Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-06

This great service Is maintained BY
The Evening Star for the benefit of its
readers, who may use 1t every day with
out cost to themselves. All they have
to do is ask for any information desired
and they will receive prompt answers by
mail. Questions must be clearly writ
ten and stated as briefly as possible
Inclose two-cent stamps for return post
age and address The Evening Star In
formation Bureau, Frederic J. Hasliin
Director, Washington, d. G.
O. Who holds the all-time highest
pitching percentage in base ball?-A
j. @.
A. Frank @. Menke says: "The best
average since 1900 was 1000, perfect
turned in by Tom Zachary, then with
the New York Americans, 1929, when
he won IL games and lost none. How
ever, 1t is a rule in base ball to remove
marks made by pitchers who do not ng-
ure in at least 20 complete games pei
year. In such a case, the honor be-
| longs to Smoky Joe Wood, who in 1912
pitching for the Boston Americans, wor
"a games, and lost S, and had an av-
erage OF .872."
@. Please explain why no two people
see the same rainbow.-A. NJ.
A. The rainbow is always seen along
the circumference of circle whose
center is on straight line with the eye
Of the observer, hence no two persons
see strictly the same bow.
@. What is the last name OF Oscar
the chef at the Waldorf Astor1a?- L
3. B.
A. His name is Oscar Tschirky.
@. Has the United States paid Den
mark for the Virgin Islands?-E. E. II
A. On March 3, 1917, Congress APP
propriated $25,000,000 to- pay for the
Virgin Islands. On the 31st OF that
| month a Treasury warrant was made
| out to the envoy extraordinary OF Den
mark, and this warrant was returned as
paid on April 2. 1917.
@. How does our total air force
equipment for war compare with other
! colntries?-F. A.
A. France has the largest air force
1888 planes; Great Britain is next with
| zoos; then Italy, 1884; United States
| 300, Russia, 1920, and Japan, 1872
| Great Britain and the United States
rival each other in highest efficiency
Italy follows closely. Japan is making
steady progress. German aviation
while military In appearance, Is
second 10 none IN skill anu LeC1AllquC
| Soviet Russia is very ambitious, plan
ming to develop her feet to match the
combined forces Of Europe.
@. About how many persons are born
and how many die each year In the
| United States?-M. r. G.
A. In 1929 there were 2,169,92O per-
sons born in the United States and
1859, 757 persons died.
@. What positions do Laval and BRAND
hold in the French cabinet?-M. P.
A. Pierre Laval is prime minister ano
minister of the interior Arist1de Brianc
is minister of foreign affairs.
@. Please publish the correct pronun-
citation of three flower names-chrysan
themum, Zinnia and poinsettia.-R. K
A. These are three words which are
often carelessly shortened. Chrysanthe-
mum is a four-syllable word. zinnia
three-syllable word, the "i'S" being giver
the short sound, and poinsettia is
| four syllable word, the final "a" having
the sound of "a" in alarm.
@. How old must pecan trees be be-
| fore they will bear nuts?-S. w. A.
A. Pecan trees may bear few nuts
| when three to five years of age. but
generally speaking, pecan orchards dc