Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-15

@. What Is the p. q. II. G. IN
China?-M. G. w.
A. The letters p. U. M. c. signify the
Picking Union Medical College. The
organization in which this originated
was founded In 1905 as the Medical
School and Hospital of Picking and was
maintained by the American Board of
Missionaries for Foreign Missions OF the
Presbyterian Church of the United
States until 1915, when 1t was merged
with the present organization and
equipped under the Rockefeller trust
In the most modern manner with all
conveniences and comforts.
Q. Is the eye quicker than the carr
A. The velocity Of light is much
greater than the velocity of sound in
air. 1t is therefore true that the eye Is
quicker than the ear. This may be
demonstrated In various ways. A pun
of smoke issuing from q gun that has
been fired can be seen before the re-
port is heard. The steam is seen rising
from q steam whistle before the sound
Is heard Similarly, when @ man in
the distance is chopping wood the ak
is seen to fall before the sound is
heard.
@. Is it possible to create q perfect
vacuum?-T. L. s.
A. 1t is not possible to create an alb
solutely perfect vacuum. This Is at
present mere intellectual concept. No
physical or chemical method has been
devised for effecting the absolute re-
moval of every trace of matter from
any portion of space having finite
measurements. BY the use of good
modern air pump q degree Of exhauS-
ton can be obtained which Is so per-
feet that no residual matter can be de-
tected except by the most delicate test
ing. The Sprengel pump. invented about
1865, is able to produce vacuum so
nearly perfect that the residual pres
sure probably does not exceed the
400 900 000th part Of an atmosphere.
O. Is q frame house as warm as
one made Of 8-inch hollow tile and
brick veneertng?-C. G.. K.
A. The Bureau of Standards says
the usual frame house built with shin
giles or clapboardS yields q warmer
house than 8-inch hollow tile and brick
veneering.
O. When win the Christmas seals be
on sale which are put out by the Tu-
| herculosis ASSociation?-A. N.
| A. The twenty-second annual Christ
mas seal sale viii begin immediately
after Thanksgiving and last until
Christmas.
@. Is the Boston Latin School now
| in existence?-C. G.
| A. The Boston Latin School was be-
gun in 1888. Its first building has been
! gone for many years. It Is now housed
| in a fine, commodiouS building.
@. What is the origin of the cere-
mony on board ship when the Equator
| is croSsed?-A. r.
| A. The ceremony that takes place on
board ship on crossing the Equator Ii
known as Crossing the. line" and is per-
| formed for those who have never cross
ed the Equator before. It is very an
Gent practice and was probably begun
! as q worship of some deity. The
, Greeks sacrificed on nearly every
prominent cape. During the Middle
Ages the ceremony of receiving q visit
from Neptune had come into promi-
nence. It was not performed at the
Equator, but on arriving in the tropics,
crossing the Arctic Circle, etc. It is not
mentioned in connection with any of
the voyages Of Columbus, but in 1929
the French created q sort of order of
knighthood known as Chevaliers de Ia
! Mer.