Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-14

Many readers send in questions
signed only with initials, asking that
the answers appear in the newspaper.
The space is limited and would not
accommodate a fraction of such re-
quests. The answers published are the
ones that may interest many readers,
rather than the one who asks the ques-
ton only All questions should be &C
companied by the writer's name and
address and cents in coin or stamps
for reply. Send your question to The
Evening Star information Bureau,
Frederic j. HaSkin, director, Washing
ton, d. C.
@. What was the Black Massa--
G. F. T.
A. The Black Mass was ceremony
practiced in the so-called worship of
Satan as a burlesque of the Christian
Mass, during the time of the sixteenth
century.
@. What American city was known
as the modern Rome"?-E. T. T.
A. Richmond. Va. was originally
built on seven hills and was popularity
known as the modern Rome" In 1912,
when Charles Dickens visited the city.
it had extended its limit to another
hill, and he alluded to it as delight
luliy SlCudbSu VII
ing the James River"
@. When did George McCutcheon
die?-S. M.
A. G.. B. McCutcheon, newspaper
man and novelist, died in New York
City, october %, 1923, at the age of 81.
@. How does apple wood compare to
coal in heating value?-R. F.
A. If 1t is dry and we'll seasoned,
one cord of apple wood will equal one
short ton $4,000 pounds of coal.
@. At what age did DR.. Osler say
that men should be chloroformed?-
P. B. B.
A. In an address widely quoted and
distorted. made on leaving America,
Osler mentioned "the comparative use
lessness of men over 40 years of age" "
and said: "Take the sum of human
achievement in action, in science, in
art, in literature; subtract the work
of the men above 40 9 we should
practically be where we are today"
@. What is meant by January
thaw"?-B. G. E.
A. The Weather Bureau says the
term January thaw" is rather loosely
applied to any consecutive two or three
days, or more, in January when the
temperature is decidedly and noticeably
above the average for that month. For
much of this country that implies a
temperature above the freezing point,
accompanied as rule. by conspicuous
thaWing, at least through the day.
@. Is the gum on postage stamps
made of vegetable or animal matter?--
G. r.
A. The gum used on postage stamps
is of vegetable matter, made from the
Casaba bean from South America. When
it is applied to stamps, it is heated to
temperature of 80 degrees or 80 de-
grees.
@. Was work ever begun on the Eng
lish Channel Tunnel?-E. S.
A. About two and half miles of the
tunnel were constructed by 1885, in
which year the project was abandoned
on military grounds. Three quarters of
mile was completed on the English
side, beginning at Shakespeare Cliff,
Dover, and one and a half-mile on the
French side.
@. What is going to be the next
commemorative stamp iSSued?-R. I. g.
A. The Post Office Department plans
to issue a George Rogers Clark COM
memorative stamp and it will be placed
on sale February Is, 1929. the anniver-
sary of the fall of Fort Sackville at
Vincennes, Ind.
@. Please give the location of Buck
ingham Palace and its siZe?-B. G.
A. Buckingham Palace is situated in
London at the west end of ST. James
Park. The building has been many
times changed and the present facade
is $50 feet in length. The great state
rooms are the throne room, 66 feet
long; the green room, so feet long, SO
feet high; the grand salon, ITO feet
long, 60 feet broad; the picture gallery,
1870 feet long. There are 40 acres in
the garden.
@. What makes some soaps float
while others do not?-G. S. r.
A. Air is incorporated into some
soaps, causing them to float.
. @. Were the State constitutions mod
eled after the Federal Constitution
F. r.
A. The States In existence at the
time Of the drafting of the Constitu-
ton of the United States had consti-