Evening star., 1943-09-14
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn

INN newspaper puts 0L VOHr ats.
posnl corps OF trained researchers In
Washington ipho iciu ansiDey Questions
Of fact for you. They piH otre you
access to the Government depart
nients, libraries, Bsuseums and gall
leries. address The Epening Star In ].
formation Bureau, Frederic '. Hasktn, !.
director, Washington. D. c. Inclose
stamp for return postage.
Q. What is the most useful plant7--.
E. L. H.
A. This distinction has been accorded
to several. notably the coconut palm
and the bamboo. There is story that
missionary once listed 40 uses for the
bamboo and yet was convinced that he
had not recorded them all.
q. Were American Negro troops used
in the occupation Of Germany after the
last war2-R. L. B.
A. The War Department says that
there were no American Negro troops in
the German Army Of Occupation after
the First World War.
q. What country has the greatest raii-
road mileage7-H. E. 8.
A. The United States leads In actual
mileage. However. at the beginning Of
the present war. Germany had the great-R
est number Of miles OF railroad In actual
operation In proportion to its size. =
Q. What makes . homing pigeon res
turn to It's loft?-B. L. L.
A. The homing instinct has been ex-s
planned as being due to the fact that the
pigeon knows food, rest and, above alL (,
his mate, await him. A pigeon stick
to one mate all its life unless forcibli
separated. i n
Q. How long did 1t take the floating
dry dock Dewey to reach the PHILIPPINES
from Norfolk, va.?-U. r. T.
A. The Dewey dry dock left Norfjlk
December is. 1905. and reached hs
Philippine Islands in 108 days. II vas
towed by way Of the Bermuda Islaids,
Gibraltar, Suez, Singapore, i distance
Of $4,000 miles at an average speed Of
100 miles day.
q. What were the percentages d eli.
gible votes cast in the last three elec.
tions?-T. T.
A. In 1882. 65.5, per cent Of the digibls :
vote was cast. In 1895 the percentage
was 6o.4 and In 1910 it was 7o.A. II
g. Which. Of Charles Dickens' novels
are historical7-R. d. G.
A. They are "A Tale Of Two Cities" Q
novel Of the French Revolution, and
"Barnaby Rudge.s which deals with the
Gordon riots. -
9. Has the Russian government em.'
ployed any United States pilots during
the present war?-F. K. d'
A. The Soviet Embassy says that no
American pilots have been hired by the
Russian government for combat duty
on the Russian front during the cur.
rent war. N
Q. What famous American was long
represented in the State Department by
an old portrait Of another person7-
F. L. E. ~ =. 4.
=
General under Jefferson and Secretary
Of State under Madison, was long rep-
resented in the State Department by /,
striking oil portrait After several gen.
erations had lapsed some Of his descend.
ants came forward and proved that this
was not picture Of Robert Smith at
all, but Of his wife's grandfather.
@. Are there any major league base
ball players who wear eyeglasses while
playing?-C. M. B. 4s
A. There have been number Of play
ers in the major leagues wearing glasses
while playing as, for instance, Paul
Waner Of the Pittsburgh and Dominic
Di Maggie. o
@. When and where was the u. s. 8 ;
Chicago sunk?-W. r. s. %
A. The U. 8. s. Chicago (cruiser) was
sunk on January 80. 1943, near Rennell
Island, south of Guadalcanal. ef
@. What has become OF the famed New.
York Aquarium since It's removal from
the old site7-M D.
A. Until the end Of the present war;.
when, 1t is hoped, new aquarium will
be built in New York City, the residue
collections of the old aquarium at Bat
terry Park will be housed In the Lion
House at the Bronx Zoo The combined
exhibit building is known as the Lion.
arium." In it most of the brightly COLI .
ored tropical fishes that were formerly
shown at the aquarium are exhibited. SO