Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-17
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

The resources Of our free information
bureau are at your service. You are
invited to call upon it as often as you
please. 1t Is being maintained solely TO
serve you. What question can we an
swer for you? There is no charge at
all except cents in coin or stamps for
return postage. Address your letter 10
The Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic j. Haskin, director, Washlng-
ton, D. G.
@. What are the duties Of STAFF
pianists in broadcasting studios?-
E. T.
A.. Requirements may differ in vari-
Gus studios, Those employed by one
large broadcasting company play about
$50 additions each week, or about f1ve
hours every day. They also have GER
tain scheduled times to broadcast, and
ments notice. For instance, II the
daily stock market report should lack
five minutes of filling in the allotted
time, the staff pianist must be pre-
pared to present a program OF piano
music lasting exactly five minutes.
Q. How long has chocolate been in
use?-W. B. P.
A. Chocolate for eating is compare
lively a modern development. AS a
beverage it has been used since the
discovery Of America. The AZtecs made
cold, frothy drink from cacao beans.
1t Is only since 100, however, that milk
has been used in preparing the drink.
@. Please give some information
about the Valley Of Ten Thousand
Snokes.-B. r.
A. The Valley of Ten Thousand
Smokes is a volcanic region in Alaska.
which came into being at the time Of
the eruption of Mount Katmai, June
6, 1912. 1t and its neighboring won-
ders were discovered by Robert F.
Griggs, director of the National Geo.
graphic Society expedition, from 1915
to 1919. This region proved to be such
stupendous volcanic laboratory, as
we'll as being so rich in scenic value,
that in September, 1918, President VIII
son set aside the whole district, COM
prising more than 100000 acres, as
the Katmai National Monument.
@. What South American country
borrows the most money in the United
States?-O. G.
A. Chile is the heaviest borrower.
Last year the Chilean government is
States, comprised nearly two-thirds of
the total value Of Latin American gov
eminent issues offered here.
M +. Is ''0er an alcoholic OeV'rass'-
A. Cider, as made outside the United
States, Is alcoholic. 1t Is the vinous
fermentation of the expressed Juice Of
apples. Many fine elders are of GER
tain vintage varieties OF the fruit. The
cider apple orchards of the world are
mainly confined to certain districts of
France and England. In America fresh
unfermented apple Juice Is called cider.
@. Is It true that thousands Of tons
Of iron shot out of the sky in Siberia
some years ago?-J. L.
A. This Is fact. It was caused by
a falling meteorite crashing to earth in
YeneSei province, in Central Siberia.
1t exploded as It neared the earth and
illuminated the country for nearly 500
miles. The heat from this body could
be felt for distance OF 800 miles. 1t
was the largest falling star in history.
II 1t had struck New York City, every
building and subway would have been
destroyed and every bit of life wiped
out.
Q. Why are prescriptions written in
Latin?-N. A. L.
A. Several reasons have been adj
vanced for the desirability Of its con-
tinued use. It is a dead" language, no
longer used as a conversational Ian
guage by any people. Consequently
there is no increase in its vocabulary,
and the meanings OF its words do not