Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-27


Bureau are at your service You are in
Vited to call upon it as often as you
please. 1t Is being maintained solely
to serve you What question can we
answer for you? There is no charge at
all except cents in stamps for return
postage Address your letter TO The
Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. HaSkin, Director, Washing
ton, D. G.
@. How many foot ball players we're
killed in 1927?-W. G..
A. In 1927, II foot ball players were
killed in gridiron action, and over 100
we're injured. as against killed and
200 hurt In 1926.
O. What color combination Is most
popular for automobile license plates?-
c. r. y.
A. No single color motif can be said to
prevail, but whether by preference or
accident, two combinations tied for first
place in popularity, six States selecting
a dark blue background with white let
ter numerals. and six selecting green
background with white letter numerals
Five States selected a white background
with black letter numerals. four select
ed yellow and black. and four selected
orange and black The combination OF
orange and black which was popular
for many years on account OF the
claims of visibility made for 1t. has ap-
parenty suffered sharp diminution IN
popularity according to the American
Automobile Association.
O. Please describe the rabbit punch
D. w f.
A. Spalding on Boxing" says. THE
aLkD ~ &c a rhnfl
with the right hand TO the base OF the
skull or the back of the neck when the
opposing boxer is bent over in cllncn
or when going down with blow pre-
viously delivered. Il is unScientitic. I'M
slightly and unsportSmanlike. IL was
barred in New YORK. under the FraWley
law. but the present Athletic CommiS-
sion omitted to place 1t on the lst OF
foul blows"
O. How many books are in the Vatican
Library?--C. A. p.
A. Mgr. Enrico Benedict. in a recent
address, said that there are 500 900
books and 10000 manuscripts in the
Vatican Library. There are lOoOOO
volumes in the archives. These repre-
sent IA separate collections, each nav
ing its individual catalogue.
@. What are basic patents?-L. c. B.
A. The term basic patent IS USED
ordinarily with much the same slgfll-
canoe as pioneer patent-that IS 10 say
as having reference 10 a patent Gov
pring an invention which represents
marked advance in some art, as when
an inventor for the first time accom-
nlishes n certain result. There nave
been a good many basic patents grant
I'd from first to last. but no precise
enumeration is possible. lnaSmucn as
opinions vary. more or less, as 10 Whlcn
patents are entitled TO be so claSSed.
We note Bell's patent on the telephone
and Howe'S patent for the sewing ma
chine employing an eye-pointed needIe.
There are basic patents now IN FORCE
for inventions relating 10 wireless, RADIO
/ etc, and other subjects.
O What proportion of the world 5
! s,lDDIy of turpentine and roSin Is con-
trlbuted by the United StateS?-L. f. /.
A. This country produces about
three fourths and consumes nearly one
half the worlds total OF these prod
uctS. which are 50 important III the
paint. yarnish. soap and paper indus
tries.
/ @ What Is the population OF the
/ irish free StGtSt f1O" LiAaAit " -
people are Catholic? How about the
! rest Of Ireland?-A. J,
/ A. The population OF the Irish Free
State. 1926. was 1872 500. Roman
/ Catholics number 23l2, 500. TIL" pop
+ ,,lation OF northern Ireland is l.256.33@,
/ Roman Catholics. 430l6l.
! @ What caused the Natural Bridge
in Virginia e. 7.
+ A. The Natural Bridge was caused BY
stream erosion The present structure
+ was left by the collapse Of the remain
der Of the roof OF tunnel formed. ac-
cnrdlng to Cleland. by water percolat-
! ing Though point or tiSSure athwari
the stream, thence along beoClnC
plane and emptying under fall or
iapid OF the stream. The channel thus
formed was gradually enlarged until
+ all tie water OF the stream was diverted
, from the stream bed below the point
/ Of ingreSS. leaving 4 bridge
| O. How many descendants OF AGRA :
han, Lincoln are now l!vlng?-A NJ. )
! A. There are living five descendants
/ of Abraham Lincoln These are the
two children OF the late Robert Tod6
. Lincoln. Mrs Frank Edward Johnson
and Mrs Charles ISham Of New York
and three grandchildren. James and
/ Mary Beckwith and Lincoln ISham.
@. Why is policeman called y
+ "cop"H-J p. G.
A. Cop IN reference 10 policeman
! Is English dialect or English slang, al