Evening star., 1928-04-25

There IS no other agency In the world
that can answer as many legitimate
questions as our free information bu-
reau in Washington, d. 9. This highly
organized institution has been built up
and Is under the personal direction OF
Frederic j. HaSkin. BY keeping in con-
slant touch with Federal bureaus and
other educational enterprises it Is in a
position to pass on to you authoritative
information of the highest order. Sub
INIT your queries to the staff of experts
whose services are put at your free dis
posal. There is no charge except 2
cents in stamps for return postage. Ad
dress The Evening Star Information
bureau, Frederic j. Haskin directo1
Washington, d. G.
Q. Please describe the Dobermann
pinschers.--L. c.
a. The pinschers are black and tan
in color, short haired, with cropped ears
and cut tails. They have been bred up
from the Manchester terrier, which is a
large black and tan terrier, and down
from the Great Dane. Often there is a
slate-colored dog of this breed and
sometimes brown one. This is where
they throw back to the Great Dane In
color
O. How many different kinds of
planes has the United States Army Air
Corps?-D. P.
A. AS of December 81, 1927, the Air
Corps had on hand 952 airplanes, di-
Vided as follows: Attack, /: lombard
ment. 70; observation 403; photo
graphic, 81; pursuit. 173; training, 15e:
cargo, 27; miscellaneous, Is, and mis-
cellaneous, assigned to National Guard
units, 80.
Q. Are bananas grown from seeds or
SproutS?-R E
A. The species grown for fiber and
1or ornament usually produce seed, and
are propagated by planting seeds. The
edible banana of commerce has a per-
ennai root, from which the plant is
perpetuated by sprouts. Or suckers.
q. Is there any danger of a six-yolt
battery used with radio throwing off
gas enough to be harmfuI?-J. NJ. OD.
a.. A local authority says that it is
nof likely that one small six-voIt bat
tery would emit enough gas to make the
air IN living room unfit to breathe
provided the room is ordinarily well
ventilated. The gases thrown off from
lead cell storage batteries when charg-
ing are explosive. II the batteries were
charged in an air-tight compartment or
room and match lighted, the gas
would probably explode.
Q. Where was the Feast of the ASS
celebrated?-D. j.
A. During the fourteenth and fif-
teenth centuries there was in Europe an
outbreak of rowdyism and buffoonery
connected with the religious feastS and
holidays. The Feast of the ASS origi-
mated in France in commemoration Of
the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt
IhiS was travestied in some of the
churches By the ass being made the
principal object of the service. A ribald
congregation and mock priest conducted
litany in which the responses con-
sisted OF series of brays. The affair
became so scandalous to decency that
1t was prohibited by law about 1900.
y. How can person tell butter from
oleomargarine?-C. E. S.
A. Melting bit Of the fat is a simple
test. Hold a teaspoon containing it over
a flame. If 1t is butter, the liquid will
foam. Oleomargarine will not.
@. What base ball team was the first
TO adopt uniforms?-O. r. L.
A. The first team that wore uniforms
was the Knickerbockers of New York in
1851. The first to wear the present-day
uniform with short pants was the Gin
cinnati Reds in 1858.