Evening star., 1943-11-09
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hdskin.

10 XueSttOnS
By Frederic J. Haskin.
Many readers send In questions to
the information bureau signed only
Dtth initials, asking that the dnspers
appear in the newspaper. The SPACE
is limited and ,Oould not accommodate
fraction OF such requests. Besides.
the subject matter is often too per-
sondl to be OF general interest Send
your question to The Epenin1 Star
Information Bureau, Frederic J. Has
kin, director, Washington, d. C. In
close stamp for return postage.
Q. What is the cost of operating q
bicycle?-S. B. D.
A. American Bicyclist says that the
average cost per mile is 1s/1o0 cent or.
In other words, miles for cent.
Q. Are there any five-star generals7-
p. E.. X.
A. The War Department SAYS no OH
Ger In the United States Army has ever
worn more than four stars as the in
signe Of rank. Gen. John j. Pershinr.
who holds the honorary title of general
OF the armies could wear five stars or
more If he wished. The general OF the
armies has authority to design his own
uniform.
Q. How many patents did Thomas A.
Edison receive?-L. q.
A. A total Of 1,l0l United States pat.
ents were granted to Mr.. Edison.
@. Who Is the champion tap dancer,
j. J.
A. BIZ Robinson is the worlds cham.
pion tap dancer having won first prize
four times In national dancing contests.
Q. What portion of the popula ton of
India are not British subjects?-L. H.
A. Nearly one-folrth of the total pop-
ulation are not British subjects. These
s3,lss,ooo people in the Indian states owe
allegiance only to their own rulers.
q. What is the Oldest radio station
In Alaska?-E L. H.
A. KFQD, Anchorage, Is the oldest,
dating back to May, 1924.
Q. Is the lord privy seal Of Great
Britain a cabinet ofIcer?-M. l..
A. The lord privy seal may or may
not be in the cabinet II the govern
ment has 4 special Job to be done or
needs advice on particular matter re-
quiring research, the lord privy seal 10
called upon to undertake 1t.
9. How much have long distance tele-
phone calls increased since the begin
ing Of the war?-I. B.
A. Long distance conversations have
nearly doubled in the past two years.
@. How fast does \ porpoise travel7-
Z.
A. The Bureau OF Fish and wildnfe
Service says that there are no availa BILE
accurate data on the speed Of porpoises.
They have been reported to travel ahead
Of some Of the fastest destroyers. The
porpoise Is one of the speediest Of the
deep-sea mammals and can doubtless
90 from 40 to As miles an hour.
O. What railway was known as the
crookedest In the world?-E E.F.
A. The old Mount Tamalpais and Muir
Woods Railway In California. 1t vas
steam operated and built In 1895 The
line had 2s1 curves and the chief ens1-
neering feature was the double bow
knot, where the track rose 100 feet by
paralleling itself five times within T..
900 feet.
@. Have the new 1-cent pieces been
withdrawn from circulation?-M. C.H.
A. These have not been Withdrawn
from circulation, but announcement has
been made that they will not be nninted
after the end Of this year.
@. Are there any Huguenot eonsreza-
tions IN the United States which conduct
their services in French7-M. H.
A. The French Church OF the HOLY
Spirit In New York City Is one. The
Rev. John A. F. Maynard Is pastor.
@. What Is the shortest distance from
Dutch Harbor In the Aleutians 70
Tokio'-M c. w.
A. 1t is 7,s4o miles.
Q. What Is the title OF the marching
song Of the Oficer Candidate School
at Miami?-L. c. D.
A. The song Is entitled "Ben Bot
tom Trousers"
Q. How long is the Metropolitan oper.
season?-M. E. H.
A. The season has been lengthened
from Is to 20 weeks.
q. What is a steel dust horse?-R. NIB,
A. The term steel dust horse Is applied
to q certain type Of Western bronco, the
name being due to the distinctive COL
grafton.
@. When and where was the largest
and most perfect aquamarine discov-
ered?-L. K. D.
A. The Smithsonian Institution saws
the largest and finest aquamarine ever
found was discovered at Marambaya In
Minas Geraes, Brazil tn 1910. 1t meas
ured 10 inches long and is inches In
diameter, weighed 243 pounds and was
sold for $25,00 In Bahia, Brazil. This
crystal was so perfect that q person
could easily see through It IN any
direction.
@. When will Princess Elizabeth Of
England come of age?-P. L.
A. The princess will attain her ma
jority on her 18th birthday, April 81,
1914. BY the law Of England, full age il
II, but an exception Is made IN respect