Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-13
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

This bureau does not give advice, but
it gives free information on any subject.
Often, TO be accurately informed Is 70
be beyond the need Of advice, and in
formation Is always valuable, whereas
advice may not be. In using this service
be sure TO write clearly, state your In
quiry briefly, and tnclose 2-cent stamp
for reply postage. Address The Evening
Star Information Bureau, Frederic j.
Haskin, director, washington, d. @.
Q. How old is Maurice chevalier?
Is he married?--M. B.
A, He Is 81 years old and Is married.
@. who is secretary Of the National
Conference ON Street and Highway
Safety?-C. NJ. P.
A. The secretary of the National
Conference on Street and Highway
Safety is A. w. Koehler, United States
Chamber of Commerce Building, WASH
ington, D. G.
q. How many people in New Orleans
were actually born In France?-R. e. d.
A. According TO the census report for
1920 the City of New Orleans had 1888
natural-born French residents.
@. How old is Elihu RootP-B. v. C.
A. Elihu Root Is IS years Of age.
O. Didn't Spain sink another Amer
lean vessel long before the Maine was
sunk?-L. L. j.
A. You probably refer to the Vir-
ginius affair In 1873, which almost
caused war between the United States
and Spain. The Virgtnius, ship of
American registry as the property of
an American citizen, was captured by a
Spanish war vessel on the high seas and
taken to Santiago. Cuba was then en-
gagged in the 10 years war against Spain
and the Spanish officials contended that
the Vtgfnius was about to land arms
and men for the rebels. Spain was at
that time a republic under President
CASTELAR,, and while the President was
having an investigation made, pending
his reply to the demand of this country
that the Virginius be released, Spanish
authorities in Cuba took matters into
their own hands On November 2, 1873.
Capt. Joseph Fry Of the Virginius and
36 members of his crew were shot, and
the following day 10 of the passengers
were similarly executed. Numerous IN
dignation meetings were held in the
United States, with loud demands for
war II Spain did not make amends. It
developed, however, that the Virginius
really had no right to fly the American
flag at the time of her capture. The
vessel was turned over to the United
states Navy on December 16, and tho
surviving passengers and crew released.
Spain was not required to salute the
American nag and the incident was
closed.
@. Can ether be taken from the air?
e. j. T..
A. It is only assumed to exist to ac-
count for the transmission of light and
heat through space. 1t cannot be taken
from the air.
@. How many more bank failures
have there been this year than usual?-
A. There were All bank. failures
during the first half of the present year
as compared with 354 last year, accord
ing to the Federal Reserve Board.
Sixty-two of the banks were members
of the Federal Reserve.
@. was Howard Pyle q writer or an
artiSt?--J. F..
A. He was both He was . brilliant
illustrator and decorative painter and
published o number Of books written
and illustrated by himself.
@. How long has crystal gazing been
known?-E. G. q.
A. Crystal gazing was practiced by
the ancfents. References appear to It