Evening star., 1928-12-06
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

This is a special department devoted
solely to the handling of queries. This
paper puts at your disposal the Serv-
ices of an extensive organization in
Washington to serve you in any capacity
that relates to information. This serv-
ice is free. Failure to make use of 1t
deprives you of benefits to which you
are entitled. Your obligation is only
2 cents in coin or stamps, inclosed with
your inquiry for direct reply. Address
The Evening Star Information Bureau.
Frederic j. Haskin, director, Washing
ton, D. c.
O. During what years was Sousa
leader of the Marine Band?-B. w.
A. Sousa was leader of the United
States Marine Band from 1880 to 1892.
@. Please explain the Yebechai dance
a and i its IS portrayal on dance rugs
A. The Smithsonian Institution
says: "The Yebechai are nature gods
Of the Navajo whose chief function is
healing the sick. The So-called Ye-
bechai dance is ceremony for this
purpose. Up to some years ago rep
resentations of the gods were painted
in colored sands at the ceremony and
wiped out at the close. Later, the
Navajo began 10 weave the Yebechai
figures in rugs for sale. These rugs
are usually made on hand loom
This may easily be told If the designs
are alike on both sides as to form
and color Such specimens were never
common"
@. How did John D. Rockefeller
earn his first money?-D. T.
A. John D. Rockefeller says that the
first money he ever earned was made
by raising turkeys when he was years
old. His mother gave him curdS from
the milk to feed them. He kept an
account in Ledger A which is still
in existence.
O. Who invented the sewing needle?
"A. L.
A. The sewing needle dates back to
antiquity. and it is not known who in
vented this implement. 1t is evident
from relics that stone needles were
used in the Stone Age. The Chinese
are believed to have been the first to
use needles of steel They gradually
spread Westward until brought to Eu-
rope by the Moors.
@. Are the people of Australia much
interested in aViation?-H. T. T.
A. Australia has 80 airports and the
government has recently approved
plans for % more. In addition, 81
emergency landing fields have been es-
tabliShed.
O. In the early days where were our
important lighthouses?-P. T.
A. Important colonial lighthouses
were off Newport on Sandy Hook, on
Cape Henry, an island off Charleston,
on Tybee River, Savannah, and Boston
Harbor.
@. What is the greatest number of
radio stations that have been hooked
up for one EVENTS. T.
A. Upon the occasion of the broad
casting of Gov. Smiths speech accept
ing the Democratic nomination for the
presidency the hook-up included lis
stations, which is the present record
number.
@. When was the law passed in Great
Britain barring a Catholic from becom-
ing ruler?-J. E. D.
A. The British act of settlement,
passed in 1701, provides that no one but
a Protestant shall accede to the throne
of Great Britain.
q. What is the dlnerence between
cocoa and chocolate?-E. c.
A. Cocoa is the ground cocoa bean
from which part of the oil or fat has
been extracted. and is sold in powdered
form. Chocolate is the ground cocoa
bean including oil or fat, generally
in cake form, either sweetened or un-
sweetened
@. When horizontal stripes OF blue
and red are drawn across an envelope
or around it's border, is 1t necessary to
write Air mail on the envelope?-
N. L. G.
A. Ii sufficient postage has been af-
fixed, the Post Office Department recog-
nizes the striped envelope as one to
be sent by air mail.
O. Has the United States law fixing
the load line of vessel?-N. S.
A. This country is the only maritime
nation of Importance that has not such
a law. but permits it's ships to go to sea
with no Federal precautions as to the
depths to which they may load. Amer
ican shipping interests are dependent
on foreign rules and regulations for the
fixing of load lines for their vessels
and must make use of such regulations
if they are to avoid penalties and costly
delays in the ports of nations which
have recognized by their laws the i'm