Evening star., 1934-01-08

Any reader Of this newspaper Is well
come to make use at any time of the
] free information service Of this depart
ment. Address your inquiry to The
Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic j. Haslkin, Director, Washing
sonal letter in reply. Inclose 2 cents
In coin or stamps for return postage.
Do not use post cards. Be sure to state
your question clearly, and to write your
name and address plainly.
@. How long did it take to make the
movie version of Alice in Wonder
| land"?-B. M.
A. Paramount Is said to have made
the picture in f1fty-six days.
@. What is the best color for trafic
signs?-W. s. T.
A. Black lettering on Federal yellow
background seems to arrest the atten-
| ton best and to be the easiest to read.
1t Is being suggested that this combi-
nation be restricted to official highway
signs when used on roadsides.
@. Why do some Irish people cover
mirrors and stop clocks when there is
death in the house?-J. r.
A. All nationalities do not have the
same superstitions concerning death.
1t Is an Irish custom to cover mirrors
be frightened. Clocks are stopped so
that the soul on its way to God may
not be distracted
@. How can putty be kept soft?-
]. D. A.
A. 1t may be kept soft by putting it
| in can and covering 1t with water, or
| in container and covering with lit
tie linseed oil.
@. What per cent Of the people living
In Spain speak, read, and write Span
| ish?-A. D. T.
A. Spanish is the national language
of the country and is spoken by all the
peoples Of the country with the excep-
ton Of a few scattered groups in the
Pyrenees. OF those speaking Spanish,
between IS and 80 per cent also read
and write it.
@. Who first made an ear trumpet
M. A. r.
A. The first mechanical contrivance
for the purpose of improving the hear
ing was made by DR.. Yeardsley Of Lon
don in l848.
@. Why is ivory so often elaborately
carved?-W. H.
A. Because of its fine and close
grained texture, its homogeneousness
and adhesive hardness, its lack Of brit
tleness, its excellent wearing qualities,
and its absence Of any tendency to chip
easily, ivory Is an excellent substance
to engrave. It's smooth, even grain
and the conference Of its particles lend
a fine surface for the engraver's art,
and the material lasts long time.
O. Is there a place on the Graf zep-
pelin where people may smoke?-G. L.
A. The Bureau of Heronautics says
that passengers and crew are not al
lowed to smoke on the Graf Zeppelin
@. Is Stain married? If so, how
many children has HER. w.
A. He has been married twice. He
17-year ar-old girl, who died last year
BY his first wife he has two sons; by
his second, a daughter.
@. Is there a place where the ice
never thaws?-J. c. G.
A. Ice to the depth of more than
100 yards binds the soil Of Northern
Siberia even in Summer. The frozen
ground covers an area Of 5000 600
| square kilometers. a territory half as
large as Europe. according to a report
made to the Berlin Geographical So
ciety.
O. Is wine other than champagne
stored with the bottles on their sides?
M. B.
A. Bottled wine should be on its side
in storage so as to keep the cork moist
and prevent its drying out. which will
permit the passage Of air and thus
cause the wine to spoil or become sour.
II the cork remains moist it will be
air-tight and prevent air from enter
ing the bottle.
Q. Where is the Codex Sinaiticus
| now o-H J. l.,