Evening star., 1924-12-26

.. How far is Washington from
the center of the United States?-
N. e. c.
A. The geographical center deter
mined by the United States Coast and
Geodetio Survey falls in. Smith
County, northern Kansas. in latitude
80 degrees SO minutes; longitude 98
degrees 35 minutes. Washington
therefore is more than 1000 miles
from the geographical center of the
United States.
Q. Did the granite for the State,
War and Navy Building come from
Stone Mountain, Ga. "A. D. X
A. The granite used in the con-
struction of the basement and sub
basement came from Maine, while
that used in the superstructure came
from Richmond Va
Q. Is the Capitol Building in
Washington larger than the Union
Station?-A. NJ
A. The Union Station covers more
ground. 1t is 760 feet long and s43
feet wide while the Capitol is TAG
feet by 270 feet.
Q. Who was Madam, Sarah
Knight. p.
A. Madam Knight was the daughter
of Capt. Thomas Kemble and the
wife of Richard Knight of Boston.
She was born in that city in 1866.
Following the death OF her husband
in England, Madam knight opened a
school in Boston. Among her pupils
were Samuel Mather and Benjamin
Franklin.
Q. How long has Mutt and Jeff'
been in the papers?-W. F. Z.
A. Budd Fisher originated the
character Mutt in 1907. A month after
Mutt appeared he was Joined by Jeff.
O. Is a knot a unit of distance or
of speed?--J F.
A. A knot is a unit of speed
equivalent to one nautical mile an
hour.
Q. Is Gen. Robert E. Lee buried in
Arlington?-T. c.
A Gems. Lee and Jackson are
buried in Lexington, Va
Q. Do robins see. hear or smell the
worms that they catch?-C. 7. 3.
A The Biological Survey says that
in all probability the robin hears the
worms that it seeks. 1t hears the
worms, then hops over the ground,
creating u jar that causes the worm
are disturbed and come up. These
the robin probably sees and devours.
Q. When was Christmas first ceIe-
brated ?-J. A.
A 1t is not definitely known when
Christmas was first celebrated. The
institution of the festival is attrib-
uted TO Telesphorus, who hourished
in the reign Of Antoninus Plus obi
161 A D.. This, however. is not his
torical. It has often been objected
that December % cannot be the true
date of the birth of Christ, for it is
then the rainy season in Palestine
and shepherds would scarcely have
been watching their sheep by night in
the fields. The reason for the final
choice of December 25 cannot now be
determined. A widespread feast of
the Great Mother may have influenced
the decision. also the desire to place
a Christian feast in opposition to the
Roman feast Of sol invectus" at the
Winter solstice. At the Winter SOL
stice, the Germans held their great
Yule 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
the feast of the Winter solstice, the
time when the day begins to increase.
and light to triumph over darkness,
was changed into the Feast Of Christ,
the Light OF Life.
Q. How many Indian war pen
sioners are there?-C. J. c.
A The Pension Office says that
there are S,94o soldiers and 5000 wild
ows drawing pensions by reason of
all the Indian wars. The Pension Bu-
reau does not keep a record of the
individual Indian wars. The sum
paid last year to all Indian war PEN
sioners was s1,s1s,223.65.
Q. When and by whom was wheat
introduced into America?-K. S. G.
A. It is not definitely known who
first introduced wheat into America.
History shows. however, that it was not
grown in America prior to its discov-
cry by Columbus.
O. What kind Of wood should be
used for excelsior?-E. w.
A. The wood from which II is maoe
Duke and Eastn