Evening star., 1932-06-28

Any reader can get the answer to
any question by writing to our Informa-
ton Bureau in Washington, D. c. This
offer applies strictly to information.
The bureau cannot give advice on legal,
medical and financial matters. 1t does
not attempt to settle domestic troubles
or undertake exhaustive research on
any subject. Write your question plain
ly and briefly. Give full name and ad-
dress and inclose 3 cents in coin or
stamps for return postage. The reply
is sent direct to the inquirer. Address
The Washington Star Information Bu-
reau. Frederic ]. Haskin, Director,
/ Washington, d. c.
@. In contract bridge. when a bidder
who has been doubled fails to make
his contract the bonus differs accord
ing to vulnerability. Does the status
of the doubler affect the score?-C. J. r.
A. 1t is the bidder who is penalized
according to whether his side is not
vulnerable or vulnerable. The status
of the opponents is not considered.
@. How long was John McGraw in
base ball?-D. G.
A. He was identified with base ball
for 40 years, about 80 years of which
he was with the New York Giants.
or nationality?-W. G.
A. 1t usually denotes both. 1t may
be said that the people are Hebrews in
race and language, Israelites in religion,
and Jews in both senses.
@. What can be added to a rinse
water to render clothes fireproof?-
| D. B.
A. Fabrics may be stepped in almost
any saline solution, such as borax, alum
| sal ammoniac, etc. The addition of
about l ounce of alum or sal ammoniac
to the last water used to rinse textile
materials or the addition of a lesser
! quantity to the starch used to stiffen
| them renders them so little combus-
| tible that they will not readily take fire
or burst into flame if kindled.
@. Did James Bland write many
songs besides Garry Me Back to Old
Virginny"?-A. L. G.
A. He wrote about 700.
@. How old is the superstition to the
effect that ostriches bury their heads
in sand?-W w.
! A. 1t is thousands of years old, but
| only such races as are unfamiliar with
| the habits of oStriches believe it to be
true.
| O. How high can a man ascend in a
! balloon and make his voice heard on
| the ground?-N. G.
A. 1t is estimated that a man with
| strong voice of ordinary pitch may
| be heard on still. calm days from a
height of 2,5O0-3,Oo0 feet. The actual
height depends greatly on the prevail
| ing distribution of temperature with
| height. With some distributions Of
! temperature, sounds would not be
heard in either direction If the balloon
ist were, say, at an elevation of only
1000 feet.
@. How far is 1t from Rangoon to
Mandalay?-V. D.
A. Mandalay is about 410 miles north
of Rangoon, two miles from the Irawadi
River.
@. What is the term used to indicate
an excessive fear of heights?-E. D.
A. Acrophobia.
@. What type of banks holds most Of
the Nations savings?-N. B. K.
A. Mutual savings banks, which pay
| no profits to stockholders, lead as a
class. They hold more than S10,O00,-
900, 900, or 35 per cent, Of all the saw
ings in the country. InaSmuch as there
are only SGT such mutual banks and
they are located in only 18 out of the
48 States of the Union, compared with
a total of over 10000 banks of other
classes they may be said to represent
the largest concentration OF savings OF