The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1893-04-02
Another Contest
Is Over


tests. Notwithstanding the fact that
the competition is limited to Clatsop
county schools several contestants
from Portland, Willsburg and Salem
put in papers. These of course though
above the average, could not be counted
The four questions for the week were:
1. Why do woolen materials shrink
when soaked?
2 Docs a strong rear wind accelerate
the speed of an express train?
3. Is very hot or very cold weather
the more fatal to human life in this
country?
4. Who wrote the "Star Spangled
Banner" and what occasion prompted
the words?
The answer to the first question is
that this is owing to the imbricated
form OF wool flbres, the scales Of which
hook into each other whenever they are
forced into contact The underside of
the scale is, however, not perfectly
smooth, and thus offers some resistance
to the interlocking of the scales.
When lubricating fluid like soap and
water is used the interlocking Is rem
dered more complete and permanent.
This peculiar property of wool, called
felting, causes the shrinkage of woolen
clothing when washed, as the rubbing,
the soap and water and the wringing
are all operations which are sure to
make the fibres of wool work together
to the fullest extent they are capable of.
SO remarkable is this property of felt
ing that with many kinds of wool it
is only necessary to mingle the fibres,
wet them, and beat them gently to get
them to combine and form a fabric,
which is used in various clothing un-
der the name of felt.
The second question is only answer
able in the affirmative, for two reasons.
One Of the laws of motion is that
force, acting upon body In motion or
at rest produces the same effect wheth-
er 1t acts alone or with other forces.
And again even the smallest wind aids
the speed Of train because it lessons
the force needed by the engine to make
displacement In the body Of air
ahead Of It,
The correct answer to the third ques-
tion is very hot weather" According
to complete statistics on this point 1t
Is shown that 70 per cent of the deaths
from atmospheric conditions directly,
are caused by the heat. Even reckon
ing the fact that very cold weather
brings pneumonia and many other dis
eases in It's train that the heat does
not, still, with this included, the aver
age is on the side of the latter.
We can give no better or more cor
rect answer to the fourth question than
that sent in by Miss Reba Hobson, who
explains the matter most excellently in
this way:
ION the 18th of September, 1914, the
city of Baltimore was threatened by
the British fleet. The chief defense of
the city was Fort McHenry, which be-
came the object of a powerful attack
This was witnessed by Mr.. Key, who
while trying to affect the release of a
friend held prisoner by the British,
visited the squadron in a vessel sent
for the exchange of prisoners, and was
detained by the admiral till after the
attack. Placed on board of a small YES
sell he remained q whole day a witness
VI the tremendous cannonading to
which the fort was subjected. Night
;ame on and the flag was still there.
rhe battle continued through the night.
When morning came 1t found Mr.. Key
with eyes fastened on the fort. The
Star Spangled Banner floated proud
~ in the morning breeze. His home
and friends were saved. 1t was a
proud moment, and his emotion found
utterance in the impassioned song
which has become forever associated
with the National banner"
The percentages gained in the pres
the last, but the number of those who
have secured honorable mention is
slightly better. To the 100 whose
names do not appear, let us say "Try
again. and keep on trying" Meanwhile.
don't lose sight of the fact that, with
the system of marking employed, 1t
is no empty honor TO obtain a favor
able mention.
The prize this week is awarded joint
ly to;
MISS MARTHA GILBERT. (97). V
MASTER FLOYD DEMENT,, C9D.
We have decided after careful con-
sideration to give honorable mention
to
Florence Ross, p9. Reba Hobson,
Cs2). Bessie L. Ross (9O), Nellie e. Utz-
niger C90. Donald Ross (S9). Charley
Sturges (S6). Il. Tappan Stafford ESQ.,
WIN Levings G5, Jay Tuttle. Jr. $50
Maybell Young (S9, Eugenia Lewis (S0
Mabel ohler (S0, Bert Ross $50, George
l. Cherry (S2) Laura L. Fox (S2). Walter
Slnnott CSD. James d. Taylor (S1), Irena
johnson (SD, Edith ohler CW, Bennie
Powell (SO),
OF course the usual number OF anus
Ing replies were received,
In answer to the train question one
little girl says:
"A strong rear wind win accelerate
the speed of an express train, or any
other train. especially the train of a
lady's dress, going in the same direction
as the wind"
Sixty-one answers to the weather
question were in favor of heat and
the balance stood for 'cold'', Here were
some OF the REPLIES: