Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-06
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Take advantage Of this free service.
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ming Star Information Bureau, Frederic
j. Haskin, Director, washington, d. G.
Q. What kind Of q signal is used in
motion picture studios to warn peo-
pie that a sound picture is being
taken?-P. r.
A. In most Of the studios there is
on the walls near to the stage wherein
the sound pictures are made q flashing
signal OF red light, the purpose being
to notify all within sight that the sound
camera Is In operation. On the jamb
Of many of the doors leading into the
SOUND stages are signs somewhat re-
sembling the exit signs in theaters, on
which the word Silence" is made to
stand out. When the sound camera
is in operation. these signs on the doors
flash red.
@. Where is the Levant?-A. P.
A. The term refers to the countries
washed by the Eastern part of the
Mediterranean and its contiguous
waters. 1t formerly referred to the
Orient or the East, but this meaning is
now obsolete.
@. How many companies are operat-
ing airplane service in this coun-
try?-G. P.
A. On July /, 1881, there were AZ
companies engaged in the transporta-
ton OF mail, passengers and express In
the United States and to foreign coun-
tries in the Western Hemisphere. They
operated 70 mail, 98 passenger and SO
express routes, their planes flying about
100000 miles every "a hours.
@. Is Canada on a gold standard or
did she change with England?-L. H. D
A. The change in the status of the
British monetary system makes no diff
ference to Canada's system because
Canada still maintains the gold stand
ard. The British unit is the pound;
the Canadian unit the dollar. The
Bank Of England no longer Is able to
redeem pound notes at full face in gold;
the Canadian Treasury so far has been
able to redeem its dollar currency at
par. Canada has separate govern
ment and separate treasury, q separate
coinage and a separate currency, and
q separate gold reserve.
@. Please explain the phenomenon of
automobiles coasting up Magnetic Hill
near Los Angeles-B. E. r.
A. Automobiles do not coast uphill.
The fact that they seem to Is the result
of an optical illusion produced by con-
trast in two grades. Such hills may be
found wherever roads curve around
large hills or mountains. The sharp
contrast of two grades or two declines
produces the illusion.
@. When were seedless grapes first
produced?-F. w.
A. The Bureau Of Plant Industry
says that the sultana variety of seed
less grapes was first introduced into
this country about 1865. The sui
tanina was introduced at Yuba City,
Calf, by a grower named Thompson
about 1882, and from him this has
become known as the Thompson seed
less. There is no record Of the first
production of seedless grapes. This
type of grape goes back 300 years in
Persia and $500 years in China.
@. What is the easiest way to tell a
goat from a sheep?-F. D. C..
A. It is usually easy to distinguish
them, but certain hair breeds OF sheep
are to the layman only distinguishing
from goats by the direction of the tail,
which Is upward in goats and down.
ward In sheep.