Evening star., 1925-03-30
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

the ''Forbidden city" in Peking. At
the present time China is a republic.
Q. How many railroad ties are
there in a mile of track ?--J. NJ.
A. II the ties are laid Is inches
from center to center there are $3.50
to the mile. If the center to center
space is "a inches, 2,640 ties are re-
qured for a mile.
Q. What industry has the largest
number of workers per plant?-M. i.
A. In 1919 the establishments en-
gagged in steel ship building averaged
2,124 wage earners each. Other in
dustries with high averages OF wage
earners were: Sugar refining, 9Ol;
watches, S82: boots and shoes, rub
bers, So4: steel works and rolling
mills, 75o; automobiles, 66S.
Q. Where were coffee houses first
established?-L NJ
A. Coffee houses were places of
refreshment first opened in the, six
teenth century in Constantinople. In
London they were, so to speak, club
houses free to all who could buy a
cup; and yet each was known for
its special circle of visitors, literary,
scientific, religious or political In
the absence of newspapers they were
great means of spreading news and
of discussing public questions. Near
ly all of the middle and higher class
es attended them daily, and they
came to exert so powerful an infu
ence in politics that in 1875 Charles
ii attempted to suppress them, but
in vain.
Q. What sacrifice did the oxford
men make during the World War"
i =.
A. During the World War, 1851
Oxford men served in the British
military and naval forces, including
prospective members of the college
who fell in the war and also those
who Joined the university after the
war. Two thousand six hundred and
sixty oxford men lost their lives.
This number was commemorated At
the university memorial service at
st. Mary's in June, 1919.
Q. What was the name of an
ancient seat of Irish monarchs?-W.
B. w
A. The seat of the ancient Irish
kings was Tara, in County Meath.
Q. Do all gypsy tribes use the same
marriage ceremony2-E. ].
A. Authorities on gypsy customs
state that marriage ceremonies vary
with the different tribes and in the
different countries. In many cases
special customs have been borrowed
from the inhabitants of the country.
With many tribes of gypsies no actual
formalities are required In marriage
except the making of a covenant be
tween the bride and groom The
marriage is always followed by "eat-
ing, drinking, hddling and dancing"
Q. What is the meaning OF, the term
habelli?-C. Z. V.
4. This is a term applied to the
huge ostrich feather fans carried be-
side the Pope in certain ceremonials.
The eye-like parts OF peacock feathers
were set in the fans to symbolic the
( eyes" of the church.
| Q. Was Josiah Quincy ever a mem
| Der of the cabinets. S. T.
| A. Josiah Quincy was appointed As
| sistant Secretary of State by Presi-
dent Cleveland in 1898. serving six
months. In that time he may have
been acting Secretary, temporarily
but he was never officially cabinet
member.
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making constant use Of The Star IN
| formGtfon Bureau. Frederic j. Raskia
Director. TCet'ty-frSt aud c streets
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