Evening star., 1933-05-06
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Have we had the pleasure Of serving
you through our washington Informa-
ton Bureau? Can't we be Of some help
to you In your problems? Our business
u to furnish you with authoritative n
formation, and we invite you to ask US
any question Of fact in which you are
interested. Send your inquiry to The
Washington Evening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin, Director,
Washington D. c. Inclose 8 cents in
coin or stamps for return postage. Do
not use postcards.
Q. How many people in the United
States play bridge?-E. A. H.
A. Ely Culbertson estimates that
about 10000, 900 Americans play, that
more than 1000 people make a profess
sion Of teaching bridge and about 500,-
600 people took lessons last year.
export chicken eggs in the shell?-
K w. B.
A. OF eggs in the shell the United
States is an exporter rather than an
importer. having imported in 1890 only
3l7. 900 dozen, while the exports for the
same year were 1850 900 dozen.
@. How does the size of Mercury
compare with that Of the earth? or
Venus?-G. c.
A. The diameter Of the earth is 1927
miles and Of Venus, 7,575. The diameter
Of Mercury Is 5000 miles.
Q. What was Senator Borah's COM
ment on the constitutional issue of the
30-hour week?-W. j. J..
A. He said: This measure presents
one OF the most important questions,
not only from q constitutional stand
point but from a humanitarian stand
point, that has been presented of late
In this body. 1t presents the question
OF how far the court will 60 in the fu-
ture In permitting the Congress to ex-
cluoe from interstate commerce any
commodity which the Congress in its
wisdom may see fit to exclude. Secondly,
1t involves the humanitarian and So
cial question of limiting the DAYS of
work per week. The former question
presents constitutional problem which
has been before the court from time
to time since the Government was or
gained. and has never yet been clearly
and definitely and finally settled as to
the question presented by this measure.
Lawyers have divided and courts have
given us decisions with powerful opin-
ions on both sides of the question. The
latter problem Is one Of social Justice.
becoming more urgent with our indus
trial growth and development"
@. Was there actually a Greek poet
named Homer?-J. H.
A. 1t Is much doubted that such a
person existed. The name is given to
the entirely unknown poet, or group of
poets, who wrote the "Inad" and the
odyssey" The poems are thought to
have reached their final form some
time between the twelfth and ninth
centuries, B. G.
@. For q camping trip, how many
people should be reckoned to q tent?-
G. E. D.
A. Sufficient tentage should be car
ried to provide 20 square feet of floor
space for each person.
@. What causes mildew?-C. A. C.
A. Mildew spots are growths of some
species of mold They appear on cot
ton material and sometimes on woolens
which have been left in a damp. dark
place. Leather. too, is very susceptible
to mildew.
@. When was the New York Stock
Exchange formed?-T. B.
A. The present stock exchange traces
Its origin to a group Of men who held
daily meetings under a buttonwood tree
which stood at what is now 68 Wall
street. New York City 1t was in 1892
that formal organization was effected.
@. Where is the Fahrenheit ther-