Evening star., 1934-06-29

@. How old Is the custom Of holding
bull fights?-C. p.
A. They were common in Greece
and at one time in Rome under the
emperors.
@. Does the N. r. A. code compel
insurance companies to pay salaries
and commissions?-H B.
A. 1t does not. 1t has always been
the custom for certain types of insur-
ance contracts to be MADE for commits
sion only, and this practice is con-
tinued.
@. How did the American soda
water fountain originate?-F. W.T..
A. Aerated water, popularity known
as soda water, such as Is served at
American fountains, was a European
discovery. The great scientist,
Priestly, discovered the method in
l772. Paul of Geneva and Schweppe
Of London introduced such water
commercially in 1890. DR.. Philip S.
Physick, a Philadelphia doctor, is re-
garded as the introducer of soda
water into the United States. In
1907 he and a chemist, Townsend
Speakman, made the forerunner OF
the soda fountain. The magnifcence
OF the modern fountain has been a
gradual development. Soda water is
made by releasing carbon dioxide at
high pressure into filtered water. As
much as 41z times the volume is
expanded.
q. Was there a time when the
French government opened and read
private letters as they passed through
the mails?-E M.
A. There was such a department
OF the post office, known as the
Cabinet Noir. 1t was organized under
Louis XIV, disestablished during the
revolution, again established by Ma
poleon. and lasting until the last
years of the restoration.
@. How much money do Americans
owe to tradesmen?-N. S. c.
A. Considerable research has de-
veloped that the American people owe,
on open account. about Sl4. 900 900 :
600. This includes the credit ex-
tended by tradesmen and professional
men, but also is understood to in.
clude credit extended by landlords
The greater volume. however, relates
to trade accounts About 80 per cent
OF the Nations business is done on
credit.
@. How many living descendants
OF he Washington family are there?
p. J. r.
A. Volume 80 of the History of
the George Washington Bicentennial
Celebration lists 958 living members.
O. Why are dried plums called
prunes?-J. B. r.
A. The reason for the present use
of the term prune is very similar TO
the use of the word pork Pork is the
French name for pig, just as prune
is the French name for the plum.
The French terms gradually came to
be applied to the finished food prod
ucts rather than TO the living animal
or fruit.
@. In which State have the most
loans been made by the Farm Credit
Administration?-L o. w.
A. The Farm Credit Adninstra-
ton has no figures on the number of
loans made on farms. but loans and
discounts advanced from June |, 1888,
10 April 30, 1884. amounted 10 81
100 867. .274. for all forms OF loans.
The largest amount has been lent in
California. This amounts to s75.271.-
$40
O. Is Hugh Walpole. English nov
elist, the son of a bishop. r.
A. His father was Bishop of Edin-
burgh
O. Who instituted the Legion of
Honour Of France?-L. G. r.
A. The Legion of Honour, the only
order Of France. and one which in
its higher grades ranks in estimation
with the highest European orders. was
instituted by Napoleon Bonaparte on
May 49, 1902. as a general military
and civil order Of merit.