Evening star., 1925-04-14
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN

@. How far does the stone base of
Stone Mountain eXtend?-G. h. Y.
A. This foundation underlies almost
half of the State of Georgia. At
varied depth the substrata of Stone
Mountain granite has been encoun-
tered in borings as far north as the
Blue Ridge Moutains, 70 miles dis
tant, and as far south as the coastal
plain, $50 miles distant.
Q. What per cent of the men ap-
plying for life insurance are reject
ed?-E. O. i.
A. According to one life insurance
company, there is a general rejection
rate Of approximately per cent Of
the cases.
Q. What is the merit SYSTEM
V. &.
a The merit system is a system
Of appointing employees to office in
the civil service and of promoting
them for competency only. 1t is "9-
posed to the spoils system.
q. Why is Turkey called the sick
man of Europe"?-B. S.
a. The term was first applied to
Turkey in allusiOn TO its decaying
condition by Gar Nicholas of Russia
in conversation with the British Am
bassador Seymour.
Q. How many wires are there in
the main cables of the new Delaware
Bridge?-W. l.. A.
a. Each cable of the new Delaware
Bridge contains 1866 galvanized
wires. Each wire is O.2 inch in di-
ameter.
O. Has the Einstein theory been
provcd?-L. c.
\. The first test of the relativity
theory was the mathematical deter
mination by relativity equations of
the full value of the rotational pro
cessional Of the perihelon of the
planet Mercury. The second triumph
was the confirmation of Einstein's
prediction that gravity affects light.
This was put TO test at the eclipse
expedition of Nav, 1919. Decisive
success came on May %, 1919, when
at Principe light from nearby stars
was found DETECTED by the sun almost
equal TO that predicted. The third
prediction 10 be verified was that in
the gravitational field of the sun light
waves would be heightened. St. John,
at Mount Wilson Observatory, report
ed to the National Academy, at its
1924 session at Washington, that he
found confirmation of this predicted
effect in an elaborate series of meas
urements of the shift of spectrum
lines.
@. In what year was the parcel
post system started?-B. X.
A. The Post Office Department says
that it was during President William
II. Taft's administration that the
parcel post law was passed. This
was during the incumbency of Post
master General Hitchcock. The law
was passed August "a, 1912, and the
parcel post system placed in operation
January l, 1913.
@. How did 1.-The Hague" get its
name?-R. G..
A The Dutch form of The Hague
is 5 Grayenhage, which means the
Counts Hedge" During the thir-
teenth century the present site of the
town was occupied by a hunting seat
of the Counts of Holland.
Q. Did the Indians use witch hazel?
j. NJ NJ.
A. The bark Of this shrub was used
| by North American Indians as q seda-
| tive application for external inflam-
nation. Extract of witch hazel is
| still extensively used for this purpose.
| The shrub grows from to Is feet
| hlgh, ana Is FOUND In all sections OF
| the United States, usually on hills or
| in stony places, and often on banks
| of streams.
Q. What did the Greeks mean by
| the term "kunikos"?-A. V.
A. The word means "doglike." It
was applied to pessimistic Greek
philosophers, who were metaphorical-
ly compared to scavenger dogs.
Q. Do the Swiss peasants wear a
| national costume FL. T. F..
A. Frank Fox, writing of this sub
| ject, says: "The use of national cos
tune dwindles in Switzerland, as it
| does in every other part of the world.
| The peasant women have, however,
| still a characteristic headdress, the
maidens wearing black caps, the ma
irons white ones. For the festivals at