Evening star., 1932-05-03
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC HASKIN.

This is a special department devoted
to the handling of inquiries. You have
al your disposal an extensive organiza-
ton in Washington to serve you in any
capacity that relates to information
Write your question, your name and
your address clearly and inclose 2 cents
in coin or stamps for reply. Send to
The Evening Star Information Bureau
Frederic ]. Haskin, Director, Washing
ton, D. c.
@. What was the largest airplane
which attended the air races last
year?-D. C. C.
A. The largest airplane in attendance
at the 1881 national air races was a
Burneni twin-motored transport.
@. What requirements are necessary
to enter the Mexican Army?-E. B. B
A. The Mexican embassy says that
the requirements to enter the Mexican
Army are to be a Mexican citizen by
birth and son of Mexican parents. Peo-
pie with those qualifications must ap-
ply to the department of war, which is
supposed to decide whether or not those
qualifications are enough in each case.
@. Who coined the expression, "Vani-
ty Fair"?-W. S.
A. Bunyan used it in "Pilgrim's Prog
ress" to describe town fair where
all the wares were vanities and the
buyers lovers of vanity.
@. How long is a house built of virgin
pine lumber supposed to last?-F. F. M
A. The Forest Service says that it
depends upon the way the house was
built and the upkeep. There are houses
built of this wood which have been
standing since 1890.
O. Which European country oper-
ates the greatest number of miles of
railroad?-E. McC.
A. Germany leads with 3.442 average
miles operated; France is second with
1862, and Great Britain third with
20,419.
@. When were periodicals first pub
lished?-S. S.
A. The beginning of the periodical
was in the seventeenth century, when
in 1916 catalogues of books we're in
troduced. In 1855 the Journal des
Scavans was printed in France, and in
the same year Acta Philosophical. These
might be said to be the parents of the
periodical In 1909 the Tatler was es-
tablished, I'LL the Spectator, 1912 the
Guardian and ITO the Examiner. In
1852 the North Briton appeared and in
1871 the GentlemanS Magazine. It was
in imitation of the latter magazine that
Benjamin Franklin founded the Gen
eral Magazine in 1741 in PHILADELPHIA.
One of the most notable early attempts
of the publication of the magazine in
this country was the Pennsylvania
Magazine, 1775-6. This was the joint
work of Robert Aitkin and Thomas
Paine.
@, What is the Government tax per
gallon on spirits?-F. H.
A. 1t is $1l0 per gallon.
@. How are musical instruments
classified?-D. r.
A. They are classified according to
the way in which the sound is pro-
duced: Strirged instruments, If by the
vibrations of wire or string; wind in
Struments, if by the vibration of col
umn of air; percussion instruments, if
by striking.
@. When was the famous Bradley
Martin ball held?-E. P.
A. 1t was held in the Waldorf
@ASbOAA Ao 1NEA udA H. 4Ot
Q. Please give information in re-
gard to an ex-service mans home
steading near Hoover DANA. H. c.
A. The public lands in the vicinity
OF Hoover Dam have been withdrawn
from entry and will not be open to
settlement until the Dam is completed
and water can be furnished for irri-
cation purposes, which will not be be-
fore 1888. When these lands are open
ex-service men will have a period of
three months after date of opening