New Britain herald., 1930-01-16
QUESTIONS ANSWERED

1 writing 10 the Question Editor, New Britain Herald, Washington Bureau 1922 New York avenue, Washington D. C., enclosing two cents in stamp: 1 for reply. Medical, legal and marita advise cannot be given. nor can ex. tended research be undertaken. Al other questions will receive a per. sonal reply. Unsigned requests can. not be answered. All letters are i Confidential.- Editor. Q. Is there any difference in the speed of light in vacuum and in the i air and in water? A. In vacuum and in air light travels 186,2S4 miles per second Both Foucault in France and Mich. olson in America have measured di- rectly the velocity of light in water and have found it to be about three fourths as great as in air. Q. What are the five largest col leges in the United States in point of enrolment? A. Columbia University, New York City, with 36,GSS students; New York University, New York City, with 24S students; Univer- sity of California at Berkeley with 1S,73O students; University of the City of Detroit with 15,00O students; and Boston University, Mass, with 13,065 students.
 Q. What do the letters ID" and "S' on United States coins mean?
 A. They are the mint marks of the Denver, Colorado and San Fran cisco mints
 Q. How many republicans and how many democrats are there in the present congress?
 A. In the present senate, 54 re- publicans, 39 democrats and l farmer-labor, House of representa- tatives, 26S republicans, 1S5 demo- crats and 1 farmer labor.
 Q. Who was the father of Queen Victoria of England? Of what nationality was she?
 A. NiOll ld W dS lIt OlllV CnlI1 or Edward, Duke of Kent, fourth son of King George III of England. She was of German and English descent.
 Q. When was rice first grown in the United States?
 A. In the latter part of the seventeenth century, vessel from Madagascar is said to have brought sack of rice to Charleston. This yielded well, the culture spread, and eventually rice became the staple product of that state, until the Civil war. The cultivation of rice spread rapidly to most of the southern states.
 Q. Why does wood float in water and iron sink in water?
 A. Wood floats because 1t has less density than water. Iron sinks because it's density is greater than that of water.
 Q. Has the radio distress signal "SOS' been changed?
 A. No.
 c, Did George Washington keep slaves?
 A. Yes, he inherited slaves from his brother and his wife.
 Q. Was Floyd Gibbons injured in the world war?
 A. He lost one eye at the battle Of Chateau-Thierry, France, in 1918.
 Q. What was the date Of the execution of Edith CavelI the war nurse, and for what was she exc cuted?
 A. Edith Cavell's execution at 2 a. m. October IS. 1915. in pursuance of sentence passed by the German military court at Brussels, on the charge that she had assisted English and Belgians to cross the frontier into Holland.
 Q. Is the new secretary of war, Hurley. Roman Catholic?
 A. Patrick Jay Hurley, secretary of war, attends the Protestant Epis- copal church, but is not member. His parents were Roman Catholic and his wife is member of the Episcopal church.
 Q. Is a Chinaman born in the United States a citizen of the United States?
 A. Yes.
 Q. What are some Of the largest furniture manufacturing centers Of the United States east of the Mis- sissippi river?
 A. Chicago and Rockfort, I'll, Grand Rapids, Mich; High Point N. C.; and New York City.
 Q, Docs it ever get too cold to snow?
 A. The United States weather bureau says light snow falls at very low temperatures.
 e. Is the Bob White, the Quail the Partridge and the Grouse the same bird?
 A. The Bob White" is called "quail' in the north and part ridge in the south. The "ruffed grouse is called partridge" in the north and 'pheasant' in the south.