Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-30

@. How fast does coral form
w. S. r.
A. Little is known regarding the
rapidity of growth in Corals. A speci-
men of Mocandrina labyrinthica meas
uring a foot I'm diameter and 4
inches thick in the most convex part
was taken from a block of concrete
at Fort jefferson, Tortugas. which
had been in the water only 20 years.
Il has been calculated that the aver
age growth of a Mocandrina OBJ
served at Key West was half an inch
a year.
Q. What is the singular of dice?
II Med
A. The singular is die"
@. Which is the largest of the web
footed birds?-M Il. NJ.
A. The pelican is the largest of the
web-footed birds. One species is
common in the Mississin0i Valley, In
Winter. it migrates to the Gulf Coast.
The birds are highly sOCiable. living
in colonies and frequently following
a cooperative plan in their fishing.
@. What does "torque" mean in
reference to an engine?-D. G.. w.
n. !
an engine or motor.
@. Why are the days colder in Jan
uary and February than in December,
when the days are then lengthening?
w. J. b.
A. While 1t is true that In the
Northern Hemisphere the maximum
difference between the heat lost at
night and that gained by day occurs
about December q, it is also true that
there is more lost at night than gained
by day for some time after that. In
other words, one might say that tho
Northern Hemisphere cools off most
rapidly about December 81, but
continues to cool off after that time,
though more slowly.
O. What is the difference between
honey and honeydew?-W. P.
A. There are two kinds of natural
honey. known as floral. or normal, and
honeydew. or abnormal, the former
being made from nectar, sweet liquid
secreted by flowers, and the latter
from honeydew. a sweet substance de-
posted on the leaves of plants by
plant lice and other insects.
O. Where Is the largest collection
Of smoking pipes?-M. f. G..
A. SO far as we know. the Ameri-
can Museum of Natural History. New
York City, n. Y, has the largest pipe
collection.
@. What is a moonstone?-W. II. L.
A. 1t is a semi-precious stone, a
variety Of feldspar which exhibits a
delicate, pearly, opalescent play OF
color.
@. How long has the ''Etude" been
published?-R. l.. L.
A. 1t was first published in 1888.
Q. Did the Post Office Department
report a deficit this year?-H. c.
A. During the fiscal year 1925 the
actual expenditures exceeded the
revenues by $19,972.379.42. This was
a decrease of S19, 2.647.87 under that
for 1925. The department reports
that there would have been sub
stantial surplus except for the fact
that increases in salary amounted to
approximately $4,000, 900.
@. Who invented the fireless cook
er?-M. c. T.
A. 1t Is impossible to say exactly
where the principle of the fireless
cooker originated. 1t was known to
the Jews many centuries ago, who
used bags of feathers for insulation.
Sweden is reported to be the home of
the hay box, which was the imme-
date predecessor of the modern fire
less cooker.
O. What were the Three Laments
Of Cato"?-H. n.
A Plutarch says that Cato declared
that in his whole life he most re
pented of three things: One was that
he had trusted a secret TO a woman;
another, that he went by water when
he might have gone by land; the
third. that he had remained one whole
day without doing any business Of i'm
portance.
O. How can 1t be said that the
signing of the Constitution was
unanimous, when only IL States
signed?-E. F.
A. Bancroft, the historian. says that
Eleven Of the Is State delegations
Since the two other delegations had
previously left the convention. the
signing was unanimous. All perhaps
had grave doubts about one feature
or provision or another, but they had
builded better then they knew, and
they all had the courage to sign the
concrete result of their arduous
work
@. Is milk sugar as sweet as cane
sugar?-M. NJ.
A. 1t is not nearly so sweet. Like
cane sugar, it supplies energy to the
body. 1t is used in modifying milk
for babies and in the preparation of
drugs.
@. Do Canada and Australia have
to go to war when England does?-
r. w. G..
A. The British dominions are not
obligated to assist the mother coun-
try in every war in which she may
care to engage. The participation OF
Drocc Aoo7o:x~oc