Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-12-05
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Safety Is the First Considerati on!"
was used on the stationery and among
the employees of the H. G. Prick Coke
and Steel Co. of Pittsburgh and the
Illinois Steel Co. of Chicago. But since
the National demonstration these firms
and a great many others dealing with
safety appliances have adopted this
phrase.
Q. Has aluminium been used for max
ing clothlng?-A. N.
A. 1t has been used for the outside
covering of shoes and 10 make brocades
for wOmen'S garments. Specialists In
metallurgy predict that 1t is but a step
forward when aluminium will be used
as a substitute Tor cloth.
@. What IS the parmecium?-W. w.
A. 1t Is a one-cell animal that has
the ability to reconstruct itself every
70 or 80 days. Studies are being made
OF this animal in the Osborn Zooiooi-
cal Laboratory at New Haven, Conn.
IN an endeavor to gain knowledge re-
garding the fundamentals of the princi-
pies and the evolution of life.
O. Why did some States have two
capitals?-R. S.
A. The States of the Union that had
two capitals at the same time are
Rhode Island and Connecticut. In
Rhode Island it was a case of the
State having two large towns, each
claiming to be the political center and
| neither agreeing to surrender its al
legged prestige. Thus both Newport and
Providence claimed the honor of being
the capital of the State. Newport was
capital until 1900. Connecticut was
similarly placed with regard to Hart
1ord and New Haven. The towns were
originally the capitals of separate COL
onieS. Eventually, however, the geo
graphical advantages of Hartford were
admitted by New Haven, and it became
the sole capital in 1873.
c. How many kinds of chrysanthe-
NUNS were exhibited in the Depart
ment OF Agriculture's show?-E. C. D.
| A. A collection of 10 varieties of
| Japanese and 488 varieties of pompon
and single chrysanthemumS was shown.
@. Have DR.. Albert A. MichelSon's
tests of the speed of light been sub
stantiated?-S. w.
A. New experiments recently COM
pleted in California have proved that
| the estimates were accurate. The speed
| of light is estimated to be approx
mately 1924 miles per second.
@. Where is the Stonewall Jackson
Shrine?-T. l..
A. A permanent shrine to Stonewall
Jackson was dedicated in October in
the little house where he died at
Guinea, near Fredericksburg, Va.
@. What is the origin of the name
"HeSter?"-E. D.
| A. Hester" is the English form Of
| Esther" which is Hebrew, and means
| secret"
@. What did Government opera
| ton Of the railroads cost during the
| war?-T. o.
A. The cost to the Government of
! Federal operation of the railroads has
| been variously computed and statei.
/ In the report of walker D. Hines as
director general of railroads, published
| in 1920, a table is presented in which
| it is shown that the total amount of
money appropriated or necessary to be
| appropriated by the Government on
account of the operation of the rail-
roads was $1,886 1922 1856. OF this
amount the sum of 81 ,03l 899, Ash covers
items of Indebtedness and investment,
the report says, (which will eventually
be repaid to the Government" This
would make the final net cost to the
Government of Federal operation of
the railroads the sum of 1854, 423, 434.
O.. Did John Charles Thomas give
up the study Of medicine to become
Singer?-H. c. B.
A. John Charles Thomas abandoned
the study of medicine In favor of the
development of his baritone voice.
Born in Myersdale, Pa, Thomas, up to
the time he entered the Mount Street
School Of Homeopathy in Baltimore.
had lived in eight towns, having at
tended school in six of these towns.
| This situation was made necessary
owing to the fact that his father,
Methodist minister, was transferred
from one parish to another. It had
been Thomas ambition to have rnu-
steal career, and when, during his med
ical studies, he was awarded a scholar
ship at Peabody Conservatory, he de-
cided definitely to devote himself to
music.
@. How does one distinguish between
the symbols of st. Jerome and st.
Mark?-H. N.
A. BY the wings the lion Of st. Mark
Is distinguished from the symbol OF st.
Jerome.