Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-20

Many readers send in questions signed
only with initials, asking that the an
sWers appear In the newspaper. The
space Is limited and would not accom-
modate a fraction of such requests. The
answers published are ones that may
interest many readers. rather than the
one who asks the question only. All
questions should be accompanied with
the writer's name and address and 2
cents In coin or stamps for reply. Send
your question to The Evening Star IN
formation Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin,
director, Washington d. c.
@. Is there such a thing as wind
driven clock?--N. A. l..
A. Frank Padratti of San Francisco
has invented a wind-driven clock, which
he claims to be the nearest approach to
a perpetual motion clock in the world.
1t Is driven by metal balls dropping into
cup on the drive shaft of the clock.
The weight of the ball forces the drive
shaft down with 1t, thus operating the
clock. At each quarter of an hour revo-
luton the ball is dropped from the cup
and replaced by another ball from the
, track above. The dropping ball runs
down a circular runway until 1t enters
! an elevator operated by the wind. The
ball is then raised to the upper track
and is ready to take its place on the
drive shaft There are $50 of these
balls on Padratti's clock, thus providing
for five days running without addi-
! tional wind power.
! @. How long do tea leaves grow be-
fore they are ready to pick?-L. K.
A. They are the leaves of an ever
green shrub, and are picked after three
or four years OF growth.
O. Can gas that is used In gas stoves
be used to lift a model airship?-J.
| H S.
| A. Both artificial and natural gas
| may be used to initiate model airships.
| However, both of these gases are in
| fammable, and therefore dangerous.
| @. Where is the grave of Sitting
! Bull?-W. N.
A. The grave of this Sioux chieftain
! Is on the Standing Rock Reservation,
| just north of the dividing line between
North and South Dakota. This reser-
walton is at Fort Yates, about 80 miles
| from Bismarck.
@. What causes the spark thrown off
by lightning bug?-M. E. P.
| A. The freely produces light prac-
! ItCatiy WITHOUT lOSS u LiCdL VI ClACkiiAC3A
rays, but little is really known concern
ing the method of this production. The
seat of the light is the luminous area
! situated in the abdomen. 1t is a spe-
cialized portion of the fat body. being
plate consisting of polygonal cells,
located under the integument and sup
piled with nerves and fine tracheal
branches. These cells secrete. under
| the control of the nervous system, a
substance which Is burned during the
appearance of light This combustion
! takes place by means of the oxygen
conveyed to the cells by the tracheas.
which branch profusely In it and break
up into capillaries.
| @. What is ''pampero"?-W. E. N.
/ A. This is a cold, dry wind which
| frequently sweeps over the .pampas Of
| Argentina and Uruguay. At times 1t
| develops hurricane force. It Is similar
to the northwest gales of the northern
/ hemisphere. but meets no hills or noun
| tains to reduce its force.
@. How old lis the Cathedral OF
| Notre Dame, in PariS?-V. B. c.
] A. II was founded in 1853, and 1t
| took two centuries to build 1t.
| @. Should hoe be sharpened on the
| inside or outside?-J. II.
| A. The best gardeners sharpen hoe
on both sides Most of the sharpening.
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