Evening star., 1934-04-10
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
@. What was the stavisky scandals

@. What was the stavisky scandal?
"A. T.
A. The recent Stavisky swindle con-
sisted Of selling to French insurance
companies bonds CT the Bayonne
Credit Municipal to an amount greater
than It's assets. Insurance company
directors were duped by the sanctity
and good faith around French pawn
shop bonds. Especially reassuring
was q letter received by insurance
companies in 1882 from the minister
of labor, then M. Albert Dalimier. The
letter stressed the fact that under
French law insurance companies may
hold part Of their funds in pawnshop
so, mentioned Bayonne.
@. Does one say I'VE made all the
hills in high" or ION high" In speak
ing of an automobile trip?-E. L.
A. The phrase Is an abbreviation OF
"tn high gear" 50 "in" Is the correct
proposition to use.
@. Do you offer assistance to school
children with their essays and ex-
aminations?-D. 8.
A. This bureau does not write es'
says for school children or help di-
rectly in preparation for examinations
To do so would defeat the purpose Of
| the teachers' assignments. References
are gladly furnished for essay and de-
bate material. II you wish to know
what books to consult for your school
work, write to this newspapers In
formation Bureau, Frederic j. Haskin
Director, Washington, D. c., including
coin or stamp for reply postage.
@. What does the tercentenary cel-
ebration in Maryland commemorate
r. s.
A. The Maryland Tercentenary Is
In commemoration of the landing OF
the Ark and Dove at st. Marys City,
Md. in 1884, under the leadership OF
Lord Baltimore.
@. What is minister without port
| folio?-R. L. s.
A. Minister without portfolio refers
to a member of q cabinet OF the
European parliamentary type. The
| cabinet as a whole Is formed by the
prime minister at the request of the
President or the King, and it includes
the heads Of the regular departments
corresponding to the members Of the
cabinet Of the United States. 1t may
also include cabinet ministers who
do not head any given department
but who may assist the premier in
any cabinet matters. Such a min
lister has equal rank with other cab
met ministers, but Is not an execu-
tive as the head Of department.
@. Is the sale of aigrettes still for
hidden in the United States?-A. H.
A. There Is still Federal law pro-
hibiting the killing Of egrets in this
country and the sale or transporta-
ton in the United States Of their
feathers called aigrettes).
S. K.
A. It is an auction in which the
bidders decrease their bids until they
come to the minimum price.
@. How can a person test a ther-
mometer to see whether 1t Is accu-
rate?-W. L. D.
A. To test q Fahrenheit thermome-
ter, place the instrument in bath of
cracked ice and see whether 1t regis
ters 80 degrees F. This will give you
at least one point on the scale which
you know to be correct. If the ther-
mometer reads high enough place the
bulb in boiling water. The reading
should be 212 degrees r. Comparison
with thermometer known to be ac-
curate is probably the simplest way
Of testing.
@. What makes the Japanese
| waltzing mouse spin?-P. E. H.
A. The balancing apparatus Of the
inner ear of the mouse Is imperfect.
causing the animal to turn constantly
in short circles. This defect is
strongly fixed and transmitted with
regularity to the young.