Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-09-29
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

This is a special department devoted
to the handling Of inquiries. You have
at your disposal an extensive organiza-
| ton in Washington to serve you in
any capacity that relates to informal
ton. Write your question. your name
and your address clearly, and inclose 2
! cents in coin or stamps for reply. Send
| to The Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric j. Haskin, director, Washington,
d. C.
T. ( Z. why are men called Oa'hel0rs'-
A. Bachelor IS a word Of uncertain
| origin. 1t is believed to be connected
with the Latin baccalarius, meaning a
holder of small farm. The word seems
to have been used at first as a techni-
cal law term, and is sometimes ex-
| planned as a translation of the equiva-
/ lent old high German hagustalt. mean
ing the holder Of small farm, an I'M
married man.
@. When did the new Federal en-
ployes retirement law take effect
K. j. T.
A. The amended act for the retire
ment Of employees in the Federal civil
service was effective July /, 1880.
@. Where was the eggplant first
grown?-T. r. s.
A. The eggplant is said to be a ma
tive of Southern Asia, where it has
been cultivated since remote antiquity.
@. What are the Ember daysP--F. S.
| A. The Ember weeks, the four seasons
! set apart by the Western Church for
! special prayer and fasting, are the COM
plete weeks next following Holy Cross
day, September IA; ST. Ducy's day, De-
cember ID; the first Sunday in Lent,
and Whitsunday. The Wednesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays Of these weeks
are the Ember days.
| q. Where should q violin bridge be
placed for the best tone?-G. L. F.
| A. The bridge of the violin, which
forms no small part of the vibrating
part OF the mechanism, needs the ut
most skill in its arrangement. Its usual
position is exactly between the two small
inches marked in each sound hole, but
this arrangement is sometimes altered
| in the case Of the stop being longer or
shorter. The lower part of the bridge
should be rounded in such a way that
when the bow is used the PLAYER does
not touch several strings at once against
his wish. At the same time it should
not be too much rounded, since this
would result in difficulties for the play
CT, NIiO WOULD De ODIlgeQ TO make too
many movements when bringing the
bow from the E string to the fourth
string.
Q. Was Rudolph Valentines voice
ever recorded?--J. s.
A. In 1928 he made a record. singing
| the "Kashmiri Song in English and
! Ell Relicario" in Spanish.
@. Please give some facts about the
new Lindbergh beacon-D. r.
| A. The beacon is the gift of the late
Elmer Sperry. who devised it as a me-
mortal to Col. Charles A. Lindberghs
flight in 1927. Supported by a struc-
tural steel tower incased in aluminium,
1t rises IS feet above the penthouse of
the Palmolive Building in Chicago.
| This gives the light total elevation of
500 feet. The beacon consists of two
lights, one mounted above the other. The
upper one is the beacon proper and has
an output of 100000, 900 candlepowet
brought into q beam 5 feet in diameter
and revolving at the rate of two revo-
Iutions per minute. The lower light
has an output of 100 0O0, 900 candle
| power brought by a parabolic reflector
into q beam 36 inches in diameter
liked to direct visiting airmen to the