Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-22
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIs.

The answers to questions printed
here each day are specimens picked
from the mass of inquiries handled by
our great Information Bureau main
tanned in Washington, D. c. This
valuable service 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 stamps for return postage.
and address The Evening Star Informa-
ton Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin, Direc-
tor, Washington, d. G.
@. Should letters of introduction or
recommendation be sealed?-J. /.
A. It Is not customary to seal them
unless they are being sent by mail.
O. How can a boys base ball team
get into the competition for the junior.
world series?-D. A. II.
A. The junior world series IL con-
Quoted by the National Americanism
Commission of the American Legion.
Teams of boys of amateur standing and
not over l6 years OF age may enter
the competition. II you do not know
who the athletic officer of the Ar1eri
can Legion In your city or town Is.
write to Dan Sewers, director of the
Americanism Commission, Indianapo-
lis, Ind. He will send you entry blanks
and tell you where to find the nearest
Legion athletic officer.
O. Was the ukulele designed by a
native Of Hawaii?--L. G.
A. 1t Is not of Hawaiian origin. A
white man in Hawaii is said to have
designed the instrument, using the
Portuguese taro-patch violin as a
model. 1t was soon adopted by the
Hawaiians.
@. In endurance rides how far is q
horse supposed to travel each day?-
P. r. T.
A. The Bureau of Animal Industry
says that, according to endurance rides
held under the direction of a board o:
sponsors. made by the representatives
of the various horse and jockey associ-
atoms. so miles a day Is the distance
permitted for i've consecutive days.
The maximum time permitted on any
day Is nine hours. The maximum time
allowed for the entire ride is so hours.
The horse Is usually carrying from 200
to 225 pounds.
O. On what date did the national
debt of the United States reach its
highest peak. and what was the amount?
S. E. D.
A. The national debt of the United
States reached the highest peak in the
history of the country on August 81.
1919. when the gross debt amounted to
s26,596 600, 900 Gin round numbers), the
net debt to SIS, ,3s5, 252.76.
@. In the Southern Hemisphere does
cold wave blow in from the south?-
c. w. C.
A. In general. it does, or. more
exactly. from the southwest. Just as 1t
blows from the northwest above the
equator.
@. In what country Is tattooing the
most elaborate?-T. C.
A. The New Zealanders trace ar
tistic and elaborate patterns under the
skin. producing the most beautiful eff
fects known. II the word beautiful may
be applied TO the art.
Q. How far is it from St Louis to
the Gulf of Mexico by air line and
how far by river?-N. A. A.
A. The air line distance Is less than
100 miles, but by river Il Is 1875 miles
@. What makes a safety valve on a
steamer pop?-J. NJ.
A. II is due TO a steam pressure
in excess of the spring pressure on
the valve.
@, What Is the derivation Of Itasca,
the name Of lake?-C. c.
A. Taken as the source of the
Mississippi River. the name was coined
from two Latin words-veritaS. mean
ing truth. and caput, meaning head.
O. How many ships went through
the Panama Canal last year? What
was the profit?-M S.
A. For the fiscal year ending June
30, 1927. the number of ships passing
through the Panama Canal was 5.475.
The amount of tolls received was SEA
22S8S0. In 1927 fiscal year, the net
income Of the Panama Canal from tolls.
taxes, licenses. fees. fines. postal re-
ceipts, etc, was sl5.6il ,Oa4. and the
net profit on auxiliary business opera
tons was ss76,537.
@. How are slow motion pictures
made?--N. F.
A. Slow motion pictures are usually
taken by special camera. This camera
is hand-driven and turned by the
cameraman In the same manner as a
regular studio camera. II operates at
least 10 times faster than sle ordinary
camera and thus portrays slow and
IT II a II