Evening star., 1928-10-19

This Is special department devoted
to the handling of inquiries. You have
at your disposal an extensive organiza-
ton in Washington to serve you in any
capacity that relates to information
Write your question, your name and
your address clearly, and inclose 2
cents in coin or stamps for reply
Send to The Evening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin, director
Washington, d. C.
@. What is the percentage of loss
in onions which have been stored four
months?-M. J. r.
A. The usual storage period of
onions is about six months; in this
time the shrinkaga should not exceed
from 10 to II per cent.
@. Can you describe for me the
Australian f1ag?-E. j. S.
A. The Australian flag is a blue en-
sign. the description of which is as
follows: The Union Jack in the top
left-hand corner: in the center of the
lower canton next the staff and point
ing direct to the center of the st.
Georges Cross in the Union Jack. a
white pointed star representing
the six states and the territories of the
commonwealth in the fly. five smaller
white stars, representing the Southern
Cross. A red flag, carrying the same
markings, is used by the Australian
merchant shipping.
@. Please give me brief sketch of
Americas. H. B.
A. The first negro Baptist church in
America was organized in 1878. at Sill
yer Bluff, Just across the Savannah
River, at Augusta. Ga, by Mr.. Pal
mer. largely for the benefit of negro
slaves of the community.
@. What is meant by the spoils sys-
tem?-S. J.
A. BY the spoils system was meant
the practice whereby an incoming ad-
ministration distributed the patronage
and Offices of the Government to those
who had supported the party coming
into power Office holders of the out
going administration usually were de-
posed from Office or their resignation
asked for and their places filled with
patrons of the incoming Government.
O. What do song writer's mean when
thev sneak of a nut song"?-F. A. w.
A. Probably the first song of this
type was the famous Lilly of the VAL
lev" and probably the biggest seller
OF this type was eyes, We Have No
Bananas
O. How much money has Germany
been spending on her army and navy
during the past few years?-E. j. G.
A. The governmental expenditures
on the German armv and navy are as
follows: 1924-25, 459,00O,O00 reich
marks; 1925-26. 588,000,000 reich
marks: 1926-27, SAT 900, 900 reichmarks;
1928. 701 100000 reichmarks (esti-
mate); 1928-29, 706,000000 reich
marks (estimate).
@. Does the word sterling" have a
certain fixed quality when we speak OF
silverware?-J. M. F.
A. The word sterling" as applied to
silver signifies that the alloy is in the
proportion of 925 parts silver to rs
parts of copper This proportion is
regularly fixed as the standard of fine
ness of British silver coinage. Standard
United States silver bullion contains
900 parts pure silver and 100 parts
copper alloy
@. Can walls that have already been
painted be whitewashed?-I. B. F.
A. 1t is not advisable to whitewash
painted walls, as the mixture UOeS IlOI
adhere well to oil-painted surfaces.
@. How many people in the United
States attend the movies?-L. j.
A. 1t is estimated that 250,000,000
people attend motion picture theaters
weekly throughout the United States.
The gross revenues of these theaterss in
1927 were go times that of the legiti-
mate theaters.
@ Does the United States make a
ST geld piece?-J. F. L.
A. These coins have not been minted
for general circulation since 1889.
Since that date some have been issued
as memorial coins, the last being the
Grant memorial coins. in 1922. The
smallest current gold coin is the $3.50
gold piece.
@. When and where was the first fire
department organized?-F. r.
A. Volunteer fire companies have
existed from early times. In 1867, after
the great fire, London was divided into