Evening star., 1933-02-14
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

@. What is q hecatomb?-H. M.
A. 1t Is q great public sacrifice.
originally of 100 oxen, as to the Greek
gods, hence the term came to signify
any sacrifice or slaughter Of any large
number Of victims.
@. How much was the entire ex-
pense Of the President and White House
in 1931?--L. II. B.
A. In 1881 the entire expense of the
executive Office. including the salary of
the President and his staff and mainte-
nance Of the White House, amounted to
S506,811.30.
@. When was the franking privilege
first used in this country?--B. E.
A. 1t was first granted in January,
1776. to soldiers engaged in the Revo-
lutionary War. The right was grad
ually extended until it included nearly
all officials and members Of the public
service. In 1845 an act of Congrc>~
limited the privilege somewhat. O6ner
acts followetl and since 1875 the right
to frank m Ill has become more and
more restricted.
E. Z :. Th'' y' was the Crime of '7''-
A. The law demonetizing silver was
so called. When this law was passed
the business of the country was being
transacted with paper money, both
gold and silver being at a premium
| silver at greater premium than gold.
In making provision for silver coinage
it omitted the coinage of the standard
silver dollar and substituted for it
trade dollar OF 420 grains, which was
intended for use in the Orient, it being
thought that the trade dollar would
compete with the Mexican dollar In
China and other Eastern countries. In
1874 the Federal statutes were revised
and In the revision a clause was in
serted limiting the legal tender of silver
coins to amounts not exceeding IS.
Q. Is the work of the late Thomas
A. Edison in seeking a source of rubber
in goldenrod being carried on?-N. B.
A. The Department of Agriculture
has taken up the work at its agri-
cultural experiment station near
Charleston, S. G. Progress in breeding
increased quantities Of rubber into
goldenrod plants Is reported. The Gov
ernment has some plants taken over
from the Edison laboratories.
@ Is the word insignia" singular 90
well as plural?-S. T.
A. Insignia" Is the plural form Of
'insigne.''
@. How long has Drury Lane The
atre been in existence?-H. T.
| A. Drury Lane Theatre Is and has
been for several hundred years a ia
nous London play house, located In
Russell street near Drury lane. 1t
was first built, under royal patent, in
| 1868, by Thomas Kilhgrew, whose COM
pany was known as the Kings Com
pany, In distinction from the Dukes
Company of Davenant. The house was
originally called the Theatre Royal.
@. On the Ericsson Memorial In
Washington are three figures. What
do they representa-. D.
A. Fraser's work includes Vision. Ad-
venture and Labor.
@. Which craft won the battle be-
tween the Monitor and the Merrimac2-
n. c. L.
A. Neither the Monitor nor the Mer-
rimac scored an effective hit below the
others water line The Monitor dented
the plates and showed in the heavy
wooden backing of the Merrimac's
pent house. The Monitor was tenn
porarily put out of control by a shell
which blinded her commander. As a
matter Of fact, neither craft was able
to do any serious damage to the other,
although the Monitor had an advantage
due to her lighter draught and her
superior ability to turn and maneuver.
@. How far is EPSON Downs from
! London?-S. s.
| A. It is IL miles southwest Of
London.