Evening star., 1928-11-05
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

nor ever could be, since there Is
constitutional clause forbidding ell bills
Of attainder.
@. What is the difference in the dis
tance around the earth at the equator
and the distance going around through
the poles?--H. L. s.
A. There is a difference of AZ miles.
The equatorial circumference Of the
earth is 24.896 miles. the meridlonal
circumference 24,854 miles.
@. If parachute fails to open when
man jumps from an airplane. does he
die before striking the ground?-V. r.
A. The idea that a man falling
through the air from a great height
loses consciousness before he lands has
been proved to be a fallacy It has
been found that persons falling MAIN
tain full control Of their faculties until
they come into contact with some solid
object.
@. Please describe the native flag Of
the Philippine Islands--W o. H.
A. The native flag of the Philippine
Islands is divided horizontally into
blue and red stripes Near the staff.
extending toward the middle, appears
a white diamond. in which q gold sun
is represented. One gold star appears
In each corner of the diamond.
O. Where is the original of the IA
nous picture of Whistler's mother
H. H
A. This picture Is one Of the treas
ureS of the Louvre, Paris. It was first
hung in the Royal Academy in 1872.
1t was exhibited in America in 1881
and 1882, at which time It could have
been bought for $1,000 It was pur-
chased by the French government in
1891 for the small sum of 1000 francs.
1t was great satisfaction to Whistler
to know that it was finally appreciated.
1t was bought upon the initiative of M.
Clemenceau.
O. How many men and women in
the United States smoke?-C. L. C..
A. The editor Of the Tobacco Leaf
says Nobody can closely approxi-
mate how many women in the United
States use tobacco. We used to figure
that out OF 10 adult males was non
smoker. My guess now would be out
Of 15."
@. How much gold must be kept in
the United States Treasury for the re-
demption of United States notes?--G. D.
A. The amount of gold to be held
for the redemntion of United States
notes is fixed at $150,00 ,000 Should
this reserve fall below 100000. 900, the
Secretary of the Treasury may sell
Government bonds to replenish it.
@. Who popularized the expression
dirt farmer"?-F. c. e.
1. A. James Wilson Of Iowa, who was
Secretary of Agriculture from 1897 to
1913. spoke of the farmer as the dirt
farmer
q: When was the first Community
Christmas Tree lighted?-W. w. H.
A. The various accounts of the Com
munity Christmas Tree seem to agree
that the first tree of light was erected
in New York City on Christmas, 1912.
The practice was Immediately taken UP
by a number Of other cities in the
United States.
@. Can World War veterans obtain
Government insurance now?-M. L.
A. A recent amendment to the
| World War veterans act provides that
on application the bureau shall grant to
any veteran of the World War Govern
ment insurance, provided such veteran
is in good health and furnishes evi-
dence to the director to that effect.
@. If house cost $4,000 in 1914,
what would a similar one have cost 10
years later?-T. w. D.
A. A house which cost $4,000 in 1914
would have cost $10,350 in 1924.
@. What kind of data does Comdr.
Byrd expect to gather at the South
Pole?-F o. G..
A. Comdr. Byrd has stated: There
is much meteorological data to be OBJ
tanned which alone would justify the
hazards encountered by such an expe-
dition, for the weather of large part
of the world is affected by the Antarctic
The polar regions of the South affect
weather even more than those Of the
North. 1t Is also possible that great
deal can be learned as to the condi-
tions which once existed in the Antarc-
tic, for it is possible that land life once
existed there and that the ice cap which
now covers it has exterminated 1t all.
We may be able to prove that, and If so,
1t will teach us much about the geologi-
cal past of this extraordinary continent.
The Antarctic really reproduces the
condition which once existed in Amer
lea and Europe during the ice age. It
is certain that at one time the ice cap
did not exist, for the world was much
too hot Coal is found in the arctic
and where there is coal there was once
a tropical climate"