Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-08
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Many readers send in questions
signed only with initials, asking that
the answers appear in the newspaper
The space is limited and would not ac-
commodate a fraction of such requests.
The answers published are ones that
may interest many readers, rather than
the one who asks the question only
All questions should be accompanied by
the writer's name and address and 2
cents in coin or stamps for reply.
Send your question to The Evening
Star Information Bureau, Frederic j.
Haskin, director, Washington, D. G.
Q. What year is taken for a base
when computing the activity of the
real estate market?-M. A. F.
A. The National Association of Real
Estate Boards bases its index of real
estate activity upon the year 1926.
@. How does the number of silk
stockings sold now compare with the
number sold 80 years ago?-G. P.
A. In 1900 the number of silk stock
ings sold in the United States was H.,
572 dozen pairs, a pair for one person
TO each 1000 of the population. In
1929 the number of pairs of silk or
artificial silk is more than a hundred
million, pair for each of the people.
O. Is there much difference in the
rapidity with which people read?-
V.N.
A. Prof. Walter B. Pitkin of Column
bia University has stated that there are
great differences, in the speed of read
ing in different classes of society.
Young newspaper men catch with one
glance of the eye Al words, while ex-
perienced editors take in as many as
70 words, which is more than the ordi-
nary newspaper line. On the other
hand, engineers, who deal with things
rather than with words, have an aver
age eyegrasp of only 3.3 words. The
retaining the meaning in a passage of
100 words better than the men of any
other group.
r. M W '''A'
A. Elephants tusks are solid.
@. Are the average weights of men
and women also considered correct
Weights?-J. T. D.
A. Average weights are usually COM
piled from insurance figures and are
merely what. the adjective implies.
Ideal weights differ somewhat. Aver
age and ideal weights are nearest to-
gether when individuals are between 20
and 25 years of age. AS the years
progress the average weight is higher
than the ideal weight.
@. Why is revolver so inaccurate
for long range shot?--F. L. B.
A. 1t is not question Of accuracy
of the weapon and the cartridge. The
sight radius of pistol is so short that
accurate aiming at any great distance
is difficult.
G.. What people observed the first
Thanksgiving day?-O. B. Y.
A. Thanksgiving day may be traced
back through the ages and the ma
tons to the land of the Canaanites,
from whom the ISraelites copied many
of the customs. The Harvest Celebra-
ton appeared later among the He
brewS and was called the Feast of
the Tabernacles. The Harvest Festi:
val in Greece was celebrated in No
vember in honor of Demeter, the God
deSs of Harvests, while the Romans
worshiped this harvest deity under
the name of Ceres. In England this
festival was called the Harvest Home
and its origin may be traced back to
the time Of the Saxon occupation. The
first authentic harvest festival in this
country was held by the Pilgrims in
1921 and little by little the custom
spread until in 1865 it became a ma