Evening star., 1943-10-22
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Huskfn.

" ~o'''Stt0Fs UftO Dtt uUJUST QuSSLIOn8
OF fact for you. They tDiH giue you
access to the Government DEPART
ments. libraries, museums and GAL
ler'es. address The EDentng Star In
formation Bureau. Frederic J. Hdsktn,
drector, Washington, D. C. Incloss
stamp for return postage.
G. What class of mail Is the most
remunerative?-W E. K,
A. The Post Once Department says
that first-class mail is the most re-
munerative.
Q. Is it true that some flsh make
sounds?-P. M. D.
A. AS result Of reports that odd
sounds had confused radio operators In
submarines, Fish and Wild Life Service
and the Navy made a series Of record
ings which established the fact that GER
tain fish do make sounds. The toad
fish was found to be the noisiest of those
observed.
Q. Has any motion picture surpassed
the record of Gone With the Wind" Al
all-time best seler?-R H. D.
A. According to latest available rec
ords, this picture still ranks first. It
is followed by Snow White and the
Seven DWarfs," Mrs. Miniver," The
Singing Fool" Random Harvest"
-Four Horsemen Of the Apocalypse"
Ben Hur," Yankee Doodle Dandy"
"Sergt. York" The Big Parade" and
THE Birth of Nation"
O. What year precedes the first year
OF the Christian era?-A. G.
A. The year Immediately preceding
AID, the beginning of the Christian
era, Is the year BIC.
@ How many people suffer from hay
fever?-S. T. M.
A. No separate figures are availabls
for hay fever The recent National
Health Survey reported 3.45OOoO suf-
ferers from asthma and hay fever in
this country
@ When did the custom of daily
prayer originate?-E. L. H.
A. The Christian practice OF repeating
prayers is traceable to very early times.
Sozomen mentions that the Hermit
Paul threw away a pebble as he recited
each of his 300 daily prayers.
=. In what year since the last World
War had the Regular Army the least
number Of men?-E V.N.
A. The War Department saws the
lowest number of men in the Regular
Army between the First World War and
the current war was in 1922, when the
total was 13214S officers and enlisted
men.
What is meant by the checkor sys-
tem?-B. F. L.
A. This Is an arrangement whereby
the trade union receives its dues, as
sessmentS, etc, from the employer who
Wlthholds them from the wages of en-
ployes.
@. Where is the highest mountain
that has been climbed?-K F.
A Nanda Devi in British India, rising
to height of 25,66o feet is the hishes.
mountain that has hitherto been
climbed. The summit was reached on
August 90, 1896.
Q. What became of the submarine in
vented by Leonardo da Vinci?-P. Y.
A. Da Vinci suppressed his invention
because, he said, 1T was too satanic to
be placed in the hands of unresenerate
men,
@. What is the rate of infant NOR
tality?-G. E.
A, The Chlldren's Bureau reports that
in l94l there were 113949 deaths in the
first year of life. The infant mortality
rate Tor the year was IS per 1000 live
births. In other words, one baby out Of
every % born alive died before its first
birthday. The l941 infant mortality
rate was lower than that of any previous
year. Utah set new all-time low State
record with an infant mortality rate Of
30.
@. What IS the origin of the word
"nostrum' as applied to a quack medi-
cine?-A w. B.
A. The Latin "nustrum" means "orr
own lie. special drug peculiar to the
seller.
Q. Who was Jane McCrea?-W. L, L.
A. Jane McCrea was the daughter of
New Jersey clergyman. She was born
in 1853 and in 1777 was scalped and
butchered by scouting party of Gen.
Burgoyne's army. This is said to have
ding.
@. What is the number of words per
minute that a telegraph operator can
take?-N. E. G.
A. About 60 words per minute can be
taken by an experienced telegraph op-
orator.
Q. Is there any place in the world
where the air is free of dust?-L.
A. Dust-free air does not exist any,
where in nature. Near the earths sur
face the dust is mostly blown up from
the soil by the winds. Also every great
volcanic eruption spouts up enormous
quantities OF dust to great heights.
Moderate to strong winds blowing on
soil that is loose and dry raise clouds Of
dust in the lower air. When great areas
become very dry. atmospheric disturb
ances produce dust storms, which may
do great deal of damage.
Spirit UnouenchobIe