Evening star., 1931-12-14

more valuable than a blue-yhite or
white diamond. This is because of the
rareness OF the stone. OF the diamonds
tnat are found in commercial ouanti-
Ties tne oiue-white Is the most valuable
Q. Who was the first Negro To be
sent as representative of our Govern
ment IN Foreign country?-W. A. r.
"A. The nrSt Negro minister from the
United States to Haiti was Ebenezer
Don Carlos Bassett, who served from
1909 70 1877. Mr.. Bassett was the first
negro TO be given an appointment OF
this sort by the United States Govern
ment. He was we'll known educator.
O. Were there clocks In Shake
speare's time?-L. M. N.
A. Centuries before Shakespeares
time clocks were in use A clock is said
TO have been constructed by Pope Syl-
vester VII in AID. 996. As early as
1888 a clock was installed in Westn;n.
ster Abbey.
@ What time did the clipper Flying
Fish make In the race from New York
to San Francisco?-A. r. o.
A. One OF the famous California
clipper races was that Of the Wild
Pigeon, John Gilpin, Flying Fish and
Trade Wind. They sailed against time,
leaving New York on different dates.
Flying Fish won, making the passage
from New York to San Francisco in 90
days and hours from port to anchor.
The GiIp1n made it In SO DAYS from
port to pilot, and Wild Pigeon In li8
days The Trade Wind, which left
some time after the others, followed.
with lO2 days, having taken fire and
burned for eight hours on the yay.
Another famous race was that between
William H. Webb's Swordfish and Dom
aid McKay's Fixing Fish. The latter
sailed from Boston November S, 1851,
and on the same day the Swordfish
passed Sandy Hook The Swordfish ar
rived IN San Francisco on February 10,
1882 after passage OF 80 days from
Boston.
@ Are there living creatures on
Mars?-R. B.
A. The late Prof. Lowell was a pro-
ponent of the theory that Mars NAV be
inhabited, but there are vet few astron-
omerS who regard it as proved. Life
as we know it on earth depends on a
number OF special conditions, among
which are favorable temperature and
supply of water and Of oxygen. Oxy-
gen and water appear TO be very scarce
on Mars and the temperature unsatis-
factory.
Q In Greater Chicago how many
miles OF beaches are there?-R M
A Nearly 80 miles Of beaches along
Lake Michigan are included in Greater
Chicago.
, @ Is there a Roosevelt fund which
gives sum Of money to the parents OF
| II children?-N. NJ. v.
/ A. There is no such fund.
G. When will Halley's comet appear
again?-L. T. c.
A HaIley's comet has a period of rs
years. The latest appearance was In
l9Io. on April l9 of that year it
passed within 55,000,000 miles OF the
sun. The velocity Of the comet at this,
ltS nearest approach to the sun, was "a
miles per second. On May lS, 1910, the
comet passed within $4,000 600 miles NJ
/ tAe earth, at which time the tail had
( lengtn OF about 2O,O00,000 miles. 1t is
due to return in 1886
Q. In writing TO her divorced hus-
oan5, whose name is John Smith. how
should such a woman begin the letter?
L. M P
A. She should write My Dear John
/ This is conventional phrase which has
no real significance
@ When does the Supreme Court OF
the United States STIR. S.
A. The Supreme Court meets in Oc-
t-oer OF each year. and with certain
recesses which are voted by the court
1Seh, SITS until the following June.