Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-31

This tE Q special department deVoteo
solely 10 the handling OF queries. This
paper puts at your disposal the serv-
Ices Of an extensive organization In
naeity that relates TO information.
This service Is free. Failure TO make
use of IL deprives you Of BENEFITS TO
which YOU are entitled. Your obliga-
ton Is only 2 cents in coin or stamps
inclosed with your inquiry for direct
reply. Address The Evening Star In
formation Bureau. Frederic ]. Haskin,
director. Washington, d. c.
@. After the still pack Of cards is
shuifled when playing bridge, ct which
side Of the next dealer should the cards
be placed. II. B.
A. They are put at the left Of the
next dealer. When 1t Is time Tor him
TO deal ne lifts the cards and places
them between himself and the player
at his right 70 be cut.
@. Does It take 13M pounds Of air
TO burn a gallon Of fuel oil in an OIL
burning type of heater?-N. H.
A. The Bureau of Mines says that
1t takes 1884 pounds of air to burn
one pound Of fuel oil in this type of
heater.
Q. Are packages of safety matches
mailable?-F. McA.
A. The Post ONCE Department says
that safety matches are rnailable only
when contained in some kind of a
metal box.
@. What was Edison working on
when he stumbled ON to the principle
which made the photograph possible?
B. B.
A Edison said. 81 was engaged upon
machine intended to repeat Morse
characters which were recorded on
paper by indentations that transferred
their message to another circuit auto
matieally when passed under a tracing
point connected with the circuit-clos-
ing apparatus. In manipulating this
machine / found that when the cylin-
der carrying the indented paper was
turned with great swiftness It gave off
a humming noise from the indenta-
tons. resembling that of human talk
heard indiStinctly. This led me to
try fitting a diaphragm to the ma
chine which would receive the sound
waves made by my voice when I talked
TO 1t, and register them upon an I'M
pressible material placed on the cylin-
der. saw at once that the problem
Of registering the human speech so
that it would be repeated by meehani-
cal means as often as might be desired
was solved"
@. How many civil service commits
sioners are there? Do they have the
power to appoint people TO positions
under civil service?--J. A. p. @.
A. There are three commissioners.
Not more than two can be of the
same political party. The Civil Serv-
ice Commission does not have the
power of appointment or removal This
remains in the hands of the President
and heads of department Upon the
requisition Of an appointing ofiicer, the
commission submits the names of
eligibles secured as the result of COM
petitive examination.
@. What is the name of the whiskers
of a cat?-W. K.
A. They are setae.
@. What Is the difference between
an ordinary ambassador and an ex-
traordinary one?-V. G..
A. Ambassadors are ordinary when
they reside permanently at a foreign
court, or extraordinary when sent on a
special occasion. When ambassadors
extraordinary are vested with full pow
ers, as of concluding peace, making
treaties and the like, they are called
plenipotentiaries.
@. How much is saved by the use of
the smaller size of paper money2-G. M.
A. The estimates show that there is
a saving of one-third in the cost of
production. One-third less of the
highly expensive and distinctive paper
Is required and one-third less ink, and
the shipping weight Is reduced by q