so per cent in
the number Of glasses ordered. Some
OF these were, OF course, replacement
orders.
@. Were Thomas Gainsborough and
Sir Joshua Reynolds ever reconciledaa
T. A. I.
A. Shortly before his death, Gains
borough sent for his rival to make peace
with him. Just before his caller left.
Gainsborough said, I'VE are all going to
heaven, and Van Dyck is Of the com.
pany." He died few days afterward.
@. What famous author was at one
time spy?-E. L. H.
A. Daniel Defoe, author Of Robinson
Crusoe." He was clandestinely In the
service Of the Tory leader Robert Har-
ley, Earl Of oxford, from 17o4 to 1714.
@. What is the greatest speed at
tained in the descent Of fully loaded
passenger elevator in the Empire State
Building, New York?-H. H.
A. 1t is 1000 feet per minute.
@. What is the nghtest wood and
what is it used for?-E. J.
A. The Commodity Yearbook 1o43
says that balsa is the lightest CONNER
cial wood in the world. War needs are
principally for life-saving equipment,
ships bilge filters and floats. Civilian
uses run into the hundreds, including
sporting goods, refrigeration, musical
instruments, etc.
Q. What is meant by White R,ss4ansa
d. E. B.
A. The term Is used in two senses. It
refers to an ethnic group in Western
Russia, living chiefly in the vicinity Of
Poland and Lithuania. The name ap-
parently originated in the costume Of
the people, which consisted largely Of
white garments. In the last war White
Russians was the name given to those
who went into exile in 1917 in contrast
to the Bolsheviks, who were called
Reds.
Q. In reference to the figures 10.
Gently given for total train Academia
please explain just what they includsd
w. H.
A. These figures included not ouN
fatalities resulting from actual tratd
accidents, but also those resulting nom
train service, grade crossing Academia
etc. Deaths resulting directly from train
accidents numbered 458 in 1912 and III
for the first half Of 1943.
@. Which volcano has the largest esa-
ter?-C. G. F.
Hawaii, has the largest Of all extinct
craters. 1t measures 20 miles around
and is 2,720 feet Deep
Q. What per cent Of butter produced
has been sent abroad under lease .lendp
k FB
A. For eight months Of this year the
amount OF butter sent to our Allies
under lease-lend has been 13 per cent
of the total amount produced In this
country. This went to Russia, and
practically all was for the use Of con-
valescent soldiers in hospitals.
@. What is the exact geographical
| position of the dome Of the United
States Capitol?-T. D.
A. The location is 80 degrees So min
yates % seconds north latitude, II de-
grees minutes SO seconds longitude
west Of Greenwich.
@. What proportion Of the native
population Of India speaks English?-
P. P.
A. Approximately IL per cent Of the
total native population speak English.
Q. What appointment to the Supreme
Court of the United States by President
Hoover was not confirmed?-A. W.O
A. President Hoover's nomination 1
John F. Parker. circuit Judge, to become
a justice Of the Supfeme Court We
defeated.
@. Is the Camp Bird gold mine n
Colorado still producing?-F w.
A. Although the mine closed In June.
1916, 1t was reopened some years later
on lease and produced ore through l942.
The ore was very rich, and the mine has
been called the worlds richest gold
mine" a statement which might be
questioned.
Avnn Af+ar loruoe% 1912