Evening star., 1943-11-15
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hdskin.

There are several hundred national
organizations Witch maintain their
headquarters tn Washington Here
the information bureau finds the
answers to many of the Qussttons
mat newspaper readers ask. When
Wrtttng be sure to sign your full name
ana address. Send your question to
The Erenin0 Star information Bu.
reGu, Frederic J. Hdskin, Director.
washington, d. c. Inclose stamp for
return postage.
Q. What is the frequency with which
persons live to be 100 years Of asep-
D. l.. A.
A. Census records show that In ths
United States only one person out Of
every 10000 lives to celebrate his Tooth
birthday.
@. Are any Of the old frisates stil1 IA
existence2-I L.
A. The U. S. s. Constellation at New.
port, R. l., and the U. s. g. Constitution
In Boston are two of the original
frigates authorized by Congress in 17o4.
The new frigates now being constructed
are similar to gunboats and are de-.
signed especially to combat U-boats,
Q. How long should it take 10 play
Ravel's "Bolero"?-S. 8. N.
A. 1t is related that Nine. Ida Rubin.
| stein, for whom 1t was composed, In.
sisted that the music be exactly l7H
| minutes long.
Q. Why does the moon appear 70
much larger on rising?-D. Y. B.
| A. 1t was long believed that the moon
appeared larger on rising by compari.
son with surrounding objects. A new
explanation has been suggested by Prof.
E. G. Boring of Harvard. He believes
that the eye and brain see an object
larger when it is directly in view than
| when the eyes have to be rolled up or
down to see 1t.
Q. Do radio waves have any effect
upon birds flying in the air?-C B. D.
A. Little is known as yet Of the pos
sible effect of broadcast waves upon
birds in flight. Students Of carrier
pigeons think they may, to some extent,
influence the birds sense Of direction,
@. What picture by Titan brought
about a royal marriage?-E. L. H.
A. When the portrait Of Philip II Of
Spain by the the celebrated artist was
sent to Mary Tudor of England In 1853,
she was greatly enamoured" and their
marriage subsequently took place.
@. What are the medals awarded BY
Japan?-H. E. c.
A. The Order of the Rising Sun, IN
stituted In 1875, is awarded to all ranks
Of the Japanese Army and Navy for GAL
liant service in war or DISTINGUISHED
service in peace. The Order Of the
Sacred Treasure, instituted in l8a8, is
awarded to both military and naval
oficers for meritorious service. The
Order of the Golden Kite was instituted
in 1891.
@. Is the flower bed known As The
Gates Ajar," between Minneapolis and
st. Paul, still in existence?-L. F.E.
A. The Gates Ajar In Como Park, st.
| Paul, temporarily has been discon-
| tinued. .. = 1.s
| @ What is the greatest age TO which
horse has ived?-G. Z.
A. The Oldest horse on record + .
Manchester canal horse which died In
1922 at the age Of 81.
Q Does the United states Govern
ment pay rent to England for the
ground in which American soldiers of
the First World War are buried7-C.
B. D.
A. 1t does not. Brookwood American
Cemetery, England, was purchased by
the United States Government for
burial rights and perpetuity."
O. What is the origin Of the belief
that the cofin OF Mohammed u sls.
pended in midair?-P. P.
A. The story was invented by the
prophets enemies to bring ridicue on
him and his religion.
| @. Why was John Paul Jones' ship
called the Bonhomme Richardf-A.
r. c.
A. The Bonhomme Richard was origi-
nally an Indian merchantmen The
vessel was renamed in honor Of BenjA-
min Franklin.
@. Who is the inventor Of the Limo
type machine?-M K. D.
A. Ottmar Mergenthaler, q German
immigrant who came to America in
1872.
@. Is there such thing as a fiaw-
less diamond?-G. E. L.
A. This term describes a diamond
which is free from all internal and ex-
ternal blemishes or faults Of every de-
scription under skilled observation, with
a 10-power loupe corrected for chro-
matte and spherical alteration. There
are "flawless" diamonds in existence.
Q. How far west Of Panama n Colonp
W H.
| A. Colon, the Atlantic terminus Of the
Panama Canal, Is nearly 10 miles west
of Panama, the Pacific terminus.
@. Please describe land mine.-w. q.
A. A land mine is a charge, usually
tt high explosives, placed on the sur
face Of the ground or buried in shall
Isw pit and detonated at WILL or BY
pressure of vehicles or troops passing
over it, sometimes discharging q mass