Evening star., 1928-04-09
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKTN.

The answers to questions printed here
each day are specimens picked from the
mass of inquiries handled by our great
| Information Bureau maintained in
Washington, D. C.. This valuable serv-
Ice Is for the free use of the public. Ask
any question Of fact you may want to
know and you will get an immediate
reply. Write plainly. inclose 2 cents in
stamps for return postage, and address
The Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic j. Haskin, director, Washing
ton, d. G.
@. Can a street car company make
money on a scent fare?-R. S. p.
A. Experts in urban transportation
| matters say that it is impossible, con-
ceding, however, that there may be eX-
ceptional cases, inasmuch as the factors
controlling a street car Company's earn
ing capitalization, labor costs,
other operating charges, taxes, etc
are variable. The average street rail-
way fare in the United States is now
801 cents, this average being based
upon the fares in 272 cities of more
than $4,000 population. In 112 Of these
cities the fare is 10 cents.
@. Is it true that there Is a play in
New York that lasts from o'clock until
midnight?--J. B. G..
A. Eugene ONeill's new play,
Strange Interlude," requires about five
hours for a performance.
@. Is it possible to cook without fire
or electric current?-M v.
A. A bulletin of the General Electric
Co, in describing new high-frequency
radio tube, says Among the stunts
demonstrated with the high-frequency
apparatus was radio cooking A wire
was suspended over table at some dis
tance from the Tadiating aerial and
parallel TO it. A sausage placed in a
glass tube was hung from the end Of
this receiving aerial, and in a few min
utes it began to steam. On being re-
moved 1t was found to have been beau
| tifully cooked by the high-frequency
flames or other visible means of heat
ing were applied. A fryless fried egg
was also prepared in the glass tube and
served hot to the spectators. An apple
was impaled upon the end of the receiv-
ing aerial and in a short time was thor
oughly baked"
O. What Is the strongest animal In
the World?-P. L. H.
A. 1t is impossible to name the
strongest animal in the world since
some of the smallest insects have more
strength in proportion to their weight
than some of the largest animals An
ant. for instance, may carry a load Is
or 20 times its own weight, while an
elephant could scarcely drag twice its
weight.
| O. What was the Bonfire Of vani-
tie" s"?-M o. N.
A. The Bonfire of vanities" was the
burning of indecent books, pictures,
masks and other objects pertaining to
frivolity at Florence, Italy, in 1497, un-
der order of Savonarola A Venetian
merchant offered $4,000 gold forms for
the doomed vanities, but his offer was
rejected and his portrait was added to
the pyre. 1t is said that no book or
painting OF value was destroyed.
O. Please tell me what "samvat"
meanS.-A. j.
A. "Samvat" is an abbreviation of
the Sanskrit word "Samvstsara," which
| means year" Samvat is the method
OF reckoning time used generally in
India. except Bengal Christian dates
are reduced 10 Samvat by adding 81 to
the Christian year.
@. What country or people first built
Seagoing veSSelS?-R. L.
| "a &AG0At ID usually given Tie EIlOE-
nicians for the building of the first
| gaileys which could stand sea travel.
@. What is "Paine's process"?-C. C.
| ON.
A. "Paine's process" is a process for
| preserving timber and making it incom-
buStible by impregnating it successfully
with solutions of Sulphate of iron and
calcium chloride in vacuo.
@. What is false dawn"?-A. B.M.
| A. Science Service says that false
| dawn" Is the zodiacal light. supposed to
be due to the reflection Of sunlight from
fine particles Of matter entirely outside
the earth'S atmosphere. 1t is best seen
In low latitudes, especially in the pure
| air OF tropical and subtropical deserts.
@. Who is the author named Ernest
Booth. who writes crime and prison
| stories "A. NJ w.
A. His publishers say that he Is a
1