Evening star., 1948-02-25
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.
Q. Who originated the idea of the veto In
the United Nations?-L. L. s.
A. The veto provisions OF the United Ma
tions Charter were conceived by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt and worked out by him
with Churchill and Stain ut the Crimea Con-
ference at Yalta.
@. What is the name Of the small beetle
that attacks wood and reduces 1t to powder?-
G. M.
A. The insect is the powder-post beetle which
belongs to the family Anobiidae. Such beetles
have the habit of attacking well seasoned wood
and reducing the f1bers to a fine powder.
@. What is the origin of the saying, ito get
down to, brass tacks"2-Y. r. p. 5
ii, A. Many years ago on the counter of gen.
eral store, there were brass tacks arranged
in regular order to indicate yard and frac-
tions thereof. When material by the yard was
sold, the saleswomafis II literally got down to
ibrass tacks" to measure the material.
fit6s;5 ii ts.h +sntT;sa-Sa-E1aafa y, ga
> Q. Do viruses vary in size?-H. Mel.
A. They do Although all viruses apparently
are ganized on level below that of the
living cell, the largest are comparable in di-
mensions to the smaller bacteria, while some
Of the smallest compare with molecules in
size and structure.
Q. Now many generations are needed to pro-
duce = new breed Of dog?-H. C.
A. l.. r. Whitney in How to Breed Dogs"
says that in three generations it is possible
but improbable to produce breed which will
breed rs true as most OF the recognized breeds
Of today There will be some variation. To
create any new breed ought to be 10-genera-
ion task ut least.
q. How are papal bulls named?-K r.
A. They take their titles from the first word
or phrase Of the text which invariably is written
in classic Latin. Thus the bull bears the title,
"Antiquorum habet f1dem,' Is named for the
opening phrase which, translated. reads. He
has the faith Of the ancients."
G. What was the nrst metal used by the
United States mint to make coins Pr. s. r.
A. In 1893, the year after the establishment
of the United States mint, 6 pounds Of old
copper was purchased at shilling and pence
4 pound. The metal was used to make II, ,178
cents.
O. How old is the ceremony now used In
christening a ship?-L B. c.
A. The ceremony for launching ships has
been traced as far back as 2100 BIC. and has
always had a religious significance. In launch
ing ceremonies today q ship Is christened by
having q bottle of champagne broken on it.
The reason for this is the superstition that If
the vessel is not christened properly 1t viii
always be dogged by bad luck.
G. At what age should q child be taken to
q dentist for the first time?-J. M. o.
A. According to Government health experts
a child's first visit should be at the age OF =
This early age is suggested not only because
teeth may. then already begin to decay, but
because the child is less likely to develop fear
OF the dentist.
g. How often is total eclipse of the sun
seen at any particular locality?-J. r. c..
A. An eclipse Of the sun may be observed as
total only by those within the narrow shadow
path. For this reason . total eclipse Of the
sun Is q very rare phenomenon at any particu-
lar place on earth. Young estimated that
at any one station total eclipse will be visible
once in $50 years, in the long rum