Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-23
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

The answers to questions printed
here each day are specimens picked
from the mass of inquiries handled by
our great information bureau MAIN
tanned In Washington, D. G. This
valuable service Is for the free use Of
the public. Ask any question Of fact
you may want to know and you will
get an immediate reply. Write plainly,
inclose Q cents in coin or stamps for
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
d. G.. -.
@. What is the name Of the song
played before each Of the "Collegians"
new talking pictures?-I. K. C.
A. "Oh, How We Love Our College"
is the theme song Of 1.-The Collegians.
@. What is the value of diamonds
owned in the United States?-J. D.
A. According to a survey completed
by the Continental Insurance Co., four
billion dollars is the value Of diamonds
owned in the United States. 1t Is stated
that most of the stones are of average
size, few of the worlds largest dia-
monds being owned here.
@. In what way. do the Thugs of
India differ from ordinary murderers
or criminals?-H. D. C.
A. The Thugs were originally a re-
ligious sect or caste honoring the god
dess Kali (wife Of Siva) by bloodless
sacrifice of victims. They are known
to have existed as early as 1890. but be-
came generally known about 1900. The
method was strangulation by means OF
a knotted cloth and they preyed mostly
upon travellers. Certain castles were ex-
empt, including Nashermen, sweepers,
oil vendors, musicians, poets, lepers,
bearers of the holy Ganges water and
those who had with them COW. Neither
would a true Thug kill woman. In
1881 the British government adopted
drastic measures for their suppression.
@. How deep is Lake Tanganylka in
Central Africa?-K. c.
A. Depths Of 4,190 feet have been To-
Gated in various parts of Lake Tangan-
yika, which Is believed to be formed in
the craters Of an extinct volcanic range.
@. What is the capacity Of the esca-
lators in the store Of r. H. Macy & Co.?
e. H. F.
A. It is estimated that the present
escalator systems in Macy's are capable
of carrying 100000 persons upstairs
from the street floor.
@. Is Florence TrumbllPs engagement
ring a solitaire?-G. D.
A. Miss Florence Trumbull, who Is to
become Mrs, John Coolidge, has IS
stones in her engagement ring. There
Is a large central diamond, with three
smaller ones on each side and six others
relieving the platinum fiiigree setting.
@. Has the Transcontinenta1 Air
Transport Co. discontinued serrice?-
C. S. r.
A. Service or the Transcontinertal
Air Transport Co. was suspended only
temporarily following the wreck. This
suspension was in order that all Of the
planes belonging to the company could
be used in searching for the lost ship.
O. Is it correct to refer to a calling
as an avocation?-J. D.
A. A Dictionary of Modern English
Usage says: "Avocation, originally
calling away, an interruption, q dis
traction, was for some time commonly
used as a synonym for vocation, or call
ing. with which 1t Is properly in antith-
esis. This misuse is now less COM
mon and the word is generally used in
the plural. a persons avocations being
the things he devotes time to. his pur-
suits or engagements in general, the
affairs he has to see to; his vocation as