Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-03
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

This is a special department devoted
to the handling Of inquiries. You have
at your disposal an extensive organiza-
ton in Washington to serve you in any
| capacity that relates to information.
| Write your question your name, and
! your address clearly, and inclose cents
! in coin or stamps for reply Send to
! The Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Haskin, director, Washing
| ton, D. G.
@. Does Russia extend as far to the
east as China does?-M. L.
| A. The Union of Soviet Republics ex-
| tends much farther to the east than
| China Goes. The Russian port, Vladivo~-
1 tok. is practically as far east as the
easternmost part OF China. Much of
| "old Siberia" lies north and east of
/ Vladivostok.
@. In what countries are cashew nuts
f, native?-T. d.
A. Central and South America are
| the homes of cashew nuts. They are
originally American. but were carried
to many parts of the world by the
| Portuguese in the fifteenth and six
| tenth centuries.
Q. How many species of monkeys are
there?-W. J. H.
A. There are $50 species and suo-
species OF monkeys.
q. Does Monte Carlo make an enor-
nous profit on It's gambling?--H. B.
A. In a report published some time
ago it was stated that Monte Carlo ay-
eraged around 6 or 8 per cent year.
@. What is the difference between a
Stock exchange and a curb market?-
w. d. r.
A. A stock exchange. as generally I'M
derStood, need not, necessarily, be
building where securities are bought
and sold, but any place, even in the
open air. as, for instance, curb" stock
exchanges. Securities which are not
upon the large stock exchanges. or new
securities, which have not, as yet. been
listed upon such exchanges. are handled
in what is known as the curb market.
The reason nowadays for the existence
of curb markets in the open rather
than in some building is that, II the
latter plan were pursued. there would
exist another exchange and 1t would not
be permissible for member OF the
regular exchange OF the city to be rep
resented thereon, as he frequently now
Is on the curb.
@. WHY il this season of the year
called dog days?-F. F. D.
A. Dog DAYS comprise the hot. Sultry
season of Summer during parts of July
and August. so called from the fact
that the rising Of the dog star Sirius.
the brightest star in the heavens, is
coincident with the rising OF the sun.
The ancients thought this conjunction
caused the instense heat of Summer
and the maladies which then pre-
vailed-hence the popular supposition
that dogs are likely to go mad at this
season 1t was by mere accident that
the rising Of the star conceded with
the hottest season OF the year, in the
times and countries of the old astron-
omers It's rising depends on the lati-
tude of the place and is later and later
every year in all ATTITUDES. owing to
procession. In time the star may rise
in the dead of Winter. Obviously there
Is variation in the limits of the dog
days, although they are usually counted
from July to August 11-that is, 20
days before and 90 days after the
rising in unison of the dog star and
the sun. The date given by Roger
Lang as the beginning of dog days in
about 735 AID. is July IA.