Evening star., 1943-08-25
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By frederic J. Hnskin

''heS 1tuf SHt0f WtWtt0H 0nJGuH, fTeU~
eric J. Hasktn. director. Washington.
d. c.. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
@. How long did 1t take to demobiliss
after the last war7-E. C.
A. After the First World War \ year
elapsed before the four million men.
then under arms. were demobilised..
O. What are the four lighte.t ele-
ments7-S. Y.
A. Hydrogen. helium, hthium and
beryllium are the four lightest known.
Q. In what country did Arabic num-
erals originate7-N. e. u.
A. The Arabic numerals were intro
duced into Spain about the close of the
10th century by the Moors or Arabs,
but were known TO Hindus as early rs
the 6th century, 50 might. more prob
ably, be called Hindu numerals. They
were brought to England in the ,l4th
century, but not used generally until,
the art Of printing was introduced Up
to the 18th century accounts continued
| to be kept In old Roman numerals.
@. When was the Iraq pipeline COM
| pleted?-J. G. T.
A. In 1884. The pipeline Ia over 600
miles long and is one Of the wonders
| Of the world. The oil travels under
pressure produced by IL pumping sta
tions,
@. What Is st. Anthony's bread?-
Z. L. H. 1913
A. st. Anthony of Padua, who lived
from 1195 to 1921 is the saint appealed
to for the restoration of lost articles.
Aims given to obtain his intercession
Is known as st. Anthonys bread. e.
| @. Does iron occur anywhere In ithA
pure state?-W. H. W.
A. No, 1t Is merely laboratory
curiosity. For experimental purposes
iron has been produced not less than
s9.ss per cent pure. ~. o.
@. Would an enlisted man be re-
| quired to salute the President when
passing him on the strset?-F. g.
| A. The War Department says that
an enlisted man in the Army is not
required to salute the President Of the
United States when passing him on
the street. At formal inspection or.
parade when the President Is present.
the company commander would salute
the President
O. When was the Pennsylvania Sta
ton in New York City built7-C. B. I.
A. Construction Of Pennsylvania sta.
tion, New York, was begun May /, 1904,
and the station was opened on Sep
tember 8, 1910, for the operation OF
trains OF the Long Island Railroad
The operation OF Pennsylvania Railroad
trains into and out OF the station started
November 81, 1910.
q. What birds lay the most eges,--
E.B. Y.
A. The difference in the number of
eggs laid Is considerable. Auks, sannets
and INJURIES lay only one; hummingbirds
lay two. The quail and duck families
and other ground-nesting wild birds are
the most prolific since their young are
subject to sdanger. The domestic hen
probably lays more eggs than any other
bird. ,., .,
@. What was the favorite wood of
Duncan Phyfe?-C. o. B.
A. The noted cabinetmaker loved ma
hogany and always tried to obtain It
even at an exorbitant price. He is known
to have paid 4 thousand dollars for n
single mahogany log.
@. What circumstance occasioned tn.
writing of Longfellow's There Was a
Little Girl Who Had 4 Little Curl?
&C. C.
A. These lines were written by the
poet for his children on a day when
Edith did not want to have her hair
curled.
@. What does the figure on top of
the Capitol in Providence, r. l., repre-
sent?-M. P. L.
A The figure on the top of the
State House in Providence Is called In
dependence Man
Q. Are soldiers given turloughs on
Jewish holidays?-S. G.
A. Jewish soldiers in the Army will
be granted furloughs on Jewish holi-
days.
@. Has the term the duration" been
legally defined?-H E. r.
A. The term has not been legally de-
fined by the Congress Some of the
emergency statutes provide that they
shall remain in force during the con-
tlnuance OF the present war and for six
months after the termination of the
war, or until such earlier time, as the
Congress. by concurrent resolution. or
the President may designate. ....
Q. What is the wording of the prov
erb relating to the man who complained
that he had no shoes?-N. P,
A. The proverb, believed to be Arabic.
Is as follows: II had no shoes and COM
planned until I met a man who had
no feet"
Q. Is the Near East Relief still func-
tioning?-J. E. o.
A. The charter of Near East Relief
which was granted by the Congress. of :,
the United States about "A years ago
expires next year. BY that time 1t is
anticipated that the funds will be COM
pletely expended. Soliciting funds for