Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-04

prove the identity of lightning with the
discharge of FRACTIONAL electricity. What
he did was to fly a kite in the face
of an advancing thunderstorm. A
pointed wire was fastened to the top
OF kite and short strip Of silk
was tied to the kite string. At the
junction between the kite string and the
silk strip a doorkey was tied. As
long as the kite string was dry, no re-
suits were obtained but as soon as it
became wet with the rain, making it
better conductor, Franklin found it
possible to draw sparks from the key
by bringing his finger near it.
Q. When were the Dark Ages?-
A The term Ozark Ages" generally
describes earlier centuries of the Middle
Ages, the period between ancient and
modern history. Hallam regards the
Dark Ages as beginning with the sixth
century and ending with the fifteenth.
@. Where was the first American
flag made by Betsy Ross flown in
battle?-T. S. T.
A. A monument marks the spot
where it was unfurled at Cooch's Bridge,
IA miles southwest Of Wilmington, Del,
September 3, 17T7. Howe's army passed
this spot going from Elk River to the
Battle of Brandywine at Chadd's Ford.
@. Which are the largest community
trusts in this country?-J. Y.
A. The five largest are the New York
Community Trust, Boston Permanent
Charity Fund, Chicago Community
Trust, Cleveland Foundation and In
dianapolis Foundation.
@. Are there many swamps in New
A. There are many swamps in New
Jersey, particularly in the vicinity OF
the seacoast. Many have been reclaim.
ed into cranberry boys.
@. Are mature fowls of the same
color that they were as baby chicks?-
P. A.
A. The color of the mature fowl Of
any breed or variety is often materially
different from that Of the newly Matched
chick.
@. What is the oldest scientific or
ganization in America?-A. T. d.
A. The American Philosophical So-
ciety is the Oldest Of Americas scien-
tific societies. The society originated
in the Junto established in Philadel-
phia by Benjamin Franklin in 1927.
Fifteen of it's members were signerS Of
the Declaration of Independence and
10 members helped frame the Consti-
tuition. Nine Presidents Of the United
States. including Washington, Jeffer-
son, Woodrow Wilson and Herbert Hoo
yer, have been elected from the soci-
ety's membership. Three other Presi-
dents, Cleveland, Roosevelt and Taft,
became members after election. AL sew
en- Americans who have won the Nobel
prize have been members of this or
ganization.
@. What palm has sap which Ia
used as wine?--W. q.
A. The kitul palm in India secretes
a sweet, aromatic sap which, after fer
mentation, is an excellent sort Of palm
wine.
@. Do ants sting or bite?-A. e. w.
A. In ants sting Is sometimes pres
ent as in the Poneridae, which sting
like wasps and bees, but in the workers
of the ordinary ants it is either vestigal
or entirely wanting. Some ants Sc
| crete an active poison, forn1ic acid. This
| they inject into the wound made by
their jaws in biting.
@. How many vessels did the Kron-
prinz Wilhelm sink?-C A. w.
A. Kronprinz Wilhelm sank alto
| gether Is vessels of $3.50 tons On
April 10, 1915, the vessel was obliged
to enter the neutral harbor of New
port News. In September. 1916, it was
transferred to Philadelphia. 1t was
sunk by several British cruisers on
November 2, 1917.
Q. Does the Government share in
mineral rights beneath land that is
privately owned?-F. o. D.
A. On land privately owned, minerals
discovered belong to the owner.
| @. Name the actresses that were ia
nous for their Interpretation of Ibsen
roleS.-J. S.
A. Fru Hennings was the first actress
to act the role of Nora in "a Dolls
House." Mrs. Fiske, Mime. Duse, Mary
Shaw, Mrs. Patrick Campbell. Nine.
| Nazimova and Carlotta Nilsson all were
| known in IbSen roles.
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