Evening star., 1923-12-15

closed on June 30, 1918. Congress f,av-
Ins iaiied to make provision for its
support beyond that date. Its equip
tions was shipped to other institu-
oiHuea .iitit Ior the reason that the re-
: Gtelpts OF bullion at that office were
ansuihcisnt to warrant it's continue
tahfisbad no rms office was originally es-
| act app owed March 2. ia35 The
1hhdrIotte Office was designed to servo
the goid-producing districts of the
% o1uiiern .h appalachian region, which
n,i,,irs .line comprised the only gold
mining territory in the United States.
From 1898 until 1861 the Chariotta oS.
o1 coined gold in denominations of
-, asies' quarter eagles and dol
aft"r 70 total value of s5.O5s,1ss.
charlotte was re-established nv act -
congress dated March I9 1857 ana
was maintained until the close NJ The
fiscal year 1918. - 'A"
u. Could ostriches be raised anx
place in the United States?-F
A. The Department of AericpItrr.
says that ostrich farming has been
conducted successfully as a business
| only In the southwestern part of This
country. Climatic conditions are IA
o!aoie Tor keeping birds out-os doors
there throughout the year. Alfalfa
Vorabie for keeping birds out-of doors
. tiais IN successful ostrich farming.
Q. When was Christmas first cele-
biated III J. N
a: 1t Is not definitely known when
Chrlstmas was first celebrated. The
institution Of the festival is attrib-
uted u Teicsphorus. who hourished in
, the re-gn OF Antoninus Plus C31-16l
A.DJ.8 This, however. is not historj-
cal II has often been objected that
pecember 25 cannot be the true date
OF the pirth Of Christ, for it Is then
the amy season in Palestine and
shepherds would scarcely have heen
watching their sheep by night In the
fields. The reason for the final choice
II december Is cannot now be deter
mined A widespread feast of thsf
Great Mother may have Influenced the
decision. also the desire to place q
Christian feast in opposition to the
Roman feast of "SoI invectus" at tho
winter solstiCe. AT the winter SOL
stice the Ge mans held their great
fule feast, in commemoration of the
return of the fiery sun, and many Of
the beliefs and usages of the old Ger
mans and Romans relating to this
matter passed from heathenism to
Christianity and have survived to the
present day. As Christianity spread.
the feast of the winter solstice, the
time when the da- begins to increase
and light to triumph . 'er darI-,ass
was changed into the Feast of Christ,
the Light OF Life.
Q. What proportion of ships are
fast as compared with those that arc
slow?-T 2.
A. OF the ships of the United States
merchant ma rine per cent have a
speed of more than IL knots, while s2
per cent nave a speed under IL knots.
In England the COZ responding per-
centages are % and ~, and In Japan,
1872 and S11
Q. Why aren't penguins found at
the north pole?-M. o. w.
A. No reason is advanced. Pen
gums are native to the Antarctic re-
gions, just as polar bears are found
only in the Arctic regions.
Q. What is the meaning of the term
common carrier"?-L H. F.
A. A common carrier is a railroad
or steamship company which carries
or transports passengers or goods for
hire.
(Redders of The Evening Stdr
should send their questions to The
Star Information Bureau. Frederick .
J HaSkfn, director, 1920 North Capt :
tol street. The o,sly CT dr0e for this
service is cents in stamps for re-
turn postdge.)