Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-30

This is q special department devoted
| solely to the handling OF queries. Thil
| paper puts at your disposal the services
| Of an extensive organization in wash
ington to serve you In any capacity
that relates 10 information. Thi'
of 1t deprives you OF dement's to which
YOU are entitled. Your obligation IA
only cents in coin or stamps IN
| closed with your inquiry for direct
reply. Address The Evening Star In
| formation Bureau, Frederic ]. HAskin
, director, washington, d. c.
q. In using television does person
talk into a telephone mouthpiece and
! hold q receiver to his ear?--E. r.
A. An ordinary telephone is not
used In televiSion because It would hide
part OF the speakers face. A person
seats himself in booth before a frame
in which he win see the face OF the
person with whom he Is talking. His
own face is rapidly scanned by a mild
beam Of blue light which reflects from
his face to the photoelectric cells and
gives rise to the current which trans
mits his image. There is no fierce
glare to the scanning beam. One Is
not annoyed by its presence and may
even gaze directly at It without In
convenience. Special telephone trans
mitters and receivers are concealed in
the booths. One talks face to face to
the distant person, and . hidden re-
ceiver speaks the words, which seem
to issue from his mouth. The other
part appears with sufflcient detail for
recognition Of facial expression, but
the effect Ia like looking ct an AMI
mated cAbinet-size photograph, because
the image Is produced in monochrome.
Q. What is the tallest species Of
trees?-A. B.
A. A kind Of eucalyptus or blue
gum which grows in Australia Is the
tallest Individual trees have been
known to attain a height Of 400 fleet.
@. Can gold ingots be sold to the
United States minis by foreign nations?
A. Gold bearing the mint stamp Of
any recognized nation. with which the
United States is on friendly terms is
accepted by the Unissd States minis.
@. Is the title, Duke OF York,
hereditary?--E p,
A. The titles Of Duke of York and
Prince of Wales in the dynasty of
Great Britain are not strictly heredi-
tary but must be conferred upon the
incumbent by the sovereign: hence,
IHeEc ID IO SCI SuCCeSSlOu 4UI Tic LlIlcS
@. Why do birds throw back their
heads when drinking?-J. G.
A. The pigeon Is the only bird that
drinks by suction. All other birds take
the water into their mouths and throw
their heads back in order to swallow.
Q. How long has contract bridge
been played?-N. K.
A. About II years. Americans who
went abroad found that players we're
experimenting with form of contract
bridge About 1915 the Whist Club of
New York considered codifying the
game but decided that the time had
not arrived to do so. Little more was
heard of contract until the Summer of
1925, when it became very popular IN
Newport and Southampton. In the Fall
It's popularity spread to New York City.
1t is now played in all parts Of the
country.
S. NJ.
A. The knowledge Of cosmetics dates
back to remote antiquity and their
annals comprise the history of the
folly, luxury and extravaganza of past
ages. The number of simple and COM
pound substances employed as per-
fumes is incalculable and almost
fabulous and the books written by