Evening star., 1928-05-25


solely to the handling of queries. This
paper puts at your disposal the serv-
ices OF an extensive organization in
Washington to serve you in any ca
pacity that relates 10 information. This
service is free. Failure to make use OF
it deprives you of benefits to which you
are entitled. Your obligation is only 2
cents in stamps, inclosed with your in
quiry Tor direct reply. Address The
Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washing
ton. d. C..
O. What is the area Of the United
States including all OF its possessions?
ID. s.
A. Continental United States con-
tains 3026,789 square miles. Total
United States, including Alaska and
Hawaii, Porto Rico, the Philippines, the
Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam,
Wake and scattered islands In the
Pacific. and the Panama Canal Zone,
has an aggregate area Of 3,728, 37l
square miles. The I'll ,582 square miles
of territory contained in our outlying
domains would make II States the size
of Ohio.
@. What Is the estimated top speed
OF the express trains in the New York
5ubWay?--L. K. B.
A. The New York Transit Commission
says that it estimates this speed TO be
about As miles per hour. This esti-
mated speed covers what is known as
the free running speed of express trains
between stations.
@. How fast does a bees wing move?
F. u.
A. The Department Of Agriculture
says that the speed at which bees
wing vibrates when in fight varies.
When starting out from the hive it has
been determined that a bees wing
vibrates 460 times a second. Entering
the hive loaded, the vibrations decrease
to about $50 times second.
@. How are arrangements made for
foreigners to study at West Point?-
II. T. v.
A. Foreign governments are permitted
to choose representatives OF their
countries who wish to receive instruc-
tions at the United States Military
Academy. These governments make Spe-
cial requests to the Congress of the
United States. Congress by special act
can provide for the graduation of such
| foreigners. These men, however, do
not receive a commission in the United
States Army.
@. In stock market parlance, what
are cats and dogs?"--N. E, S.
A. The term is applied to worthless
or poor securities
O. At what price would silver have
to sell in order to have its ratio TO gold
be i6 to 1?--W. w. S.
A. With silver selling in the open
market at Sl.29 per ounce, the ratio Of
the value of am ounce of silver to that
of an ounce OF gold would be l-16 or
l6 10 /.
@. How deep is Puget Sound?-N. E.
A. 1t is from 60 to 1000 feet deep.
Protected from the wind on all sides,
it is one of the greatest natural harbors
IN the world. Vessels can land at al
most any place along its coast line.
@. Please tell something Of the coffee
houses of Samuel JohnsoIl's day.. N.
A. The first coffee house in London
was established in 1852. Sir Henry
Blunt is sometimes called the father
of the English coffee houses. They were
political institutions during the reign of
the Stuarts. In 1875 Charles issued a
proclamation for the suppression OF
them, but 1t was recalled 10 days later.
They became the meeting places OF
statesmen. wits, merchants, and fash
ionable idlerS. They did much to
quicken and enlarge the mental life of
the town. In lTUs there were nearly
5000 of them in London alone. The
coffee house reseinbled the modern club
but was less expensive. less exclusive,
and not so luxurious Some of the pop
| ular coffee houses were, The Cheshire
Cheese" favorite of Samuel johnson:
st. James" the center of political news
| and discussion; Buttons" where Ad-
| olson dined and spent five or six hours
day. Every coffee house had its circle
Of wits and great men.
O. Who built Homewood, the old
Baltimore manSion?--F. L.
A. Homewood was built by Charles
Carroll of Carrollton. signer Of the