Evening star., 1928-04-13
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

Sto1 q minute and think about this
fact: You can ask our information
bureau any question Of fact and get the
answer back In a personal letter 1t is
a great educational idea, introduced into
the lives of the most intelligent people
In the world-American newspaper
readers. 1t is part Of that best pur-
pose Of newspaper-service. There Is
no charge except 2 cents In stamps for
return postage. Get the habit of ask
ing questions. Address your letter to
The Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic j. Haskin director, Washing
ton, d. G.
@. From what animal is the hide
taken to make very large bass drums?-
G. M. /.
A. steer or COW hides are used In the
manufacture of the larger size bass
drum heads. calf on the smaller. A
large manufacturer of drums says: I'VE
had occasion to make an exceptionally
large drum-in fact, the largest which
was ever cOnstructed-some few years
ago for the University of Chicago. This
drum measured feet and some inches,
and the skin which was used for the
head of this drum measured when
trimmed ready for mounting 102 inches.
Our order for this drum called for as
large bass drum as possible, and, OF
course, the size of the drum was deter
mined by the size Of hide which was
available at that time. Our purchasing
department made trip to the Union
Stock Yards of Chicago; spent three
days at the stock yards looking over the
cattle for these hides, and as the bass
drum had two heads 1t was necessary
to find two just alike. The actual cost
of this instrument to us-in other words.
our factory cost-was $1,100. which cost
included special tools required In the
manufacture of this instrument"
O. On what dates during 1928 will
ecIipses Of the sun appear?-E. NJ. II.
A. The United States Naval ObServ-
atory says that eclipses of the sun in
1928 occur as follows: May 10. visible
in the southern parts Of Africa and
South America: June II, in the north
ern parts of Europe and Asia, and No
vember IL, in parts Of Europe, Asia and
Africa.
@. Is the President Of France q
Catholic?-A. M.
A. President Doumergue of France
is the first Protestant President that
has held Office in that country.
@. Who is credited with designing
the first practical balloon, and what
was 1t made OFFS. w.
A. The Montgolfier brothers COM
pleted the first practical balloon design
in June, 1888. Il consisted Of 35-foot
paper bag, inflated with hot air and
smoke from burning damp straw.
@. What are the three largest land
owning countries in the worldly. M.
A. The British Empire covers more
terri.4ry than any other country in the
world, comprising 13,226.749 square
miles. The area of Russia in Europe
and in Asia is 8.187.253 square miles.
France and her colonies comprise 5,S70,-
461 square miles.
@. Can you inform me when the
ancient Egyptians ceased embalming
their dead?-C. N. S.
A. DR.. Walter Hough, head curator
of anthropology. Smithsonian 1nStitu-
ton, states that embalming by the
Egyptians ceased about the end Of the
fourth century AID. because OF the
spread of Christianity; that the Chris
tians did not embalm the dead as the
Egyptians did. but did wrap them in
cloth robes.
Q. How may olulng ne mace at
home?-J. L. II.
A. To make bluing dissolve indigo
sulphate in cold water and filter.
@. How often has the roof Of the
mansion at Mount Vernon been re-
newed?-F. H. p.
A. The superintendent Of Mount Yer
non says: The center part of the
present building: erected 1743. was
shingled then with cypress. In 1853, we
understand. George Washington had oc-
caSion TO change the pitch of the roof
slightly. and In every probability re-
newed the shingling. in part at least.
In 1860. when the property was turned
over to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Asso-
citation. the entire roof including the
additions that George washington had
made In ITS and l776, was reshingled.
Again in 1918 the shingling was
changed in toto. care being observed
to follow accurately the size. taper and
shape of shingles Gen. Washington had
used"
@. Where did the dahlia originate?
III. NJ. T.
A. The dahlia was first discovered in