Evening star., 1928-12-27

This Is a 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 cents
in coin or stamps for reply. Send to
The Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic j. Haskin, director, Washing
ton, D. G..
@. How old was Eleanora Duse at
the time of her death?-C. v.
A. She was past 64. Duse, the most
famous of Italian actresses, was born
at Vigevano, Italy. in october, 1859, and
died in Pittsburgh, Pa, in April, 1924.
@. Since Paraguay is noted for its
wonderful orange crops. why are the
oranges allowed to go to waste by the
thousands?-A. G.. w.
A. The Pan-American Union says
that the reason Is lack Of transportation.
In the republic there are only 274 miles
Of railroad and practically no highways
which penetrate the regions where
oranges grow. Oranges raised near the
railroad and near the Paraguay River
are shipped in larger quantities to
@. What proportion of business ven
lures fail, and what are the principal
reaSonS?- P. G.
A. The ratio of business failures to
total establishments has averaged about
l per cent per year over long period
of years. The highest ratio since data
have been collected was in 1878 at 1.55
per cent. The causes of business fall
ures are given in their order Of i'm
portance as follows: Lack of capital
incompetence, specific conditions, fraud,
inexperience, competition, neglect, un-
wise credits, failure of others, extrava-
gance and speculation.
@. How are the Hawaiian Islands
Oahu and Maui. pronounced?-H. l..
A. Oahu Is pronounced as If spelled
Oh-ah-hoo, and Maui. Novice.
Q. Who is considered the greatest art
collector Of modern times?-R. F.
A. It is often said that the late John
Pierpont Morgan was. His collections
were the largest, most varied, and many
of them the most important owned by
single individual. He has been COM
has been said that he surpassed even
that prince in the catholicity of his
taste.
@. Where did the honeydew melon
originate?-F. j. K.
A. The honeydew melon that Is on
the market in this country Is the same
as the melon listed by Paris seedsmen
as Antilles Winter green f1eShed melon.
The. original seed of the honeydew
melon is said to have been obtained
from a melon shipped from Africa to
New York City, This seed was planted
at Rocky Ford, Colo, and John Gauger
and Weaver were responsible for hav-
ing put this melon on the market in
the United States.
@. How long has Handels Messiah
been sung in London?-N. w.
A. The first performance was given
custom in London to perform that
work with greatly augmented chorus
and orchestra each year at Christmas
@. Are there other natural bridges
in the United States besides the one in
Virginia?--L. M.
A. There are many others. At least
seven of them are important enough to
be pointed to as curiosities In their
localities.
@. When was the management OF
naval affairs under the Department Of
War?-M. T.
A. From 1889 to 1898.
Q. What race has the largest brain?
&C. N.
A. 1t is the largest In the white race,
smallest in some Of the Central African
savages.
@. What size animals are known as
big game?-H. B.
A. 1t is an elastic term, and Is gen.
orally understood to include all wild
mammals larger than a common fox.
@. Why Is the Government paying
the expenses of Mr.. Hoover's trip to
South America?-D. M. T.
A. The Government is not paying
Mr.. Hoover for his South American trip
with the exception of the use of the
battleship Maryland to convey him
along the coast. This Is no great addi-
tional expense to the Government, as
the upkeep Of the ship is necessary
under all circumstances. The ship was