Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-01-14
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Did YOU ever write a letter to Fred
eric J. Haskin? You can ask him any
question OF fact and get the answer in
a personal letter. Here is great edu-
catfonal idea introduced into the lives
Of the most intelligent people in the
world-American newspaper readers.
It Is a part OF that best purpose Of a
newspaper-service There Is no charge
except two cents in coin or stamps for
return postage. Address Frederic j.
Haskin, Director, The Star Informa-
ton Bureau, Washington. d. e.
@. How much OF the success Of play
ers of contract bridge can be attributed
to the players skill and how much to
the system he uses2-S. c.
A. Opinions may vary as to this, but
the sponsors OF the official system say
that it is about rs per cent player and
IS per cent system.
Q. To settle an argument, please
state how high the circus tent OF the
Ringing Brothers and Barnum 81
Bailey Combined Shows is.-E. c. o.
A. The length of the center poles Is
SIS feet. The greatest height from the
ground to the peak cat the center poie)
is approximately 48 feet. This height,
of course, decreases to Is feet at the
side walls.
@ When was the first cooking stove
used in the United State inyented?-
M G.
A. In 1893.
@ How do business and bank fall
ures In the depression OF 1920-2l COM
pare with those of the current depres-
sion?-E. T. A.
A. Commercial failures were much
greater in both number and percent
age and bank failures were fewer IN
number but far greater in percentage
in the 192O-21 depression. Commercial
failures in 1890 were 26,355 compared
with % 900 in 1929. where's ~y were
in 1921 1852, compared whn only
1881 In 1920 Bank failures in 1880
numbered 1,345, compared with 642 In
in 1929, whereas they were SOL IN 1921,
compared with 119 in 1920.
O. What is meant by still alarm?
"A. D.
A. 1t LIS an alarm which is sent by
telephone 1t differs from box alarm
in that the pulling of the box rings
Dell III Ilic StdllOil llOuoC.
@. Did the United States Navy have
an aviator who was an ace during the
World War?-A. w. c.
A. 1t had one-David Sinton ingalls,.
While only 10 years old when the war
ended, he was credited with five enemy
airships and received a D. F. c. from
England and D. S. M. from the United
States.
@, Why isn't the coffee bean pow
dered in order to remove the caffeine
from it?-W. w. T.
A. The coffee bean Is an extremely
resistant substance: it is very tough; 1t
is almost impossible to powder it or
disintegrate it by pounding, and hence
it Is quite impracticable to attempt to
grind or reduce to powder the green
coffee bean before extraction. II this
could take place the actual labor OF
extracting the caffeine would be very
much decreased, and the degree Of ex-
traction increased.
@. How long has educational week
been observed in the United States?
"A. A.
A. The Office of Education says that
December sill, 1920, was the first edu-
cational week to be nationally observed.
DR.. Claxton was the founder Of this
movement.
@. Could divorced Roman woman
wear the stola?-B. A. r.
A. This outer garment was worn by
the matrons of ancient Rome. By law
they were forbidden to wear 1t If di-
vorced by their husbands.
O. Does car use more gas when