Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-27
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

@. Does France have compulsory
education?-~R. G. Z.
A. 1t is compulsory from the ages Of
Z TO 70. inclusive, and is non-religious,
except in certain UNCONVENTIONAL schools
inspected and approved by the govern
mCnt
@. What do the initials "P. d. b"
stand ford G..
A. The letters "P. D. B." are an
Authorization for paradichlorobenzene, a
white crystalline solid somewhat re-
sembling flake naphthaline.
O. Which concerto has been called
THE Adam of ConceytoS"? f. z.
A. Beethoven's Concerto In d Ma
jor" has been so called
G. Are Turkey In the Straw" and
Zip Coon" the Samc2 l. S.
A. Carl Sandburg says Turkey In
the Straw goes back to Zip Coon" and
early minstrel songs. According to this,
the version Zip Coon is Older than
the name Turkey in the Straw" The
tune Of both pieces is practically the
same.
@. Is Montreal on an island or on
the mainland?-E. c. E.
A. 1t is situated on an island, IS
miles long by 10 miles wide, at the con-
fiuence of the st. Lawrence and Ottawa
rivers. It is one Of the oldest cities in
North America.
@ How do the end men Of a min
strel show get their names? One
usually is Mr.. Bones and the other is
called Mr.. Tambo--N. T. M
fyfvy he
| Mr.. Bones derives it from the rhytn-
mic noise producer that he manip-
| ulates. set Of bones was originally
an actual pair of bones, used in the
manner of castanets. It was IN l84l
| that the bones were introduced into
/ minstrelsy, and Frank Brewer vas the
| introducer. He used the actual ribs of
| a horse. sawed to a length of IL inches.
| Later the real bones of the minstrel
| show were replaced BY sticks Of ebony
| of some other hard material Mr..
! Tamho gets his name from the tam
/ BOURNE Sometimes the whole minstrel
| troupe would carry tambourines, but
| the left end man was recognized as the
yirtuoso of the instrument.
O. Where were the motion picture
cameras located in the Houston conven-
ton ball?--L. p. II.
A. The motion picture photographers
were in crows nests, about Is feet
above the main floor. on 10 Of the main
upright supports of the building.
@. If buffalo nickel is tossed in
casting lots. which side Is heads and
which is tails?-A. W.
| A. The dated side of coin is con-
| sidered heads therefore the side bearing
the buffalo is tails.
@. Was the brain Of Anatole France
remarkable in size?-R. T.
A. To the surprise OF anatomists, II
was found that his brain weighed only
1,0l7 grams. about 25 per cent less than
the weight of the average man of
mediocre ability.
O. What is meant by an aquatint?-
A. w. B.
A. 1t is a process Of etching on cop
per or steel plates by means of nitric
fine drawing in water colors, sepia or
India ink.
@. What is argot?-D. Ell.
A, Argot is the French term for
what in English is known as slang,
especially applied to the dialect Of
| thieves and vagabonds.
O. How many commissioned negro
| officers are there in the Army. active
and reServe?-w. w.
A. At the present time there are
five negro commissioned officers in the
ACTIVE Army, two line officers and three
chaplains. In the Reserve Corps are
Io7 commissioned negro officers.
Q. Is the Panama Canal fortified?-
C. S.
A. The Panama Canal is fortified.
| The defenses consist of large forts at
! each end of the canal, with field works
for some 5000 mobile troops.
@. How many teeth has the domestic
! gOat?-A. G.
| A. 1t has 80 teeth.