Evening star., 1928-05-25
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN.

Declaration OF Independence, for his son
Charles, in 1909.
@. When is National Wild Flower
day?--B. ID. q.
A. National Wild Flower day Is Oh
served on May "a.
@. What were the ragged schools
referred to in English nOvels?-S. E..
A. The ragged schools" were main
sained in Great Britain by voluntary
contributions for the education Of desti-
tute and neglected children. The idea
is said to have originated with John
Pounds, poor cobbler. who used To
gather the ragged children in his dix~
trict and teach them as he WORKED
With the introduction Of the compul-
sorry education act in 1870, their use.
iulness was largely destroyed and many
were merged into the free schools.
@. Why is Flag day celebrated on
June 14?-E. r.
A. 1t is the anniversary Of June
IA, 1777, when Congress resolved that
the flag Of the United States should
nave l3 stripes, alternate white and
red, and that the Union be represented
Dy l3 stars, white. in blue field
u is Frances Aida OF American
birth?-M. &.
A. She was born in Chrlstchurch.
New Zealand.
O. How many students are there in
the private schools and colleges in the
District of Columbia IS. T.
A. There are 70820 public school
students and $1,000 students IN private
schools and universities.
@. Why is some raw silk yellow and
some white?-I. w. l..
A. There are many commercial
varieties of the silkWorm graded accord
ing to the size, color. and quality of
The cocoon. The color of the worms
prolegs before spinning indicates the
color the cocoon will be. This varies
in different species and may be silvsry
white, cream, yellow, lemon or green.
@. What are the three demands Of
good uSage?-L. W.
A. These are that a word or express
sion be in national use, present use, and
reputable use.
@. Are bulls aneered at the sight
of anything red?-M. w.
A. Experiments made at the Uni
Versity of California have proved that
bulls reaction to the color of red Is
no more than to any other color. In
fact. judging by the conduct OF the
steers tested, IL seems doubtful whether
they can tell red from green. or white
from blue. 1t IS even possible that the
animals have no realization of color
at all.
Q. Why are some heels called French
and Cuban? How high are the highest
heels made?-G. w. 7.
A. The United Shoe Machinery Co.
says that various names have been ap-
piled TO heels but undoubtedly the
country OF origin has much to do with
1t, as Is the case with the French and
the Cuban. The French heel dates
back into the early period of the Guilds,
and the Cuban. or spike. are types of
heels which originated in the boots Of
mounted men. such as are worn on cow
boy boots at the present time. The
highest heel they have is Al inches,
but there are shoes which have had
them somewhat higher than that.
Whether they have been worn or not
is question, or whether they have
simply been made as a freak shoe,
which hap2Saed very often in the days
Of the Guilds, when Shoemakers were
anxious 10 show their skin in produc-
ing some unique or very often absurd
type OF shoe.
@. What becomes OF the application
papers turned in TO the Civil Service
Commission c. S. M
A. The Civil Service Commission
says II a person Is appointed his appl-
cation papers are kept In permanent
file If he is not appointed, these pa
pers are kept i've years and then de-
Stroyed.
Q. Are opals softer or less durable
than other jewelS?-E. G..
A. OpalS are not durable stones. II
worn carefully in an ordinary ring,
they should last indefinitely. Often
they wear down and must be reset and
cleaned. If given hard knocks or
dropped. they are not much stronger
than glass. They are claSsed as the
SofteSt of all gems, with possibly the
exception of the Oriental pearl.