Evening star., 1936-05-09
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
By Frederic J. Haskin.

reader can get the dnsUer to dnv
question Of fact By writtro The Washing
ton Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Hdskin, Director, Washing.
ton, D. C. Please trcIose stamp for reply. /
@. How many newspapers are affiliated
with the Associated Press?-R. M.
A. The membership Of the Associated
Press is 1876.
O. Is the heat Of the sun getting less?
w. r.
A. The amount of energy received
from the sun, or what is known as the
solar constant, has been found TO vary
slightly from day to day. 1t may be
either above or below average for months
at time. BY observations and calcula-
tions extending over many years. DR..
Abbot of the Smithsonian Institution
has discovered the existence Of seven
periodicities-of Z, 8, II, 81, rs, As and
68 month periods.
O. How long has tracing paper been
used?-B. w.
A. 1t was used as early as 1440. The
following quotation is taken from MUIR
rays English Dictionary: ''144o-
Tracynge or drauynge for to make an
ymage or an other thynge."
O. Has Secretary of Agriculture Wall
lace written a new book?-E. M. r.
A. His latest book is entitled Whose
Constitution"
O. What is the shortest distance across
Bering Strait?-C. D. P.
A. Bering Strait is Sc miles in width
at its narrowest point, between Cape
Deshnef. Siberia. and Cape Prince of
Wales, Alaska. 1t is only "a fathoms
deep.
before storing?-T. F.
A. The Poultry Item says that ami
NAL heat should be out Of eggs before
storing.
@. Can one still secure a copy of the
booklet, Presidents of the United
States" which was issued by the Amer
ican Legion some years ago?-M. B.
A. This publication was distributed
under the auspices of the Legion in
1926, and it has been in continuous
printing ever since. 1t is now in en-
larged form. giving photo and sketch
Of every President from George WASH
ington to Franklin D. Roosevelt Pic
lures and sketches of all the ladies Of
the White House also have been added,
and the booklet carries an artistic COL
ored cover. 1t will be sent to any ad-
dress. postage prepaid. for 10 cents.
Address Frederic j. HaSkin, Washington,
D. C.
@. Did Winston Churchill. the novelist,
ever attend the Naval Academy?-S. M.
A. Mr.. Churchill was graduated from
the United States Naval Academy in
1894.
Q. What is the derivation Of the word.
'pal"?-G. B.
A. 1t is a gypsy term and comes from
"pral," meaning brother.
@. What is the joke that made
Punch especially famous?-B. s.
A. This British magazine perpetrated
what is considered its most famous joke
in 1845. It announced that 1t would
send advice to any one about to marry.
Its response to requests was Don't"
@. How long should a window shade
be?-H. M.
A. Fix It Yourself" says that the
cloth should be cut at least inches
longer than the distance from top to bot
tom of the window.
@. Please give some information about
a Negro singer of spirituals who was re-
Gently given his freedom from some pen
itentiary.-E. j.
A. James Baker, who is serving a life
sentence at the Texas Penitentiary, has
been granted a furlough to accompany
John A. Lomax, curator of folkSongs
for the Library of Congress, on a tour.
Mr.. Lomax heard Baker sing and is
taking him to assist in collecting songs
of the various prisons.
@. What is the significance of the orb
surmounted by cross, as an emblem of
royalty?-N. H.
A. This emblem of empire with the
cross above the sphere signifies that the
spiritual power is above the temporal.
Q. In what year was beer consump-
ton the highest in this country?-B. r.
A. 1t reached its maximum in gallons
in 1914, when the consumption was O..
056, ,407, ,l08 gallons. This made per cap
ita consumption of 2069 gallons. In 1913
the per capita consumption was slightly
higher-20.72 gallons.
@. How many comets are there in our
solar system?-A. D. F.
A. The number is estimated at 100 1000.
@. What is the cost Of petroleum tax
ation?-E. H.
A. Total taxes levied on the petroleum
industry and its products in 1885 are
estimated at $1,127, ,259. .232. This total
comprises estimated income and profits
taxes Of S60,000,00O, Federal State and
local gasoline taxes of $S07, ,262, ,48l, and
miscellaneous taxes of $259, ,996, ISL.
@. Is there simple way to remove
lead from rifle barrel?-F. A. C.
A. The National Rifle Association saws
that lead may be removed from a rifle
barrel by plugging the muzzle and then
putting quicksilver in the breech. Roll
the quicksilver around in the barrel, then
take the plug out and allow the quick
silver to run out. The lead will adhere
to the quicksilver and the rifle barrel will
be clean.
A Rhyme at Twilight