Evening star., 1949-09-12
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE

O. Was Christopher Columbus married?
"A. j. A.
A. About 147o Columbus went to Lisbon to
live. There, he met and fell in love with
Dona Felipa daughter of an Italian cavalier.
the deceased Bartolomeo Monis de Pales-
trello. He was a navigator of distinction.
Columbus and Dona Felipa married and
went to live on the island of Porto Santo.
Here, their son Diego was born.
Q. Do some animals hibernate in summer?
j. S. O.
A. The word hibernate carries the idea
of winter Such tropical creatures as alli-
gators. snakes and certain mammals and
insects undergo period of torpor during
the hot. dry season when food is scarce and
vegetation is taking rest. This is known
as estivation.
@. In reference to wine, what is ''vin-
tage year"?-N r. O.
A. In Europe vintage years are those oc-
casional seasons when rainfall, sunshine and
other climatic conditions combine to pro-
duce the best possible wines.
@. Which President of the United States
regarded the number 13 as lucky?-G.s.
A In his book, Strange Superstitions and
Magical Practices William j. Fielding says
that Woodrow Wilson made something of a
fetish of 13. preferring the 18th day
of the month to make or announce inn
portant decisions Early in adult life he
dropped the use of his first name. Thomas.
and thereafter used only two, Woodrow Will
son, which consist of 13 letters.
O. What is the yearly number of suicides
in the United States?-K. w.
A. Between $4,000 and 10000 people kill
themselves each year in the United States
and about 100O 900 more make the attempt.
Three times as many women as men at
tempt to kill themselves but men outrank
women in the number of completed suicides.
@. Is the United States Coast Guard ac-
cepting women for enlistment?-L. OFT.
A. The United States Coast Guard does
not, at present, accept woman recruits. The
Spars, women's division of the Coast Guard.
was an emergency branch of the Coast
Guard, active during the war.
@. Can one hear better with an ear to
the ground" Pc. j. S.
A. Sound travels faster and farther through
the ground than through the air. March,
ing men and running horses can be heard
in this way long before the sound comes
through the air.
@. When did Enrico Caruso first make
recordings?-C. H. G.
A. It was on February I, 1904, that Ca
russo, one of the greatest tenors of all times,
made his first recordings He sang 10 OPP
cratic numbers and was paid $4,000 for his
afternoons work. The records made by
Caruso became sensational best sellers.
@. Where is the coldest spot in the world
where people live?-A. NICK.
A. The coldest known spot in the world
where people live is North Central Siberia
where in certain sections, the thermometer
goes down to 80 degrees below zero. 1t is
not unhealthy, for people have learned how
to care for themselves and life is far from
unbearable.
@. Was the French liner lie de France
used as transport during World War up
P. w. d.
A. The lie de France carried troops for
the Allies in World War II. She was seized
by the British at Singapore after the fall OF
France in 1910 and was converted into
troop transport In September, 1945, she was
used to transport Canadian and American
soldiers. .8
@. Why does the air get thinner as ono
ascends a mountain?-O. r.
A. The air is held to the earth by the
force of gravity The air close to the
ground Is pressed down by the weight OF
the air above it, which makes 1t denser. As
the distance from the earth increases there
Ia less air above, therefore 1t expands and
Ia thinner. .f