Evening star., 1935-08-09
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

BY Frederic ]. Haskin.
reader can get the dnsuer to anu
question OF fact by tDrtttng The Washing
ton Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Hdskin Director, Washing
ton, D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Are slaves held in Ethio 1ia7-
F. M. M.
A. Slavery existed in Ethiopia until
very recently, when it was abolished by
imperial decree on the entrance of
Ethiopia into the League of Nations.
The Ethiopian slaves were members of
Negro tribes of Ethiopia or adjacent
territory.
@. Had Vanity Fair been made into a
motion picture before the version of
Becky Sharp now being shown?-R. P. S.
A. There have been three previous
productions. The first was in 1915, the
second in 1923, and the third, in which
Myrna 10y played the part Of Becky
Sharp, was produced in 1892.
@. Where is the Italian wine made
which is called Est-Est- -Est?-V. S.
A. 1t comes from Orvieto. Various
legends account for the name, which
agree on the fact that it was so named
because of its excellence.
G. What is the correct inquiry made
by sentinel or guard?-H. j. w.
A. According to Army regulations the
correct inquiry of sentinel on guard
is, Halt! Who is there?"
@. Is Mexico encouraging immigra-
tion?-H. w. H.
A. The Mexican Government does not
encourage immigration, except in the
case of MexicanS who have come to this
country, and who will return to Mexico.
In this plan for repatriating former
Mexicans certain lands are being irri-
gated. However, emigrants from this
country who have 10000 pesos which
they will actually invest either in manu-
featuring or agricultural lands may be
| accepted by the Mexican Government.
- Q. On which side of the academic cap
is the tassel worn by B. A. graduate?-
7. C.
A. The Collegiate Bureau of Academic
Costume says that the tassel should be
worn on the left side for the doctors
masters and bachelors degrees, and
also by students without degrees. There
are several colleges that have made
local ruling in accordance with which
the students wear the tassel on the
| right side and upon the comforting
of the degree change it to the left. This
is matter of local concern.
1nFt ~
| this Summer because they got employ
ment?-V. N.
A. In May, 9,744 received private en-
ployment, and in June l2709.
@. At what airport did the DO-X land
when it came to New York ?-L. A. H.
A. 1t landed in the New York Harbor
and not at an airport. Most of the time
it was in the East River of the New York
harbor, near the Brooklyn Bridge.
@. What is a collimator?-H. w. c.
A. A fixed telescope with spider-lines
in its focus, used to adjust a second tele-
scope by looking through it in reverse
direction with the latter, so that images
of the spider-lines are formed in the
focus of the second telescope, as if they
originated in a distant point.
@. Is the banana a berry?-M. T,
A. In botany, the term berry refers TO
any simple fruit having pulpy or f1eshy
pericarp, as the currant, grape, cram
berry or banana.
@. Is there any liquid or acid in which
silver and copper coins may be dipped
fn thoY,o without dana DINO their
ntimismatic value?-D. L. B.
A A coin catalogue says that one
should never attempt to clean, polish
or improve coin. Cleaning always de-
tracts from, the value and has been
known to make good coin practically
worthless"
Q. Has a memorial been planned for
Lawrence of Arabia?-E. G..
A. A bronze head of Col. T. E.
Lawrence will be placed in st. Paul's
Cathedral, London. Under the memorial
cut in the wall.
@. How many Union veterans of the
| Civil War are still living?-W. w.
A. As of June l, 1885, there were 1884
on the pension roll. There are also
1O1 PAS dependents of this war on the
| pension roll.
@. Who invented the dance called the
| lancerS?-W. c.
| A. 1t was probably invented about
1919, either by Joseph Hart, who pub
liShed the following year, Les Lanciers,
or by Duval of Dublin, who also at this
| time published a set. The lancers was
| first danced in London in 1850. but had
been introduced in Paris by Laborde in
1886.
@. To whom is credit given for origi-
mating the United States Railway Mail
| Service?-T. j. c.
A. The honor is given to William A.
Davis of Hannibal, Mo. Davis was born
in September 1909, somewhere in Barren
! County, KY. When he was still young
boy he went to Charlottesville, Va, and
| helped the postmaster. After he reached
! the age of 81 he was given work in the
postal service and from that time gave
practically his entire life to the service.
! In 1855 he settled in ST. Joseph, Mo. On
July 26, 1862, he originated and eStab-
| lished the Railway Mail Service on the
! Hannibal and st. Joseph Railroad. He
made drawings of railroad cars showing
how mail could be handled and sent
other memoranda to the postal authori-
ties at Washington, D. c.
@. What Office is in charge of secur-
ing buildings for Government use for