Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-25
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

This Is a special department devoted
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 to 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 coin or stamps inclosed with
your inquiry for direct reply. Address
The Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic j. Haskin, director, Washing
ten, D. G.
@. What has become Of Candy"
who was formerly at the Roxy Thea
ter?-G. N.
A. Maria Gambarelli is soon to begin
a tour in vaudeville. She has been de-
voting her time to production during
the past year.
O. What Is the name of the hospital
built in the shape Of q large ball?-
S. A. A.
A. Cunningham Sanitarium at Cleve-
land, Ohio, resembles huge silver ball.
It Is five stories high and has a diam
eter Of "a feet. This hospital was built
for the purpose of enabling DR.. o. j.
Cunningham TO treat diseases by means
of compressed air.
@. What is the meaning Of the Eng
lish family name, Talbot?-W. v. A.
A. Talbot is an Anglo-French name
meaning pillager or bandit. It is de-
rived from the old French Talebot.
@. How long have bank notes been in
eXistence?-E. E.
A. Bank notes were in existence in
China as early as 1887 BIC. It is stated
that in the Asiatic Museum at Lenin-
grad there is one dated 1899 BIC, bear
ing the name of the imperial bank,
date, number Of issue and the signature
of a mandarin.
@. How did the 24-hour day origi-
nate?-H. A. C.
A. 1t is not definitely known just how
the day happened to be divided into
"a hours. At the time Of the Homeric
poems the day was divided into three
parasitic first beginning with sunrise
and comprising that part during which
the light increased; the second, mid
day, during which the sun was thought
to stand still. and the third period dur
ing which the atmospheric warmth in
creased. These divisions were later
subdivided either by Anaximander or
Anaximines, who is said to have made
the Greeks acquainted with the use of
the Babylonian chronometer or sun
dial, by means of which the natural
day was divided into IL equal spaces.
The earliest sundlal of which we have
knowledge was that of the Chaldean
astronomer BeroSsus, who lived about
300 BIC. Its arc was divided into IL
equal intervals of time. At Babylon
the period from sunrise to sunset and
also the period of darkness were each
divided into IL hours. According to
this arrangement, the day hour was in
the Summer longer than the night hour
and in the Winter shorter. The Greeks
improved upon this system by dividing
the whole period into IL equal hours.
@. Are grade crossings being elimi-
mated to any extent?-G. C.
A. In 1928. 800 railroad grade cross
ings were eliminated from the Federal
aid highway system. OF these, 107 were
grade separations and 282 were exclud-
ed by relocation of highways.
@. How much does the United States
save in making the new currency?-
1. D. K.
A. 1t is estimated that approximately
81 100000 year will be saved by using
the smaller sized currency. Five hun
dred and fifty tons of paper worth
100000 and 500 tons of ink valued at
100000 will be saved, while reduced
labor will save $1,000,000.
@. Where was James Fenimore
Cooper born?-B. NJ
A. James Fenimore Cooper, famous
novelist, was born September Is, 1889,
at Burlington, N. j. Several years ago
the house in which he was born was
dedicated by the Burlington County His
torical Society as an historical museum
Plans are now being made for notable
celebration of the 150th anniversary Of
Cooper's birth, in 1899.
@. What precedent has former Gov.