Evening star., 1928-09-10

The answers to questions printed here
each day are specimens picked from the
mass of inquiries handled by our great
Information Bureau maintained in
Washington. D. G. This valuable SerV-
ice is for the free use of the public.
Ask any question of fact you may want
to know and you will get an immediate
reply. Write plainly, inclose 2 cents in
coin or stamps for return postage. and
address The Evening Star Information
Bureau. Frederic j. Haskin, Director,
Washington, D. c.
Q. Why are cattle brands carved on
the walls of Garrison Hall at the Uni
versity of TexaS?-K. P
A. To immortalize the history of the
Texas COW business and its Importance
as the States original great industry.
30 famous old brands have been chiseled
on the walls of Garrison Hall, of the
State University.
O. What is the Summer capital of
India M r.
A. Because so many high officials
spend the hot months at Simla, it is
rearded as being really the Summer
capital.
O. How may one determine whether
OINIlJdl TUGS have DetIl DledCIltQ anu
treated with chemicalS?-H. j.
A. In some cases, Oriental rugs are
bleached and treated with chemicals in
order to soften the g>rish colors result
ing from anilne dyes and to give them
sheen, and such rugs are likely to wear
out quickly Sometimes this bleaching
is so skillfully done that even expert
Judges of rugs are deceived, but there
are a few signs that even an amateur
can recognize. If cheap, crude dyes
have been used, the darker colOrs gen.
orally run into the lighter. making the
design blurred. If the rug has been
very much bleached, the colors on the
surface of the pile will be soft and
dull. while by separating the threads
and looking closely the cOlors at the
base will be found to be clear and
bright. Rubbing the surface briSkly
with a damp cloth will bring out the
odor of chloride of lime with which the
rug has been 'bleached. and very often
the cloth will be stained with the colorS
AS a general rule. it IS safe to buy
Oriental rugs only from reliable dealers
@. How long was the oregon Trail?
d. B.
A. This emigrant route was about
2 900 miles long. 1t extended from In
the Columbia River
O. Please give the weight Of 12-
inch cube of COAL. P. V.
A. The average weight of 12-inch
cube of coal is: bituminous, 81 pounds;
anthracite, 81 pounds.
@. Please name some white double
floWered varieties of lilacS.-T. S. t.
tfyan nf
double le-f1owered white lilacs are the fol-
lowing: Edith Cavell, Jeanne dare,
Ellen Willmott, Nine. Lemoine and
Nine. Casimir Perier.
@. How does Trinity College, Cam
bridge. rank in size?-E. N.
A. This is the largest college in
England.
@. Why is Rigi famous?-A. H.
A. From the Swiss mountain so
named, a view of 300 miles in every
direction is seen from the top. Rigi is
about 8 miles from Lucerne.
@. Has blind as a bat" any founda-
ton in fact?-E. F.
A. "As blind as a bat" is mistaken
simile All have efficient eyes, those of
the Oriental fruit-eating sorts being a
size natural to their foXlike counte-
nances. In our more familiar insect-eat-
ing species they are likely to be small.
beadlike and nearly hidden in the
very soft fur with which these animals
are clothed; the old English and Ger
man names fitting mice were not bad
ones.
@. Please name the Seven Wonders
of the United StateS.-J. H. D.
A. They are usually enumerated as
Niagara Falls, Yellowstone Park, Nam
moth Cave, the Garden Of the Gods,