Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-04

This is a special department, devoted
solely to the handling of queries. This
paper puts at your disposal the services
of an extensive organization in Wash
ington to serve you in any capacity
that relates to information. This serv-
ice is free. Failure to make use of 1t
deprives you of benefits to which you
are entitled. Your obligation is only 2
cents in coin or stamps, inclosed with
your inquiry, for direct reply Address
The Evening Star Information Bureau.
Frederic j. Haskin, director, Washing
ton, D. G.
@. Who made the first speech re-
corded for talking pictures ?---B. r.
A. viii II. Hays, president, Motion
Picture Producers and Distributors of
America, Inc, made a short speech as
an introduction to John Barryrnore's
Don JUAN" the first Vitaphone talk
ing picture, and is therefore the first to
have made speech for the talkies.
@. When did Paul Whiteman form
his orchestra?-R. H.
A. Paul Whiteman organized white
mans Orchestra" at Los Angeles i'm
1919, a dance organization. which played
chiefly in New York until 1924. He
gave his first jazz concert in New York
in 1924.
Q. Are any women members OF the
New York Stock Exchange ?-J. C.
A No woman has secured a seat on
the New York Stock Exchange.
@. What is the picture which occu-
pies circular room in Atlanta, Ga. p
G.. A. P.
A. In the Cyclorama in Grant Park,
Atlanta, hangs the only remaining
painting of the Civil war battle, "The
Battle of Atlanta" This weighs 10000
pounds, measures 40 feet in height and
400 feet in circumference. AT one time
1t was sold for 81 900, but $500. 900
would not buy it now, according to a
local authority. One hundred thousand
persons view it annually.
@. Please explain the use of the term
"deniers' IN the weight of silk thread
j. S. w.
A. Silk, is graded for thickness of
thread, the size being measured in
deniers. The French denier weighs
one-twentieth part of a gramme The
basis for raw and thrown silk adopted
by the permanent committee of the
Paris International Congress of 1900
was a fixed length and a variable
weight, the standard of length being
450 meters and the weight the denier.
a A4uo q bdlC VI Sllh VI Id 10 10 uenleTS
means that a thread is required of
which $50 meters, measured off, will
weigh between 13 and Is deniers. Silk
is reeled as fine as to 10. deniers and
as coarse as % to 80 deniers; for some
purposes even SO to 40 deniers.
Q. How are the small, tublike boats.
called "koofahs," which are used in
southwestern Asia, propelled?-H L. P.
A. Koofahs have sails as their only
means of propulsion.
@. What does 'laissez-faire" mean?-
4. T. F.
A. The full expression of which
laissez-faire is the first element is
'laissez-faire, laissez passer," which
means ''let do or make, let pass or
go" The whole expression is inter-
preted as meaning "non-interference."
@. Why was the city of Newport
News given that name?-V. K.
A. Newport News received its name
in honor of two men-Capt CHRISTOPHER
Newport and Capt. Tor SIR William
Newce. The word News" is a corrup-
ton of the latter name.
@. Who was the first president of
Liberia?-R. S.
A. Joseph Jenkins Roberts was the
last governor under the Colonial Society
OF Liberia and the first president. He