Evening star., 1928-12-21

This is a special department devoted
to the handling OF inquiries. You nave
at Jour 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 z
cents in coin or stamps for reply. Send
to The Evening Star Information Bu-
reau. Frederic ]. Haskin, director,
Washington, p. c.
@. When was the first long motion
picture shown in America?-H. S. B.
A. Queen Elizabeth" with Sarah
Bernhardt in the title role. was the
first four-reeler exhibited in this coun-
try 1t had its initial showing in New
York City, July IL, 1912.
@. How long have we had the sale of
Christmas seals?-D. L.
A. In the Fall of 1907 Miss Emily P.
BisSell of Wilmington, Del, launched
the first Christmas seal sale, from which
was realized $4,000.
@. Can the hour be told in advance
| that the earth will go through the
| denSeSt part of the LeonidS?-C. P.
A. The Naval Observatory says that
| the exact hour at which the earth
| meets the densest positions of the
| swarm of meteors known as the Leonids
| cannot be predicted in advance. The
| earth comes nearest the orbit Of the
| Leonids November 14-15 each year, but
as the rieteorS are more or less punched
| in their orbit and are continually
| changing their positions due to the
| attraction of the planets, the time
when they will be encountered in largest
numbers is uncertain. The intensity
/ I-f o1e n,tn1 eiE iEl@~a Ill
| from year to year, as the earth meets
year.
| @. How much of grade has the
Pilatus Railway?-F. N. D.
| A. The Pilatus Railway, Switzerland
called the railway that stands on end
has a grade of 19 per cent to 48 per
cent.
Q. Why does water when passing
from a basin into a drain pipe as
sumo a rotary motion?-H. G. V.
A. The Bureau of Standards says
that the rotary motion of water passing
down pipe is caused by the shape o1
the opening and the friction of the
sides. The direction in which 1t runs
depends upon how it started, and it is
not always the same direction.
@. Where did Uncle Toms Cabin
appear first?-R. L. j.
A. From June /, 1851, to April, 1852
"Uncle Toms Cabin" appeared serially
in the National Era, Washington, d. G
@. How many Mohammedans are
there in Paris?-M. H.
A. It is said that Paris is to be thC
established center of the MusSulmar
world. The Mohammedan mosque
which was erected last year, is the
mecca of 50,000l resident Algerians
| TuniSians and Moroccans, besides
numerous other coreligioniSts of Egypt
| Turkey, Persia and India travelling ir
France.
@. Have domestic rabbits ever hac
tularemia? ?-L. L. L.
A. There is no record Of case among
domestic rabbits.
@. Has Hawaii had a large pineapple
crop this year?-0 B.
A. Statisticians have figured that i
the 5000, 900 cases of pineapples turned
out this year by Hawaii were placed sidt
by side, the line would be 1885 mile!
ong-extending half way around th'
world.
@. What acids are used in the Treas
ury to clean money?-W. F. G.
A. The cleaning of money, both papel
and coins, in the United States Treas
ury has been discontinued. Wher
money has become too soiled and dis
reputable for circulation, it Is destroyed
and replaced with new.