Evening star., 1933-05-20
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Many readers send in questions
signed only with initials. asking that
the answers appear in the newspaper.
The space Is limited and would not
accommodate a fraction of such re-
quests. The answers published are ones
that may interest many readers, rather
than the one who asks the question
only. All questions should be accom-
panied by the writer's name and ad-
dress and cents in coin or stamps
for reply. Do not use postcards. Send
your question to The Evening Star In
formation Bureau. Frederic J. Haskn,
director, Washington, D. C.
@. Is It possible to telephone from
the United States to South American
S. M.
A 1t is possible to talk to many
places in South America by radiotele-
phone, and the service is being rapidly
extended.
@. What Is the alcoholic content Of
beer permitted in Sweden?-P. A.
A. No malt liquor stronger than 80
per cent alcohol by weight can be i'm
ported or consumed in Sweden at the
present time.
@. How many justices Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States were ap-
pointed by President Hoover?-W K. s.
A. Justice Roberts and Justice Car
dozo were appointed during President
Hoover's administration.
@. Are any British students coming
to this country as Commonwealth
Fund fellows this year?-H. S.
A. Twenty-Five fellows have just
been selected for 1888, and will spend
two Winters in American universities
and one Summer in travel in this
country.
@. Was the flower garden at Mount
Vernon there in WaShington's time?-
L. o. S.
A. There was quite a garden on the
estate during Washington's lifetime,
and every effort has been made to
preserve the entire grounds in as nearly
the same condition as possible. The
garden is at present surrounded BY
a neat box hedge, and there are several
small individual gardens within 1t set
off by box borders. There is also a
hothouse in connection with the garden
which makes possible continuous bloom
during the growing season. Most OF
the flowers are Of old-fashioned garden
at the end of the eighteenth century.
and there are in addition number OF
very valuable and historic trees. some
of which were planted by Washington.
@. Was there ever a public execu-
toner named Jack Ketch?-P. K.
A. He is real character. who was
appointed about 1863 and who died in
1886. He was notorious for his
barbarity.
@. How many bands were there IN
the last inaugural parade?-M. M.
A. There were 40 bands and 81 bugle
and drum corps in the parade.
@. For whom was Downing Street in
London named?-B. D.
A. 1t was named in honor of Sir
George Downing, a noted parliament
tartan and Ambassador in the sevei-
teenth century. who served under both
Cromwell and Charles II.
@. How were the ranks of mandarirs
distinguished from each other?-A. G.
A. The nine ranks were distinguished
by the buttons on the caps: l. ruby: 2,
coral; 3, sapphire; 4, an opaque olue
stone; 5, crystal; 6, an opaque white
she'll; 7, wrought gold; 8, plain gold;
9, silver.
@. Is there any improvement in
Panama Canal trafic?-P. r. N.
A. For the first time since 1923 the
number of transits of the canal have
shown an improvement for March, and
for the first time since 1929 the net tom
mage of ships and the tons of cargo have
shown an increase. The low point was