Evening star., 1928-05-16
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS,
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Stop a 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, intro
duced into the lives of the most intelli-
gent people in the world-American
newspaper readers. It Is part Of that
best purpose of a newspaper-service.
There is no charge except cents in
| stamps for return postage. Get the
| habit of asking questions. Address your
letter to The Evening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin director.
| Washington, d. G.
O. Are there more baritones. tenors
or baSsoS in this country?-A. H.
A. AT the present time the number
of trained baritones and tenors Is about
the same. There are fewer bass singers.
@. Please give date of Philippine in
| Surrection.~-G. r. o.
A. The treaty between the United
| States and Spain concerning the Philip
| pine Islands was signed on December
| 10, 1898, but not confirmed by the Sem
| ate until February 6. 1899. During this
| period the Filipino army remained in
arms. February hostilities broke out
and continued for several years. After
| the capture of Aguinaldo, March 23
| 1901, the revolt slowly subsidized. July f.
| 1902, President Roosevelt issued a proc
lamation of amnesty and officially the
war was over.
! @. What is the principle of the spiral
gas lighter which uses neither friction
| nor matches?-I. F.. M
| A. There is small mass of black
material at the center of the spiral
which appears to contain little finely
divided platinum. In the stream Of gas
this glows and lights the flame. The
| burning of gas is an example OF oxida-
| tion. Platinum has the property Of
starting oxidation even at ordinary tenn
perature. The oxidation produces heat.
| which soon raises the temperature OF
the platinum until 1t glows and lights
| the gas.
@. We are bothered with crickets.
which eat clothes. What will extermi-
| nate them?--G. v.
| A. To exterminate crickets scatter
snuff about their haunts, pour boiling
water into cracks and crevices from
which they emerge, and put ginger cor
/ dial in open saucers where they can
| partake of it,
| @. When was the Epworth League
organized? Why is it so caIled?-E.
w E.
A. This society of the Methodist
| Episcopal Church was organized at
Cleveland, Ohio. in May. 1889. 1t is
named for the birthplace of John
Wesley.
| @. Is it improper to ask a married
man TO be best man at a wedding?-
E. S. z.
| A. A man usually asks his best friend
TO be best man, even though he is mar
ried. Should any entertaining be done
| for the bridal party. the wife of the
best man should be included.
| Q. What was the total number of
negroes brought to America as slaves?--
D. H. L.
A. The exact number win never be
known. 1t is estimated that in all less
| than $4,000. 900 were brought over dur
ing the fifteenth, sixteenth. seventeenth,
| eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
@. Did canaries really come from the
Canary Islands?-F l.. S.
A. The Biological Survey says that
| the actual origin of the canary as a
cage bird Is obscure. 1t seems probable
that captive canaries were first secured
from the Canary Islands. but ii is
doubtful that this stock has furnished