Evening star., 1928-10-25
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Stop minute and think about this
fact. You can ask our Information
Bureau any question of fact and get
the answer back in a personal letter
1t is great educational idea intro
duced into the lives of the most intelli-
gent people In the world-Amsricsn
| newspaper readers. 1t is a part Of that
| best purpose of a newspaper-service.
There Is no charge except Q cents in
coin or stamps for return postage Get
the habit of asking questions. Address
your letter to The Evening Star Infor-
nation Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin, di-
rector, Washington, D. G.
@. What can be done to keep windows
from sweating?-W. w.
A. The sweating of windows is due
to imperfect ventilation and If perfect
ventilation could be obtained it would
probably give the most effective results.
In many cases openings are made in
the sash. top and bottom, so that a
current of cold air may cover the in
terror side of the glass. In some in
stances. where the sweating of windows
Is not bad, 55 grams of glycerin is dis
solved in liter Of alcohol (63 per cent?
to which a little amber oil Is added.
AS soon as it is thoroughly mixed, it
hloJ NC IubDCu VII SuIldCG VI
the window with chamois or linen
rag. A thin coat of pure glycerin ap-
piled to both sides of the glass will pre-
vent moisture.
@. When was the first aerial mail
delivery made in the United States?-
L. r. T.
A. The Post ONCE Department says
| that the first aerial mail delivery made
In the United States took place in Sep
tember, 1911, when the first bag of
mail was delivered to the Mineola post
Office. Postmaster General F. H. Hitch
cock sent the mail and E. L. Ovington,
pilot, delivered it.
@. Is the original cotton gin made by
Eli Whitney still in existence?-G. H.
A. The original cotton gin puilt by
Eli Whitney was stolen from Mulberry
Grove and nothing is known as to its
subsequent history. Whitney immedi-
ately made another model, which was
sent to the Patent ONCE in Phila-
delphia, then the seat of the National
Government. His first 20 made for the
trade were burned.
@. Do the bank notes of any country
ever bear the portrait of woman who
" u
A. New bank notes of Italy, 1t is re-
ported, will bear the portrait of Sig
norma Hilda Piccolo, beautiful young
italian woman. From time imme-
mortal the coins and paper money of
nations have contained the portraits
of the kings and generals, the great
men OF the realm and queens and
princesses. Even in the United States
this tendency has been preserved. Oc-
casionally. as a special mark Of dis
tinction, the portrait of a private citizen
might appear on special stamp issue,
but never on money. Italy's premier
wanted to make the bank notes of Italy
beautiful and decided that reform was
necessary in the printing of the notes.
He wanted to print on the bank notes
the portrait Of beautiful woman of
the Italy of today. He wanted to find
the most beautiful woman in his coun-
try, and her reward would be the use
of her face on the paper money. The
contest was won finally by Signorina
Hilda Piccolo.
@. How many cups of tea are drunk
annually in the United States?-J E. T
A. In this country 10000, ,O00. 600
cups OF tea are consumed annually.
@. What Congressman was known as
Alfalfa Bill"?-M. e. M.
A. William Henry Murray of Okla
homa was known by this nickname. He
was member of the Sixty-third and
Sixty-fourth Congresses He later
founded the Murray colony in Bolivia,
South America.
O. What is Shamanism 20. M S.
A. ShamaniSm was originally prirn-
tive religion of the peoples of northern
Asia and Europe, in which the unseen
world of gods. demons and ancestral
spirits is believed to have been re-
sponsive only to the Shamans, ma
0icians uhn Also We're mediums The