Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-23
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

q. L have been told that there LIS
n" reco~d at the Fairfax Court
mouse, Va, an indictment against
/ hlo.se Washington wherein a true
bill was found by a grand jury on
a charge Of perjury and that the case
was never tried. Is this true, and If
so, why was the case not brought to
trial?--C. z. c.
A. The deputy clerk at Fairfax
Courthouse says: Our records do
show that George Washington and
several other Of our best citizens were
presented for not listing their wheel
carriages agreeable TO law, and l can.
not find in the records where he was
ever tried. Our records dc not show
that he was ever indicted for perjury,
nor do / believe any true-blooded
American would suggest such a thing
There might have been a law that re-
quired certain things to be done, and
through an oversight George Wash
ington, or one Of his overseers, might
have failed to list O carriage, but you
and / know that a man of his char
acter would never perJure himself for
few dollars. when his whole life was
sacrificed for the welfare of his
country"
Q. Is there tree that has more
than one trunk?--G. r.
A. The East Indian banyan tree is
distinguished by the fact that roots
descend from It's branches and be-
come auxiliary trunks, thus permit
ting the tree to extend over a wide
area. In the Calcutta botanical gar
den there Is such a tree, over 100
years old. that has at least 5000
small trunks. 230 that vary from
to 3l2 feet in diameter and a main
trunk 10 feet in diameter. Among
these trunks, it is said, 1000 people
can stand.
@. How were quilts prepared for
pens?-A. G. NJ
A. The quills were first assorted &C
cordtng to their quality, then dried in
hot sand. then cleaned OF the outer
skin. then hardened by dipping in a
boiling solution OF alum and diluted
nitric acid. Attempts were made TO
Mt points to the nibs, but this was
found impracticable.
Q. Why is Portland cement given
that name?-L. B.
A. After hardening cement resem.
bles stone, and when first manufac.
tured in England 1t was found to be
somewhat similar to celebrated
stone obtained from the Isle Of Port
land.
Q. Are the rings of Saturn solid or
fiuid?-F. T. +.
A. The conclusion has been reached
that the ring IS triple. consisting of
concentric parts, and that II is com
posed Of very large number Of small
satellites. IF the ring were solid some
temporary disturbance would suffice
m, IiSr 10, ~ HI
to presume that it Is liquid
Q. How many people living near
New York City commute daily
H. T.
A. The population of Metropolitan
New York is 9,444 900. This means
that there are 100000 people out
side Greater New York within COM
muting distance. Over $50, 600 of
them go into New York TO work
every week day, while as many more
go in daily 10 shop.
O. l have a bill which has a star
before the serial number. What does
II meant. II.
A. The Bureau of Engraving and
Printing says that the star shows that
the bill has been substituted for one
that has been found defective after
being numbered and sealed. Since all
paper currency is subject to several
examinations before the numbering
and sealing is done, the percentage
of starred bills is very small. The
spoilage for the whole process OF turn
| ing out bills is but per cent.
Q. Had Capt. Fried OF the President
| Roosevelt seen war service?-B. +. H
A. He served as lieutenant In the
| Navy during the World War on the
Zuiderdyjk. Dutch ship used by the
United States as supply ship from
| March %. 1918, to September 16
1918