Evening star., 1935-05-06

Q. Will q sundial continue to keep
accurate time?-C. z. w.
A. A sundial once properly con.
structed and set up will give q local
apparent time correctly as long as its
material holds its original shape.
@. When did smallpox first appear
in this country?-G. w.
A. It is believed to have been
brought by the Spaniards early In the
sixteenth century.
@. When did sewing machines first
have foot treadles?-M. N.
A. Singer introduced them about
1851. Before this time American
machines were operated by q crank
turned by hand.
Q. Please explain fully and In de-
tall the meaning of the expression,
squaring the circle. B. j. r.
A Squaring the circle is a famous
mathematical problem which scien-
lists Of today believe to be impossible.
The problem is to find a square equal
In area to given circle: the area of
the circle equal to that Of the rectilin.
cal triangle whose base has the same
length as the circumference and whose
altitude equals the radius The souar-
ing OF the circle thus becomes the
problem OF finding the ratio Of the
circumference to the diameter. In
1882 Lindemann proved that this ratio,
known as pi, Is a transcendental num-
Der and hence, since 1t Is not the root
OF any algebraic equation, cannot be
constructed to an assumed unit by
the extraction of the square root, that
is. by using straight edge and COM
passes.
@. What causes winds?-P. r p.
A. Wind is air in motion. II all
parts of the earth were equally heated
by the suns rays, the atmosphere
would be equally dense and in a state
OF perpetual calm. 1t happens, how
ever, that the sun heats certain areas
of the atmosphere more than 1t does
others. The heated portions Of the
air expand and blow out over the
cooler areas. The heavy air Of the
cool areas is no longer held back by
the lighter air Of the warm areas and
rusheS in to restore the equilibrium,
Thus winds are formed. The direction
of winds is considerably DETECTED BY
the rotation of the earth on its axis,
@. Where are the oldest court rec.
ords in the United States?-F. r.
A. At Eastville, Va, what are said
to be the Oldest continuous court rec
ords In the United States, dating
from 1852, are found. It is claimed
that those at Accomack, Va, are ths
second oldest.
@. What kind of wool were the
socks made of that were furnished
| the soldiers during the recent war?
They were thin and light weight
kept the feet comfortable, but not
too warm.-H. c. L.
A. The woolen stockings worn BY
soldiers in the World War were manu-
factured from worsted merino COM
posed of so per cent wool and so per
cent cotton on the French system Of
worsted yarn spinning"
O. How many Harvard and Yale
alumni clubs are there?-L. c. K.
A. Harvard Alumni Association
says that there are l08 clubs In the
United States and IS in foreign coun-
tries. members of the Associated Har-
ward Clubs. There are probably some
other smaller groups not so afiliated.
Yale University says that there are
about 100 alumni associations "a the
United States, and also associations
in France. Great Britain. Hawaii. Ja-
pan. Mexico. North China, Shanghai
and the Philippine Islands.
@. When were machine-made nails
and hinges introduced?-K. N. C.
A. Hand-wrought nails we're used
up to about 1850. after which they
were made mostly by machinery. Ma
chine-made hinges date from about
the same period.