Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-09-26

This is q special department devoted
solely to the handling OF queries. This
paper puts at your disposal the serv-
| ices Of an extensive organization In
Washington to serve you in any capac-
| ity that relates to information. This
service is free. Failure to make use of
| it deprives you of benefits to which you
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cents in coin or stamps Enclosed with
your inquiry TOR direct reply. Address
| The Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic j. Haskin, Director, Washing
ton. D. c.
@. The new U. 8. Botanic Garden,
which Is In process OF construction, mas
on the outside of the northern front OF
the building over each archway OF the
| semi-circular windows a keystone en-
bellished with mascaron in high re-
lief. Can you tell me what these mas
carons are supposed to representa-. j,
A. The heads Of flora, representing
horticulture; Pan, representing forest
growth, and Neptune, representing sea
growth, decorate the keystones about
which you have inquired.
@. Did the introduction Of 2-cent
postage in England increase the volume
of mail carried?-A. E.
A. In 1889, before the introduction Of
the reform, 75,907,572 letters were car
ried. Letters for the following year,
after its introduction, reached $685.
800, 900:
O. Why do college seniors wear caps
and gowns?-N. B.
A. The movement was essentially a
ct,,Iapf v,onyopnant m prnVida a senior
badge and to improve the commence
ment week exercises. take the place Of
the dress suit and revive the traditions
of a continuing and related university
life. 1t was approved particularly by
the students on account OF its being
uniform, which overcame all differences
of dress and made for democracy. II
was seen that the gowns aided grace
and overcame akwardness in speaking
and that the general effect was to
make university functions more char
acteristic. interesting and impressive to
all beholders-
@. How long did Stephen A. Douglas
live after he was defeated for the presl-
dency, in 1860?-T 8.
A. Douglas, who was one Of Lincoln's
opponents in 1860, died June 8, 1861.
u. HOW La1 WcIC t11C oSoAe@AA
Guards?-C. E.
A. In the days Of the Kaiser these
guards stood feet in their stockings.
@. Who were the Hyksos who ruled
Egypt?-B. o. M.
A. They were, according to the Egyp-
tan annals, a conquering nomadlc race
from the East, who, under Salatls. their
first King, took Memphis and rendered
the whole of Egypt tributary. Their
name probably means foreign kings, the
explanation shepherd kings, being OF
later origin. The date of their lnva-
sion and conquest was about 100 BE,
of their expulsion about 1900 BIC. The
seat of their rule was the strongly gar
risoned fortress Of Avaris, on the north
eastern border of the Delta. They FOL
lowed Egyptian customs, and their SIX
monarchs took Egyptian names. IL
seems likely also that great part OF
Syria was subject to them: The only
detailed account Of them by any an
Gent writer Is an unreliable passage OF
a lost work of Manetho, cited by
Josephus in his rejoinder to Apion.
@. Where were the pieces Of eight
coined?-C. s. M.
A. They were coined early in the
seventeenth century at Amsterdam, the
Netherlands then being under Spanish
rule. They were worth 8 Spanish reals.
O. For what purpose is a prayer rug
used in this country?-W. S. r.
A. A prayer rug is, in the home OF an