Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-13
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Few Americans realize how much their
Government does for them. Readers Of
The Evening Star can draw on all Gov
eminent activities through our free In
formation service. The worlds greatest
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stations are at their command. Ask any
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dress The Evening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin, director,
Washington, d. G.
@. Where were roller skates FIRST
used?-D. P.
A. They were invented in Holland in
the eighteenth century. However, roller
1863, when j. l.. Plimpton of New York
designed skate with four little wooden
wheels.
@. Are perfect diamonds ever found
in diamond rings?-E. A. G.
A. George F. Kun1 says that 8 or 10
per cent of all diamonds that are found
are perfect even under strong, bright
lens. Although many are perfect in
color, there are also q great many dia-
mondS of an imperfect color which are
really perfect stones, in that they do
not contain imperfections or flaws OF
any kind. In purchasing diamonds one
should deal always with reliable Arms.
Q. Has Gigli, the great tenor, ever
sung in English?-I. S.
A. The Metropolitan Opera Co. says
that to its knowledge Mr.. Giglt has
never sung opera in English, but he
has occasionally used and sung songs
In English on his concert programs.
Washington Accent stanp?-C. @. Y.
A. 1t has been discontinued. At the
present time the Taft stamp is being
used in its place.
@. What is the oldest American set
Element in AlaSka2-L. N. D.
A. It Is Juneau. 1t was named for
Joseph Juneau, who discovered the
quartz and placer riches which have
made that district famous.
@. What is meant by "Abyla" and
"Calpe"?-R. N.
A. These are the ancient names for
the Pillars of Hercules-Calpe, the
modern Gibraltar, and Abyla, now Jebel
Musa or Apes Hill.
Q. What is a Greek chorus?-H. j.
A. It was a part of the Greek drama
sung by the chorus, typically consisting
of a series of odes arranged for antiph-
onal singing, interspersed between the
scenes of the play. Hence in the mod
ern play single character who speaks
the prologue and explains or comments
upon the course of events.
@. Where there are two street car
companies In a city, and the same
tokens are used by both, how do they
divide the profits?-A. M. 8.
A. This situation exists In Washing
ton, D. c., and is handled as follows:
Before the tokens were placed on sale
they were equally divided between the
companies. At regular intervals an in
ventory of tokens on hand Is made and
an equal division Of the combined stock
arrived at by one company purchasing
from the other, at the regular token
rate of fare, suficient number to re-
store the balance. When tokens are
sold by either company the amount re-
ceived from such sales is credited to a
suspense account, not to passenger reve-
nue.. Token sale receipts become pas
senger revenue only as the tokens are
received as fares. When the tokens are
received as fares the suspense account
is charged and passenger receipts cred
tied. If one company sells the tokens.
and by reason Of the fact that they are
used on the other company's cars, they