Evening star., 1943-09-23
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.

By Frederic J. Hdsktn.
There are several hundred national
organizations sDhich maintain their
headquarters In Washington. Hers
the Information Bureau finds the
ansiDers to many OF the questions that
newspaper readers ask. When Drit-
ing be sure to sign your full name
and address. Send your question to
The EDening Star Information Bu-
redu, Frederic J. Hdskin.. Director,
Washington, D. c. Inclose stamp for
return postage.
@. What is the cost per day Of feed.
ing soldier In the present war, a. COM
pared with the last?-A. N.
A. The War Department says that
during the First World War the daily
cost of feeding one soldier In the United
States Army was 80 cents. The present
cost is 50 cents.
@. What kind OF grease is used to
launch ship?-N. r. T.
A. A special kind of grease is used,
especially prepared for this purpose.
About As tons are needed In the launch
ing Of q battieship.
@. How many persons In the United
States receive old-age pensions3--R. B.
A. In May. 1913, the number Of
persons receiving old-age assistance IN
the United States was 2.17o,000.
@. How much World War I debt does
Germany owe the United States7-
H. B. w.
A. Germany does not owe the United
States any World War debt. This cotin-
try did not lend money to the Central
Powers. Germany owes the United States
S1,251 ,4l7,749.70 for Army costs and
$26,0il ,672.09 for Austrian Indebtedness
to the United States. These figures are
as Of March /, 1885, There has been paid
on the Austrian Indebtedness $s67,6o8.
q. What Is the finest sonnet written
by an American2-G. N. B.
A. Senator Ingalls, sonnet "Opportu-
nifty" which begins Master Of human
destinies am l." Is 80 regarded by many
critics.
q. Please give the name OF the new
conductor of the Los Angeles Philhar-
monic Orchestral. o.
A.-Alfred Wallenstein was recently
appointed. He is the only American born
conductor to head major symphony
orchestra in this country.
@. What was the extent Of Italy's
contribution to the fighting strength Of
the Axis?-B. d. E.
A. Winston Churchill estimated that
Italy never accounted for more than 10
per cent of the total battle strength Of
the Axis.
q. Is there such a thing as bali
snake?-M. M
A. The rubber snake Of the extreme
Western United States can make itself
into compact mass, the head in the
middle Of many protecting coils. The
snake does this so well that it can be
rolled about and hence has won the
| name Of ball snake
@. What Is the origin of the bottles
of colored water often seen In the win
dows of drug stores?-K M. g.
r A. In the early days of pharmacy,
when the apothecary mixed his own
tinctures the directions sometimes re-
quired that the operation be conducted
in the light for atcertain number OF days.
Thus the large containers were placed
In the front windows and later evolved
| into the show bottles Of colored liquid
which characterized drug stores OF the
18th century.
@. Is there complete record Of the
proceedings of the first Continental Con-
| gress?-D. B.
A. The National Archives contains
490 bound volumes which have the
records from 1774 to 1889. They were
brought to Washington, dog cared and
water-stained. in 1900. Lawyers and
statesmen constantly refer to these early
data to determine what has been sub
scribed as the intent of Congress.
Q. What flag does a United States
battleship fly when entering foreign
| port?-H. H. o.
A. The Navy Department says that
when battleship of the United States
enters foreign port in peacetime, the
flag of the country being entered Is
hoisted only if the United States ship
is firing salute. On certain holidays
and ceremonial days, the ship hoists
the flag of the foreign country as a
| courtesy. Salutes are never fired or
ships dressed in time of war.
@. Where were tiles first used in
building?-P. N. G.
A. Tile, as we know it, originated In
Egypt, where it was used to decorate the
palaces of the kings The Chinese used
tiles for covering roofs and the color of
the tile indicated the rank of the person
who lived in the house Green and yell
low were reserved for priests and other
colors designated certain professions.
Q. Where is the refuge known az
Bird City?-R. I.
A. Bird City is on Avery Island. LouI.
siana. 1t was established in 1892 by E. A.
McIlhenny, who succeeded in attracting
some snowy egrets. From this small be-
ginning the colony grew. Other species
OF herons came in to nest, gradually
forming the huge rookery that exists
today.
Second Childhood
I M 10 4.