Evening star., 1932-08-23
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

The answers 10 questions printed here
| each day are specimens picked from
the mass Of inquiries handled by our
great information bureau maintained In
| Washington, D. C. This valuable service
| Is for the free use of the public. Ask any
question of fact you may want to know
and you will get an immediate reply
Write plainly. inclose cents In coin
Carefully wrapped) for return postage,
, and address The Washington Star In
| formation Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin,
Director, Washington. D. G.
@. Please name some famous people
who have suffered from tuberculosis
A. s.
A. Chopin, John Calvin, John Wesley,
the Bronte sisters, Elizabeth Barrett
browning, Simon Bolivar and Andrew
jackson are q few who have had the
disease.
@. Who made the first beer?-J. M.
A. The scanty records Of ancient
Babylon, going back to 5000-6000 BIC,
show that beer made from barley, and
frsm barley and spelt, was extensively
| drunk there, even by laborers and by
women in the harem. 1t was used In
mediSn0>1n Babylon and Egypt, and
had spices and bittering substances
Herodotus and Strabo both wrote that
the people lived on millet and barley,
whereof they also made beverage"
| Tactitus said that beer was the usual
| drink of the Germans and Pliny men
tions the use of it in Gaul and Spain.
He also writes, "They employ the foam
which thickens upon the surface as a
leaven"-probably the first reference
to beer yeast for baking purposes.
Q. How may paint be removed from
glasS?-W. j. P.
| A. To remove paint from glass use
three parts of American potash to one
part of unslaked lime. Lay this on with
stick and let it remain for some time.
Paint spots may also be removed by
rubbing them with very hot, sharp
vinegar.
@. What IS the dulcimer and how Is
| 1t played?-T. L. B.
A. The dulcimer is one Of the oldest
| Of musical stringed instruments and 1t
is said shows fewer changes from early
times than practically any other. 1t
consists of a fiat board with two con-
| Verging strips fastened across, on which
strings are stretched and tuned to the
natural scale. The German name
| "Hackbrett" shopping board) indicates
the way Of playing, the wires or strings
being struck with two hammers, one in
each hand.
@. Where was Bella Lugosi born?
How old Is he?-H. L.
A. He was born in Lugos, Hungary,
in 1884.
Q; Where is the Portal Of Peace'-
A. L. H.
A. The Portal of Peace Is q massive
concrete structure In the form of a
gateway. 1t Is located at Blaine, Wash
and was dedicated September s, 1921
in honor of the peace between the
/, United States and Canada, which had
lasted for more than 100 years with
out break The memorial, which cost
$4,000, stands 100 yards from the
international boundary. where the
forty-niilth parallel meets Boundary
Bay.
@. What is the approximate tenn
perature Of an autombile engine piston
and rings at full speed? At idling
speed?-W. w.
A. The Bureau Of Standards says
that at full load and speed the tenn
perature at the center of the crown of
an automobile engine piston may eX-
ceed $50 degrees c. for aluminium pis-
tons aAi 400 degrees C. for cast iron
pistons. Skirt temperatures at the same
time may be about 100 degrees, with
temperatures in the neighborhood OF
the rings at about $50 degrees to zoo
degrees or more. Under idling condi-
tions, temperatures are more nearly uni
form and probably do not exceed about
$50 degrees at any point.
Q. Who was elected Miss Universe
this year?-D. A.
A. Keriman Halls Hanoum, Miss Tur-