Evening star., 1933-10-05

Thousands of Government experts
are working constantly for the benefit
of all citizens of the United States.
They will work directly for you If you
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as an agent for its readers. He will
take your matter to the proper author
ity. State your inquiry briefly, write
clearly, and inclose 3-cent stamp for a
personal letter in reply. Do not use
post cards. Address The Evening Star
Information Bureau, Frederic ]. Haskisl,
director, Washington, D. c.
@. How much money is owed to
teachers for back salaries?-S. L. G.
A. Approximately $40, ,000, 900 is owing
to public school teachers of this coun-
try in back pay.
@. How are the studios in Radio City
made soundproof?-F. M.
A. The studios have floating" walls,
floors and ceilings, which are separated
and insulated from the framework of
the skyscraper. They are like suspend
ed boxes and each Is surrounded by tons
Of rock-wool covered by cork and tex
tile. Eleven carloads of rock-Wool and
1873 800 square feet of perforated tran
.
Transite is a specially woven and treat
ed textile. Every point of contact be-
tween the studio and the building is
heavily padded. To aid the acoustical
effect, several Of the studios have slid
ing panels in the walls which may be
operated from the control rooms.
O. What is the animal called from
which ermine fur is taken? In what
country are they trapped?-O. B.
A. The animal is called ermine, and
the fur is taken in Northern Europe,
Siberia and Canada.
@. What is the membership of the
Stock Exchange and how much are
the seats?-E. C.
A. The Stock Exchange limits its
membership to 1875. The price of seats
on the exchange varies with the rise
and fall of the market. The highest
price yet paid for one was $3.50 in
1929. In 1914 one changed hands for
as low as $4,000 On September IL
one sold for Sl5O0G0, while last year
one sold for only $4,000.
O. Did Alexander Pushkin have Ne
gro blood?-M. B. D.
| A. The Negro Year Book says that
! Pushkin, who is considered the founder
of modern Russian literature, inherited
African blood from a maternal ances-
tress.
| @. How do the Silver Star and Purple
Heart decorations rank?-G. L. T.
A. The Silver Star ranks next below
the Distinguished Service Cross as a
decoration for valor The Purple
Heart ranks next below the Distin-
guished Service Medal. which is the
! highest decoration for meritorious serv-
ice not involving personal bravery.
@. Who will play the title role in
"Alice in Wonderland on the screen?
B. M j.
| A. Charlotte Henry of Brooklyn, N
Y. was chosen for this role out OF
seven thousand applicants.
Q. Who invented the compass?-
L. M. H.
A. The origin of the compass has
been attributed consecutively to the
Chinese, Arabs. Greeks and Etruscans
! but it is not absolutely certain how fal
these accounts are correct. The In
| Vention of the compass was partly due
! to the discovery that lodestone or a
| piece of iron which has been touched
| by lodestone will direct itself to a
point in northern or southern posi-
ton. depending on its position north OF
south of the equator.
| O. What is the meaning of Ltd.
after the name Of an English business
| firm?-E. L. B.
A. In England. all companies having
| the word limited" at the end of their
| names are limited liability companies,
which means that their shareholders