Evening star., 1928-05-10
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

This newspaper puts at your disposal
A corps OF trained researchers In Wash
ington who will answer questions for
YOU. They have access to the Govern
ntent departments. the libraries, NIT
seums, galleries and public buildings.
and to the numerous associations which
maintain headquarters In the Nations
Capital. II they can be Of assistance to
you, write your question plainly. and
send with a 2-cent stamp to The Eve
ming star Information Bureau. Frederic
J. Haskin director. Washington, d. G.
q. When was the first military execu-
ton In the American Army?--O. v. A.
A. A conspiracy OF the British offi-
cials and Loyalists OF New York was
made in 1916 to end the Revolutionary
War by the murder or capture of It's
leaders and the seizure or destruction
of Its supplies. Washington was 10 be
taken alive and delivered to Sir William
Howe. Two guards we're bribed. but a
third pretended to join the plot and
exposed It instead. One of the treach-
erous guards was named Thomas
Hickey. He was hanged June 81. 1875.
the first military execution In the
American Army.
O. Were high schools original In this
country?--C. NJ. v.
A. The high school is distinctly an
American institution. The English High
School OF Boston. founded in 1921. was
the first OF its kind. and gradually as
free elementary schools were established
throughout the country. the high
schools followed.
O. Please tell me what mercury is
used for.--W. b.
A. Mercury is a heavy, silvery- white
liquid metallic element II is used in
barometers and thermometers and for
other scientific purposes. 1t is also used
for extracting gold and silver from their
ores 1amalgamation process. Its COM
pounds are used In medicine as purga-
tives. Alternatives. and especially as anti
syphilitics.
O. Il 1t correct TO speak of United
States Senator as Congressman?-B.
l.. G.
A. II Is absolutely correct. The Con-
gress of the United States consists Of
two bodieS-the Senate end the House
OF RepreSentstives-and members OF
both are equally members of the Con-
gress The correct designation of .
House member is Representative.
O. How many cities have automatic
telephone systems?-C. A. M.
A. n the United States. where the
system was invented. IL is in use In
about 200 cities. Sydney and Melbourne
(Australial. Buenos Aires (Argentina)
Winnipeg Montreal, Toronto and Ed
monton tCanadal, Honolulu. Havana
Manila. London. Berlin and Toxic have
automatic telephone service.
Q. How much OF the goods sold in
the and 10 cent stores Is imported
r. r. C.
A. The president OF. the woolworth
stores saws that out Of the s2T0 .000. 900
worth of goods sold by them during
1927 only per cent was imported.
@. Which state has the largest and
which the smallest percentage OF coun.
try people in proportion to its total pop
ulation?-S. A. r.
A. According to the 1920 United
States census. Mississippi has the larg-
est percentage of rural population, S6.e
per cent. and Rhode Island. 2.5 pei
cent, the smallest.
@ DO young infants ever have
chickenpox or mumps?-G. NJ. S.
A. No age is exempt from chicken
pox. Infants and very young children
rarely have mumps.
@. How many libraries are there in
/ the United States containing a million
/ or more books?--S. E. K.
| A. The following libraries In 1925
(. reported more than q million volumes
| Library Of Congress. washington. d. C.
| 3.O69 .34i: New York City Public LII
hrary. 2,67s.lS0; Yale University, New
Haven. Conn. l.ss2.io Harvard Uni