Evening star., 1925-09-11
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

@. Is the number of paupers in the
United States increasing or decreas-
ing?-N. T.
A At last report there were fewer
paupers in our aims houses than at
any time in 20 years. In proportion
to population the ratio was the small
est in the history OF the country. In
numbers there were 5000. of whom
natve-born whites numbered 4S.01S
and foreign-born whites 23,b57.
Q. What is the endurance record Of
speech ?-B. N. I.
A. The nonstop record Of conttnu-
Charlayes. which stands at 43 hours
fiat. A German actor named Horaz
will endeavor to talk 4s hours without
intermission.
Q. What is meant by the term
"monts- de -piete"?-D. NJ.
A. 1t is a French term meaning
funds of piety," and is applied
throughout Europe TO public or semi
public institutions organized to lend
| money to the poor at low rates OF
interest on goods deposited.
O. Can a murder case be tried In
the United States Supreme Court2-
G.. A. D.
A. 4 murder case may be carried
up to the United States Supreme Court
| IL It is a crime in which the United
States has Jurisdiction. The case of
Czolgosz, assassinator Of President
Mckinley, was q case which was de-
cided by the United States Supreme
Court.
@. How old is the present building
| Of Trinity Church, New York City,
| ~. A. NJ.
A. The first church, 1898. lasted till
| 1873, when it was destroyed by fire.
| In 1888 a second building was erected
on the same spot. This was judged
| to be unsafe and was raZed in 1899.
! The present structure was dedicated
| on Ascension day, 1S46.
Q. What produces the sparks when
| a hand-operatsd igniter for a gas
! stove is used?-W. P. s.
A. The sparks consist of highly
heated particles Of a so-called pyro-
phoric alloy which are produced by
rubbing contact between a bit Of the
alloy and the teeth of a file. The al.
| 10y. discovered by Van Welsbach, is
composed of the rare metal cerium
, and iron. Its property is such that
: the rubbing contact with the file
causes the emission of a shower of
sparks, the heat Of which latter Is suf.
| ficient to ignite gas or an infammable
| liquid with which the wick of cigar
| lighter is saturated.
Q. What causes fat feetf-D. s.
A. Flat foot is nearly always caused
by bad posture. by muscles weakened
through lack Of proper exercise, and
especially by the use OF shoes Of poor
type which limit muscle action, espe-
cially action OF the toes, and give a
faulty weight distribution on the foot,
@. What kind Of furniture did the
Egyptians USER. E.
A. They had chairs made Of finest
woods in great variety Of design
covered with rich cloths or skins, and
inlaid with gold and ivory. They also
had couches, stools and sofas, carpets
and rugs, tables and bedsteads.
| @. What Is mercerization?-M.R R. d
A Mercerization involves the treat
ment Of cotton fiber chemically, caus
II ing partial dissolution OF the cellulose
of the fber, and resulting change ir
I the character and properties of the
latter. According TO the usual method
Of mercerfzing. cotton, either in The
form of yarn or in that Of woveT
cloth, is treated with caustic alkali
followed by washing TO dispose OF the
alkali. The material shrinks more ol
less under the treatment. BY forcibly
stretching the material during the
treatment IL Is given the highly glossy
appearance, more or less resembling
| that OF silk, which frequently charac
terizes mercerized goods. Special re
suits are secured in some instance!
| by alternating the treatment with