Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-27
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Did you ever write letter to Fred
eric j. Haskin? You can ask him any
question of fact and get the answer in
a personal letter. Here Is a great edu-
cational idea introduced into the lives
Of the most intelligent people in the
wold-Americn newspaper readers. It
is a part of that best purpose Of a
charge except 2 cents in coin or
stamps for return postage. Address
Frederic J. Haskin. director, The
Evening Star Information Bureau,
Washington, D. c.
@. In what American cities are the
four largest and most expensive thea
ters?-L. S. S.
A. The editor of the Film Daily says
that the Roxy is the largest as well as
the most expensive theater that has
been built in the United States. The
next three, not necessarily in order. are
Paramount, New York City; Fox, st.
Louis, and Fox. Detroit.
@. How many steps are there in
quick-time marching and in double
time marching "A. A.
A. The leader of the United States
Marine Band says that there are 1913
steps to the minute in quick time, 100
steps in double time.
Q. Where is the Government fox
A. 1t is located at Saratoga Springs,
N. Y.
@. When was preferred stock first
issued by corporations as part Of their
capital structures?-C. G.. A.
A. Preferred stocks came into exist
xrif he ,t1of to,,r
of the nineteenth century. and were
used. as they are used today, to give
investors something better than COM
mon shares, but not quite as safe as
bonds.
@. How is hail formed?-W. r. L.
A. The Summer hail, or true hail, is
caused by the rapid uprush of air in a
violent thunderstorm which carries
raindrops SO high that they freeze. On
freezing they fall back to a lower level,
where they pick up more water, and
again are caught in an upward current
and carried up to the freezing levels.
This Is repeated several times until the
hailstone gets so heavy that 1t falls
through the rising air down to the
earth. The Winter hail, properly called
sleet, consists of frozen raindrops, the
rain having fallen through surface
layer OF cold air.
@. When were coaster brakes put on
bicycles?-C. H.
A. Coaster brakes first came into
common use on bicycles about 1902.
@. Our new red brick house is be-
coming covered with white streakS.
What can be done about it'll A. M.
A. The Bureau Of Standards says
that the efflorescence, or WITHHOLDING
scum, on bricks Is probably composed
of calcium sulphate. together with some
calcium carbonate. The best known
method of removing this scum is to
wash it with a 10 per cent (by voltlme)
solution of muriatic acid, followed with
washing with warm water to remove
the acid solution. This should be done
on a warm, dry day. when the acid
solution and wash water will evaporate
rather than penetrate into the struc-
ture, and 1t will probably be necessary
to repeat this procedure several times.
@. What metal is used by the Gov
eminent for boundary posts?-C. Med.
A: Many of the boundary posts are
made Of bronze. The markers are often
OF concrete with bronze plates.
Q. Please give the height of the
nlgnest Jumps IN the BrltlSh Grand
National-F. c..
A. There are thorn fences feet
high and feet thick One of the
fences is 4 feet 10 inches high and
has ditch on the take-off side feet
wide and 4 feet deep. Becher's Brook
is thorn fence feet 10 inches high
with brook on the far side feet wide
and feet deep.
=, Q. Where is the largest yew tree in
the world?-N. NJ.
A. Nature Magazine says that it is
claimed locally that giant yew in the
churchyard at Selbourne, England, is
the largest. It is said to have a cir
conference of 271a feet.
Q. What kind Of dog is pinscher?
&c. N.
A. Pinscher is the German word for
terrier. The Doberman pinscher is a