Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-18

interest on their deposits, but are
given in lieu Of interest q share in the
profits Of the bank.
@. In order for all the people Of the
United States to ride in passenger
automobiles at the same time, how
many would each car have to take?-
NJ. E. n.
A. Estimating the population Of the
country at III 900 900. six would have
to ride in half and seven in half Of
our 100000 registered passenger
cars.
Q. Is vertical handwriting more
legible than slanted writing?-D. A.
A. A study by Leonard P. Ayres
showed that from a point of view Of
legibility the styles may be classified
as follows: Vertical-that Is. slant
ing-from 80 to 80 degrees; medium
slant. from 80 to IS degrees, and ex-
treme slant, from SIS to 80 degrees.
Q. How many staircases are there
in the Vatican?-C. D. c..
A. The Vatican at Rome is said to
be the largest palace in the world. 1t
has 80 magnificent halls. 9 galleries,
chapels, 20 courts, state staircases
and 200 smaller staircases. 1t has
museums. libraries and archives. 1t
Is said that the contents of the Sis
tine Chapel in the Vatican alone are
worth $1,000, 900, 900.
@. Why is French the language Of
diplomacy?-H. A. III.
A. The French language was used
| extensively in Europe in the twelfth
and thirteenth centuries. The French
litera was greatly developed and
spread throughout the various coun-
tries. and persons of culture studied
the language in order to be able to
read the literature. Many foreign
students were attracted to the Univer-
sity of Paris, and this also helped to
spread the language. AS a language
for treaties and foreign intercourse
among nations. French became gen.
eral in the time Of Louis XIV.
Q. How many freight and passen-
ger coaches are now In use on the
Railroads.&c.. y. /.
A. In round figures, there are about
100000 freight cars in use; $4,000
railroad passenger cars.
Q. How did the bridal bouquet
originate?-P. F.
A. 1t is impossible to state when
flowers were first used at a wedding,
since this Is a very ancient custom.
Orange blossoms were worn and car.
ried by brides from the earliest times.
as they portend luck and happiness
Spencer and Milton were of the opin.
on that the orange was the golden
apple presented to Jupiter by Juno
on her wedding day. 1t was customary
for the Anglo-Saxon bride to give her
friends small knots and ribbons to
wear or carry on the wedding day.
This custom still survives in the bou.
quets Of the bridesmaids.
@. Is paper money printed only in
Washington or do minis print 1t, too?
H. j. G.
A. The paper money of the United
States Is printed only at the Bureau
Of Engraving and Printing. Washing
ton, d. c. The mints Of the United
States make no paper currency.
@. Was John L. Sullivan heavy
weight champion of the world?-R. r.
A. Neither John L. Sullivan nor
James Corbett was world champion.
They were both heavyweight cham
pions of America. John L. Sullivan
was the last worlds London prize
ring champion. After that the boxing
rules were changed.
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Address The Evening Star InfOrnsG.
ton Bureau. Frederic J. Heskin, direc.
| tor. Washington, ID. c..