Evening star., 1925-04-18
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

that while no record is kept of the
| number of colds occurring in this
country, it is accepted that they are
more prevalent than any of the conn
mon diseases. Next to colds, d!ph-
! iberia, measles and scarlet fever occur
in the order named.
G. How large is Glacier Park
y. p.
A. This national park, established
in northwestern Montana in 1910, has
an area of 1884 acres. 1t contains
260 glacier-fed lakes and so small
glaciers.
Q. Can people be divorced in Bra
zil?-B. P.
| A. At present there is no divorce
law in Brazil. In some cases IL is
possible 10 have marriages annulled.
Q. What is the origin of April
Fools day?-D. T. P.
A. The custom of sending people
on bootless errands or making them
victims Of practical jokes on April l
has existed in European countries
for many centuries. The custom
seems to have been unknown to Ger
man antiquity, however. Grimm re
CARDS 1t as having been introduced
into Germany from France. VARIOUS
theories have been held as 70 lis
origin. One writer traces the custom
TO the miracle play formerly present
ed at Easter, which sometimes showed
the sending Of Christ from Annas to
Caiaphas and from Plate to Herod.
Another finds the origin i'll some
ancient pagan festival, such as the
Hull festival held by the HindUs on
| March 81, or the Feast of Fools, cele-
brated by the Romans on February Il.
| Q. Please define the term Hindu. -
| l.. T. r.
A. The Earl of Ronaldsbay. presi-
dent of the Royal Geographic Society.
states that ''if it be asked what con-
stitutes a Hindu, no definite answer
can be given. Hinduism as a religion
is not comparable with Christianity
or Mohammedanism, or in this
respect with Jainism or Buddhism,
for 1t claims no founder propounding
faith for the salvation of mankind.
and there is no agreement among
Hindus themselves as to what is es-
sential in a man calling himself a
Hindu The word Hindu finds no
place in the ancient Sanskrit texts OF
the Aryans. A we'll known Hindu has
DEFINED the term negatively as ap-
pllcable to all inhabitants OF India
who are not Christians or Moham-
medans or Parsis or Sikhs or Jains or
Buddhists.
How many people live on Tristan
Da Cunha?--L. NJ. D.
A. II is probably the most isolated
OF inhabited spots on the globe: the
first permanent settlement was in
1910 and at present there are about
100 inhabitants on the island.
Q. How long does it take to drill
an oil we'll about 100 feet deep
z. T.
, A. The Bureau of Mines says that n
oil well about 1000 feet deep would
usually be drilled by the standard
cable tool methods in about so
! days, provided the formations to be
| drilled are of moderate hardness This
is based upon the time of the begin
ming of the rig TO the final completion
of the well.
| Q. What are the proper accessories
for woman to carry in a ballroom?
; Should one tip for checking a wrap?
Should bridge tables be covered while
playing Nv. W. W.
A A woman may carry a scarf.
fan, party bag and gloves. Tips are
not given in private houses, are dis
couraged in clubs, but expected in
hotels and dancing places. Bridge
tables are covered with a fresh.
: tightly stretched cover for card
playing and an extra cloth provided
3 when refreshments are served.
RI Q. Is the costume worn by Jeanne
dare in Anna Hyatts statue his
: torically correct?-T. T. s.
A. Grace Humphries. the art critic
says of this statue: For the first
time in her sculptured life Joan OF
: Arc is correctly dressed
Q. Do sugar beets exhaust tn. land
T. P.
/ A. 1t is claimed that sugar beets
are a great crop-yield stimulator
After ground has been used for sugar
beets other crops are found to in
crease so to so per cent in tonnage.
! (Tdke ddCdntd0e Of the free infor-
nation bureau tOltich this ne1ospd per
/ 1ndtHtdins. II there is question you
2 acdnt dnstCered don't hesitate TO use
this service. All replies are sent direct
to the inquirer. Address The Star In
J formation Bureau, Frederic j. HdskiH,
: Director, Tsoenty-t first and C streets
northwest. IncloSe 2 cents In STAN ps
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a nf T1fo9s