Evening star., 1934-01-27

This newspaper puts at your disposal
q corps Of trained researchers in WASH
ington, who will answer questions for
you. They have access to the Gov
eminent departments, the libraries, mu-
seums, galleries and public buildings
and to the numerous associations which
maintain headquarters in the Nations
capital. II they can be Of assistance to
you, write your question plainly, and
send with two cents in coin or stamps.
Do not use post cards. Address The
Evening Star Information Bureau.
Frederic J. Haskin. Director, Washing
ton, D. G.
q. How are names selected for Who's
Who In America?-H. K.
A. According to Q statement appear
ing In the last publication, THE STAN
dards Of admission to Who's Who in
America divide the eligbles into two
classes: O those who are selected on
account Of special prominence in credit
able lines Of effort, making them the
subjects Of extensive interest, inquiry
or discussion In this country; and (2)
account OF official positton-civil, mill
tary, naval, religious or educational"
@. Please name 10 species Of birds
that kill rats and mice.-D. L.
A. The following is q list Of 10 birds
Of worldwide or nearly cosmopolitan
distribution that kill rats and mice:
Barn owl. great horned owl, short-eared
owl, long-eared owl, goshawk, kestrel
(sparrow-hawk), golden eagle, gyrfal-
con, crow or raven and magpie.
Q. How does . whistling buoy op-
erate?-A, w.
A. 1t Is fitted with a device by which
air compressed by the waves Is led to
escape through q whistle. The whistle
blows when the buoy settles down In
the water.
@. What Is the oldest optical firm in
the District of Columbia?-G. E.
A, Franklin & Co. is the Oldest,
having been in business in Washington
for seventy-flve years. This firm dis
plays check for $3.50 given in pay
ment for glasses and signed A. Lincoln.
@. How long could Germany last If
totally isolated from the rest of the
A. 1t is not possible to make a def
mite statement. Reports of conditions
existing during the World War indicate
that Germany could not have lasted
much longer. Many foodstuffs were un-
available and innumerable substitutes
were used. Before the war German
agriculture furnished about 90 per cent
Of the vegetable foods, 50 per cent of
the meats and fats, so per cent of milk
and dairy products, 10 per cent of the
poultry used-that is, about one-sixth
of the population depended on foreign
countries for food. The war took away
40 per cent Of the best male labor and
also q large percentage Of horses and
cattle. The blockade stopped importa-
tion. Lack of fertilizer Impoverished
the soil, and as result the total crops
sank to less than two-thirds Of the
normal yield. In 1918 public rations
were one-half the minimum for an
adult as to calories and about one-fifth
or one-sixth as to fats.
Q. Please name one or two outstand-
ing bass vio players in the United
States.-H. G.
A. Sergei Koussevitzky Of the Boston
and Jacques Posell National
Orchestra, washington, D. G.
@ What Goes quo vadis mean?-
w. D.
A. The expression is Latin for
whittier goest thou" and Is well known
because of its use as the title Of a
novel by the Polish author, Henryk
Sienkiewicz, about the Emperor Nero.
O. When did the United States 60 on
the gold standard?-J. T. w.
A. It may be said that the United
States legally adopted the gold stan
dard by the act of 1873. when the
coinage of silver dollars was stopped
altogether. The country would actually
have gone on a gold basis when specie
payment was resumed in 1879 had it |
not been for the silver legislation of |
1873. which made the silver dollar legal
tender without making it redeemable !
in gold. Actually this country went on
the gold standard in 1890 when the
silver dollar was made redeemable In !