Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-24
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. H.4sKlN.

Stop minute and think about this
fact. You can ask our Information
Bureau any question of fact and get
the answer back in a personal letter.
It Is a great educational idea intro
duced into the lives OF the most in
telligent people in the worid-Ameri-
can newspaper readers. 1t is part OF
that best purpose of q newspaper
service. There is no charge except two
cents in coin or stamps for return post
age. Get the habit OF asking questions.
Address your letter to The Evening
Star Information Bureau. Frederic J.
Haskin, Director, washington, D. @.
Q. Who are the Major League play
ers who have twice made six hits in
six times at bat?-P. r
A. Bottomley and Delahanty are
the only two players in the history Of
the majors TO make six hits in six
times at bat, twice In their careers.
Bottomley turned the trick previously
on September 16, 1924. FriSch. Cobb,
Carey, Bancroft Cuyler, Keeler and
many others have performed the trick
once. but only Bottomley and Dele
hanty have done 1t twice.
"A d.
A. The first mechanical continuance
for the purpose OF improving the hear
ing was made by DR.. Yeardsley of
London in 1S4S.
@. Where does the Gulf Stream origi-
nate?-F. P.
A. It owes its origin to the northeast
trade winds, which blow constantly to-
ward the American shore from the DE-
rection Of the Canary and Cape Verde
Islands. The wind sets in motion a
broad, shallow f11m of water upon the
surface of the ocean and this, when
1t encounters the sloping northeast
coast Of South America, trends north
ward, passes by the Lesser Antilles into
the Caribbean Sea. Being constantly
driven on from the East and gaining
in depth as its area becomes restricted.
1t Is driven through the Yucatan Chan
mel to the Gulf OF Mexico.
@. What sun rays are supposed to
be most beneficial to health?-M. j. M.
A. The ultraviolet rays and the
infra-red rays.
q. In what way is the Ginkso tree
peculiar? -W. S. T.
A. The Ginkgo is not native Ameri-
can tree, but Is indigenous to Eastern
Asia, especially China. This is a very
peculiar tree, being a deciduous conf
fer, or a cone-bearing tree. which at
the same time sheds its leaves annually.
This peculiar tree occupies somewhat
the same position among trees that
the group of mammals TO which the
kangaroo belongs holds among animals
in that 1t is a hold-over from an his
toric ancient form and has no near
relatives. The type of tree which the
Ginkgo represents was most abundant
during the JuraSsic period OF geology.
@. Has the American war on illiteracy
brought results?-J H.
A. The Nationwide effort to stamp
out illiteracy has had notable effect.
In 1920 there were 493l Dos persons
10 years old or over who could neither
read nor write. In 1880, there were
4,203, 749. This means that there is
only 4.3 per cent OF the population
IN this class, while IN 1920 the per-
centage was 6.
Q. How cid was the author of I'm
Flanders Fields at the time OF his
death?-C. c.
A. He was as John David McCrae
was Canadian physician, son Of an
army off1cer. He volunteered In 1914
and crossed with the Canadian Field
Artillery. He served in the field. and
later In q hospital as second in COM
mand. He died of pneumonia.