Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-23
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Any reader can get the answer to
any question by writing to our Informa-
ton Bureau In Washington, d. c. This
offer applies strictly to information. The
bureau cannot give advice on legal,
medical and financial matters. 1t does
not attempt to settle domestic trou-
bles, nor undertake exhaustive research
on any subject. Write your question
plainly and briefly. Give full name and
address and inclose 2 cents in. coin or
stamps for return postage. The ;eply
is sent direct to the inquirer. Address
The Evening Star Information Bureau
Frederic j. Haskin, director, Washing
ton, D. c.
Q. How many medals have been
granted by the Carnegie Hero Fund
COMMISSIONS. M. w.
A. The first lot of Carnegie medals
awarded was granted on May %, 1905,
at a meeting Of the commission held in
Pittsburgh. total Of 1926 has been
granted to date.
@. Can an ice boat sail as fast as the
wind?-J. B.
A. The Bureau of Standards says that
II the ice boat were running directly
before the wind and the friction of the
skate on the ice were zero, then 1t is
obvious that the boat would attain the
velocity of the wind. If the helm is
changed so that the boat is no loLyer
running directly with the wind, but at
an angle to 1t, say of 80 degrees, the
sails can be SO trimmed as to give a
component of velocity at right angles
to the original course. This component
Is combined in vector diagram
with the vector representing the orig
inal velocity OH the new course greater
than that on its original course. In
other words. the speed of the ice boat
OH suitably chosen course, at an an
gle TO the wind, will be greater than
the speed Of the ice boat when running
directly before the wind, If the friction
OF the skate is ignored. The under
standing of the bureau is that, with a
well designed ice boat, speeds consider
ably greater than the speed of the wind
can be attained in this way.
G. Is the Philadelphia Orchestra to
broadcast? A.
A. The Philadelphia Orchestra. led by
MIR. Leopold StokoWski, Will broadcast
Il rec concerts this Winter.
q. Do the members OF the House OF
David base ball team have long hair
which they wear braided when play
ing?-G. M.
A. Benton Harbor'S House of David
team as pictured in a recent newspa-
per has an average length of hair of
21a feet. Doubtless the hair is braided
when playing to get it out of the way.
Q. What fruit did Joliet mean when
he spoke OF "assons," saying They are
small fruits which are not known In
Europe?"-A. y. E.
A. The Bureau of Plant Industry SAYS
that there were two fruits in America
which at the time Of Joliets explora-
tons would have been new to him.
Those two. fruits were paWpaws and
perSimmonS. AS the persimmon is a
fruit of the South and as Joliet did net
explore that region, 1t is fair to assume
that he found the pawpaw fruit. The
Indians called this fruit aSimen. The
French pronunciation of this word
would be something like the name of
the fruit which you spell "assons."
@. Has Helen wills won both Eng
lish and French championships
w. w.
A. She has won the American. Eng
lish, French and Olympic champion
ships, and has defeated every woman
player of prominence except Suzanne
Lenglen.
@. How do living costs in Hawaii
compare with prices here?-M w. N
A. Generally speaking 1t costs little
more to live in Hawaii than in other