Evening star., 1928-03-21
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

This newspaper puts at your disposal
a corps of trained researchers in
| Washington who will answer questions
| for you They have access to the Gov
ernment departments. the libraries.
| museums. galleries and public build
| ings. and to the numerous associations
which maintain headquarters in the
Nations Capital. If they can be Of
assistance to you. write your question
plainly and send with a 2-cent stamp
20 The Evening Star Information Bu-
reau, Frederic J. Haskin, Director,
Washington, .. C..
O. Why do cowboys wear boots with
such high heels?--R. A. McC.
A. p. A. Rollins says: THE heels Of
the boots, 2 inches in height, are
vertical at the front, and are in length
and breadth much smaller at the bot
hlm than at the top. The tall heel.
Ihghly arChing the Wearer's instep, in
SIIies against his foot slipping through
the stirrup or becoming entangled in It,.
THE. tall heel also so molds the foot that
the latter automatically takes IN the
stirr,Ao such position as brings the leg
into troper fitting with the saddles
numerous curves. The heels height
and peglike shape together give effec-
tive a,nch orage to the WeaTer when he
throws his lariat afoot, instead OF from
the horses back"
O. What is the prize in the kids
base ball contest called the Junior
World Series"?-R. S.
A In 1929 the chief prize will be
trip to the Word Series for each mem
ber of the kids team winning the
Junior World Seaies. A trophy cup IS
also awarded the winning team.
@. Should the water be drained out
OF hot-water radiators during the
Summer?-G. B.
A. The water should be left in. In
fact, water should be added until the
pipes are full In the Fall run 1t OH
to normal @Vel.
O. What is the name of the book
dealing with evolution that entered into
the Scopes trial in Dennessee?-
S. N. G.
A. 1t is Hunters New Essentials of
Biology"
@. How old is Jackie Coogan? Where
Is he now?-E. r.
A. Jackie Coogan is young boy, OF
IA wears end is at the present, time
attending a military school in Los
E1AASCANot NN-
@. How does the firefy produce its
light?-I. E. L.
A. The firefly produces light Practi-
cally without loss of heat or chemical
ravs. but little is really known concern
ing the method of this production. Inc
seat of the light is the luminous area
situated in the abdomen. It is spe-
cialized portion OF the fat body. oelng
a plate consisting Of polygonal cells
located under the integument and sup
nlied with nerves and fine tracheal
branches. These cells Secrete, under
the control OF the nervous system,
substance which is burned during the
appearance of light: this combustion
takes place by means OF the oxygen
to the cells by the tracneae,
which branch profusely in 1t and break
up the capillaries.
O WHY isn't a perpetual motion
picture machine poSsible?-H. F
A. Physical laws, as lar as tney are
now understood, make it impossible.
@. How long has wheat been known?
M. B.
A. No one knows the age OF wheat
History refuses to give us the date OF
its origin. We are told that the Chi
nese used wheat for food 2,700 years
before the Christian era, and that II
has been known on the uplands OF
Syria and in the valley Of the Euphra-
teS and Tigris Rivers for ages. Traces
OF buried wheat have been found in
ancient tombs Of Egypt. in the pre-
historic lake dwellings OF Switzerland.
and in certain regions Of Asia. But
it is impossible to determine the exact
age OF wheat. Ancient history speaks
familiarly of cereals. among which is
wheat. and freely mentions the plow