Evening star., 1924-09-29

". Are the French Masons athe-
ists?-A. F.
A. At the present time the Grand
Orient OF France, which is the title
or the Masonic organization of that
country. is not officially recognized
by Masonic bodies because it excludes
the affirmation Of the belief in the
divinity of God.
Q. In judging the merit OF a col
lege or university. what facts should
be taken into consideration "A. h.
NJ
A Generally speaking, a school
may be judged by the number Of
professors who devote all OF their
time to the school, by the courses Of
Tered. by the number OF absences al
lowed each pupil in his courses. by
the number Of subjects in which a
student is allowed to fail without
being required to repeat the entire
years course. Entrance requirements
and endowments also figure in the
ranking Of the schools.
Q. Why does a feather fall as fast
as lead in vacuum?-T. B. K.
A The principle Of gravity applies
equally to all objects Irrespective of
weight The resistance of air is the
force which varies the velocity of a
falling body.
Q. Are two words ever synonyms? i?
w. r. T
A. Strictly speaking, there are no
perfect synonyms, that is, no two
words which exactly agree in sense
and use. There are, however. many
words in English which have mean
lngs so closely akin that they are
q q a g11 "a
ton.
.. Who is entitled to hospitaliza-
ton from the Government under the
law governing the granting Of bene-
hts to disabled veterans?-R g. B.
A. All disabled veterans of the
late war who are in need Of hospi-
talization for their disabilities, and
in addition any honorably discharg-
ed veteran Of the Spanish American
War; The Philippine Insurrection;
The Boxer Rebellion; or the World
War who is suffering from neuro-
psychiatric or tubercular ailments
or diseases: paralysis agitans sleep
ing sickness or amoebic dysentev or
the loss Of sight of both eyes, whether
such ailments or diseases are due
to military service or otherwise. The
veterans Bureau is authorized, so
far as facilities will permit, to fur
nish disqualification to veterans OF
any military occupation or military
expedition since 1897, not dishonor-
ably discharged, regardless of the
origin of their disabilities
Q. Can the screeching of a pea
cock be stopped by any simple opera
tion on its wind pipe or vocal cordso
+. w. c.
A. The Superintendent of the Ma
tional Geological Park says that moth
ing can be done TO keep peacocks
from screeching. An operation upon
the vocal cords or wind pipe would
be dangerous. and il is doubtful if
the bird would survive
@ Were wrist watches worn be-
fore the World War?-F. D. S.
A. Wrist watches were worn by
travellers some 80 years ago. They
were incased in heavy leather brace
let's.
Q. Please explain briefly the Mag
ma Charta?-A. X. j.
A. In 1915 the English barons
rose against the authority of King
John of England and compelled him
tc sign a charter called the Magma
Charta. guaranteeing to Englishmen
certain rights and liberties which
have been held by the English people
since that day. The charter was
signed at Runneymede June IS.
Q. Please name some plants that
catch and eat insects.-R f. J.
A. The teaSel. Sarracenia, nepen-
thes, and the Venus fytrap are some
of the plants that do this
Q. Please inform me how salmon
manage to jump UP a fall or like OBJ
struction in a river-W f. p.
A. The Bureau of Fisheries SAYS that
at the bottom of fall there is usually
a very deep well. The salmon swim to
the extreme bottom of this we'll and
If they have sufficient depth of water to
give force to get the power to jump,