Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-10-30
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

@. How near a circle is the earth's
orbit?-H. w. P.
A. 1t varies only slightly from
being a circle. It's eccentricity Is but
0.01677.
Q. What is the origin of the term
"ouch"?-H. S.
A. DIR. VizeteIly says that the ex-
clamation has been traced to the Ger
man "autsch," cry Of pain.
O. Why is some hair curly ana
other straight?-J. c. w.
A. The contour of the hair Is cir
cular, oval or fattened. Whether q
hair is to be curly or straight Ia
largely dependent upon it's contour
the more oval or fiattened it is the
more it will curl.
Q. How long Is the Marseille-Rhone
Canal?-D. D.
A. This canal is a notable Eu-
ropean project executed during the
war period involving an artificial
waterway 81 miles long and extend
ing from the Rhone River at Aries
to the Bay of Marseille. 1t IS also
notable in hiatt it includes a tunnea
four and one-half miles long which
the city and affords direct access to
the harbor In addition to the tunnel
there was involved a breakwater con-
struction between Marseille and Port
de Bone.
@. Why is some tea green and
some black?-D. p. NJ.
A. The same kind of tea leaves can
be used for the manufacture of either
+Ian
the two teas lying merely in the
process Of curing. Yet, some varieties
of tea leaves are better adapted than
others for making certain kinds or
tea. In producing green tea the
leaves are sterilized by steam. This
prevents oxidizing or fermentation OF
the leaf. which retains its green color
and when boiling water is poured over
it the result is the green or greenish-
yellow liquid. In manufacturing
black tea the leaf is allowed to fer
ment, which changes its color from
green to very dark brown. In the
case of oolong; a eni-fermented tea,
the fermentation is allowed to reach
a certain desired point.
@. How many people visit the Scot
fish Rite Temple on Sixteenth street?
T. W. T.
A. The headquarters of the Supreme
Council Of the Scottish Rite Southern
| Jurisdiction, is one of the show places
| of the city. Between rs and 100 Wis
TORS are taken through the building
daily. 1t is open for public inspection
| during business hours and a guide IS
| provided.
@. How many railroad employees are
| there and what is their Compensa-
Tome. T. II.
| A. The average number of en-
| ployes for the year 1924 on Class
railroads was 1,777 .0S9. and the COM
| pensation was s2.SG6. COS, 348. The av-
erage yearly compensation was S1o6l3.
@. Was there an earthquake and
! tidal wave in Santa Barbara lib
years ago?-S. T. S.
| A. A destructive earthquake near
Santa Barbara occurred in the latter
part of 1912. The Mission Church at
| Santa Inez was completely destroyed,
and some lives were lost; the greatest
| damage and loss of life took place at
| San Juan Capistrano, about 10 miles
| from Santa Barbara. A Spanish ship
at anchor 3S miles from Santa Bar
bara was injured. For some time after
! this shock, the region was shaken al
most daily by lesser quakes. Some
tidal waves are also recorded.
@. VIII quails eat boil weevils?-
A. Quails do eat boil weevils. al.
though not in any great quantity
O. What per cent Of rural teachers
are normal school graduates?-H. l.. +.
A Thirty-five per cent of the chill
! dren in this country attend rural
| schools. and fewer than per cent OF
| the 300. 900 teachers in these schools
are normal graduates.
O. In how many years do the as
tronomers believe that the day viii be
| one minute shorter?-R. G..
! a. The Naval Observatory says
the days are lengthening, not shorten
| ing. by small fraction Of a second in
| a thousand years.
TVhat 1riH you bet that you are
! right" Many an argument ends IN
| those 1rordS And il q tCGger is laid IL
! is often hard to oct the issue settled.
! Mann disputes remain fOrerer unde-
| te17ntned There are authorities to be
| consulted. books to be read, experts
| to be reached. But these are not
| readily dUdilGble to eTcry person. In
| fact there are fer agencies In the
| 1rorId that eau GnSlCer euerB leoitt-
| mate question or fdct. rms paper mas
| one in a HIGHLY organized information
bureau that has been built up in
| Washington. It's only object Is TO
| serUe you in pour quest for infoTnr0-
| tion. Tou are irTited to call upon it
| as freely aud as often as pOu please.
! The onIv cost is cents in stamps for
return postage. Address The Star In
| formation Bureau, Frederic j. HdSkir,
director. Tlcenty-tirSt and O streets,
| Washington, d. o.