Evening star., 1943-11-24
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hdsktn.

BY Frederic J. Hdskfn.
TO get an authoritative ans,Der to
question use this Information Bu-
reau. This offer OF serutce does not
include q discussion OF domestic
problems. 1t is better to talk these
matters oper iDith relatires or close
personal friends In writing do not
use post cards. address your inquiry
to the Epening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director.
Washington, D. c., and inclose stamp
for return postage.
Q. What position does Gen. Giraud
now hold?-A. s. A.
A. Though he resigned as o-president
of the French Committee of National
Liberation, Gen. Giraud retained his
position as commander in chief Of the
French forces.
@. How many Government agen'i-s
are there that lend money?-E. y.
A. Forty-seven Federal agencies a.-e
active in the credit field.
@. Where may the statement be found
that in the early days in New Orleans
carts had to squeak as they moved along
the streets?-N. v. L.
A. John Watson's Diary, 1904, says
that this was an order of the Spanish
government to prevent smuggling.
@. Why has the White House two
| frontS?-L. B.
/ A. In the days when the White House
was under construction Colonial home
built near river had two fronts, a land
front and river front. Each front was
| OF importance. Formerly the Potomac
River approached much more closely to
the White House grounds than it does
today and it was therefore appropriate
that there be river front.
@. How much mail do the large mall
order houses receive in day?-L. A. E.
A. A large mail-order house may re-
ceive more than 2 tons of mail a day.
This is equivalent to about 242 900 let
ters, the number being determined by
weighing the sacks.
@. Was the late George M. Cohan q
wealthy man?-P. D. P
A. He became wealthy at an early
age. Royalties from his songs sketches
and plays are said to have given him
an annual income of $5O0,0O0 while still
in his 20s.
@. Has construction begun on the new
locks of the Panama Canal?-F. E. G.
A. Construction was begun in 1941.
This third set of locks will be 130 feet
wide, large enough to admit battleships
and carriers. They will be bombproof.
Q. Is the gasoline used in automobiles
| by-product of the high octane air
| plane gasoline?-S. C. H.
A. 1t is not; the two are separate and
distinct products, prepared specifically
and separately in the countrys oil re-
fineries. Though there exists some ball
ance, it is inaccurate to refer to either
as by product OF the other.
@. Who posed for Sir Galahad in the
painting by George Frederick Watts?-
E. L. H.
A. Ellen Terry, the great Engli-h
actress and first wife of the artist, WIS
the model.
| @. What make OF violin did Paganinl
| use?-R S. w.
A. His favorite was Guarnerius
Often in debt the great violinist o-ce
was obliged to pawn his violin, and since
an engagement had to be fulfilled he
had to borrow an instrument A French
merchant lent him the Guarnerius and
refused to take it back after the concert.
I Paganini bequeathed the violin to the
| people of Genoa who preserved it care
fully.
| @. How large is the Qattara Depres-
sion SO often mentioned in dispatches
! from North Africa?-D. E. N.
A. The depression has an area of
about 1000 square miles and is nearly as
large as Lake Ontario, the lowest point
yet discovered being 40 feet below sea
level. 1t lies in Western Egypt.
@. What element is combined with
carbon in the diamond?-H. E.V.
A. There is no other element. The
diamond is pure carbon, crystallized in
the cubic system
@. How should letters be addressed to
soldier who has been wounded?-
B. B. T.
A. The Army postal service says that
when soldier overseas is wounded,
persons communicating with him should
continue to address him through his
APO number. If he is in a rest camp or
hospital, his mail will be forwarded to
him.
@. What is the legend of the thunder.
bird?-R. D. J.
A. Among the northern and north
western tribes of Indians the thunder
bird is a mythical creature, the Tapping
of whose wings creates thunder and
which produces lightning by opening
and closing its eyes while it releases
rain from lake carried on its back.
| @. How much soft coal can a miner
dig in one Days. E. H.
A. About Al net tons of coal are pro-
duced per man per day in the bitu-
minous field of Pennsylvania, and 25
tons are produced in like manner in the
| anthracite field of this State