Evening star., 1936-09-19

A reader can get the ansiDer to any
question Of fact BY ,oriting The Eventno
Stor Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Haskin, Director, Washington. D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Is soft ball popular in the United
States?-E. H
A. Interest in the game has grown
SO rapidly that there are now about
10000 teams and 100000 players
throughout the country.
@. have a dollar bill. the back Of
which is upside down. How does this
happen?-R. H.
A. The backs of money are printed
first. 1t occasionally happens that be-
fore the faces are printed sheet Of
backs becomes reversed and so the faces
are printed in the wrong direction. II
detected by examiners such notes are
destroyed as imperfect. II not detected
the notes reach circulation with the
faces reversed. 1t is a matter Of no
Importance as to the value Of the note
and merely illustrates the fact that not
withstanding the expertness Of the
printers and the diligence Of the ex-
aminers, such notes occasionally are
passed.
@. How is the letter ~" pronounced
in England?-M A. D.
A. 1t is pronounced as though it were
spelled "zed."
@. Has Ireland an air force and com.
mercial air lines?-M. A. w.
A. The Irish Legation says that Ire
land has an air force which is separate
from that of Great Britain. The largest
landing field in Ireland at the present
time is in Baldonnel County, Dublin,
Ireland. There are few commercial
air lines in Ireland, which have lately
been established and which operate be-
tween Dublin and England. A new COM
pany is now being formed to take care
Of TRANSATLANTIC flying in cooperation
with the Pan American Airway and the
Imperial Airways in England.
@. Should the rear wheels Of an auto
mobile have the newer tires?-M. c.
A. It is no longer considered good car
keeping to switch the better tires to the
front wheels, or vice versa. Technical
arguments as to which kind of blowout
is the more dangerous are beside the
point when safety calls for good tires
with rough treads on all four wheels.
The idea that the front tires need not
have good treads is one that may lead
to a steering skid, the car going off
the road on a curve because the front
tires fail to grip. Since it is becoming
the custom to put more braking power
on the front wheels, to compensate for
the forward tipping of the car during a
quick stop, the front tires are playing a
greater part in stopping and must have
treads that grip.
@. When were wire window screens
first made?-C. D. H.
A. Wire netting was invented in 1874
by Charles Barnard of Norwich, Eng
land. He began manufacturing it by
machinery in 1855.
Q. Who were the Butternuts?-M. L.
A. They were Northerners who SYM
pathized with the South during the
Civil War. The term was suggested by
the butternut color of the Confederate
uniform.
@. What kinds Of birds are fit for
human consumption?-P. B.
A. The Bureau of Biological Survey
says that in many parts of the country
in addition to the game birds, numer-
GUS hawks of all species, excepting birds
Of carrion feeding vultures, the fish
hawk and bald eagle, are eaten. as we'll
as crows, more especially the American
crow, owls and ravens, particularly the
white neck raven. The coot. robin. in
troduced starting and English sparrow,
as we'll as other species are eaten where
not protected by State or Federal law.
@. Where is the new memorial to
Admiral Robert E. Peary?-J. G. F.
A. A statue of the explorer by Joseph
Pollia will be placed on a plot donated
by Charles M Schwab at Cresson. Pa.
Admiral Pearys birthplace.
@. Has Haywood Broun, the columnist.
| a son?-F. M.
A. Haywood Hale Broun is the son
| of the columnist. He is freshman at
Swarthmore College.
@. When is Fire Prevention week.
]. G. B.
A. President Roosevelt has issued a
| proclamation calling for its observance
! the week beginning October 4.
@. Was Plato the philosophers real
name?-M. G.
A. His own name was Aristocles, the
surname Plato. broad being applied to
him as indicative of his broad shoulders.
@. What city is known as the Sublime
Porte?-K. r.
A. Istanbul Turkey. was formerly re-
ferred to as the Sublime Porte, or lofty
gate, because of an elaborate entrance
into the inclosure containing the gov
ernment buildings.
@. Who originated the toddy?-H w.
A. Teddy was originally an alcoholic
drink made by South Sea Islanders from
the buds or flowers of certain trees.
Early EMPLOYERS, Cook, Dampier and Her
bert, identify toddy with the fan and
date palm trees, and Dampier speaks
of the toddy tree, probably also a palm.
| @. How many trains travel at a speed
| of more than go miles an hour?-W. T.
A. There are now $40 American trains
which have scheduled speeds Of more
than so miles an hour between stops or
passing points.
@. Where is Cortez buried?-M. L. W,
A. According to the book. "Cortez, the
| Conqueror Of Mexico: In death as in
life he knew no peace. First buried in
/ 80