Evening star., 1936-04-08
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY Frederic ]. HGskin.

Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Hdsktn, Director, Washington, D. c..
Please inclose stamp TOR reply.
@. When are the Spring racing meets
at Bowie, Havre de Grace and PimIico?
M. B.
A. Bowie, April / to IL; Havre de
Grace, April l3 to %; Pimlico, April %
to May 16.
O. Which days are visitors days at the
Philadelphia Mint?-C. 8.
A. No visitors are permitted. On very
special occasions, the superintendent may
show certain groups through the Mint,
but it is never open to the public.
@. What has become of Ben lineup,
the Cherokee Indian pitcher2-W. G. S.
A. He is now manager of the Paducah
club in the Kitty League.
@. If all the white population of the
United States attended church, how
many would be in the average congre-
gation?-D. S.
A. Each clergyman would have TIC
persons in his congregation.
@. Has our country ever paid ransom
money to foreign country?-E. D. s.
A. The United States has paid a total
of about $35, 100000 in ransom for Amer
lean captives. This ransom or tribute
money was paid to the Algerine pirates
of the Barbary States on the north coast
of Africa in the first decade of the
American Republics existence. Annual
payments ceased only after the United
States fought and won the Barbary
States War, in which such famous COM
manders as Commodores Decatur,
Rodgers and Barron took part.
O. Why is the Dead Sea so called2
"A. C.
A. 1t derives its name from the fact
that no living thing can exist in it. This
is due TO its extreme salinity.
@. What causes electric light bulbs to
turn dark, although they still burn?
M F. s.
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that this is deposit from the fila
ment on the inside of the bulb. Until
the filament is broken the bulb continues
to burn.
@. Where is the English school, Eton?
IN. T.
A. 1t is in Buckinghamshire, in sight of
Windsor Castle. 1t was founded in 1440
by Henry VI.
@. When did Mrs. Charles Lindbergh's
sister die?-A. S.
A. Mrs. Audrey Mel Morgan died in
Pasadena, Calf, December 3, 1884.
@. Please furnish a biography OF
Padriac Pearse.-M. NJ
A. Padriac Pearse was the first Presi-
dent of the Irish Republic. He was born
in 1879 and was executed on May 2,
1916. He was known in Ireland as an
authority on Gaelic literature. He was
the son of an Englishman. but was born
and educated in Dublin. He started out
as a barrister, but devoted most of his
time to literary and educational pursuits.
For some time he was editor Of the
Gaelic journal and later founded st.
Endas School. which he conducted up
to the time of the Sim Fem rebellion.
He Iectured in the United States on
Irish ideals and Gaelic literature.
Island of the Paciflc?-W. c. B.
A. Guadalupe Island, 180 miles of the
Mexican coast. 1t has recently been
abandoned as a penal colony and the
convicts moved elsewhere.
Q. Why does the expression. to bell
mission?-G. D.
A. 1t is an allusion to La Fontaine's
fable of an old mouse who proposed that
bell should be hung on the cats neck,
to warn of its coming A young mouse b
inquired, who will bell the cat?
@. Is the skylark injurious to crops?
M. F.
A. The skylark is included in list
of birds injurious to agriculture and
horticulture and is to be excluded from
the United States by customs officials.
O. Why is certain Kentucky whisky
called Bourbon?-L. G. T.
A. The whole northeastern portion Of
Kentucky, in the early days, consisted
of single county which was called
Bourbon County and. at that time, it in
cluded practically all of the State in
which whisky was manufactured. In
this way, the term came to be applied
to the product.
@. Does Boulder Dam protect the
valley of the Colorado from flood dam
ger?-H. S.
A. The Colorado River, the most dam
gerous in the West, now is controlled by
Boulder Dam, which stopped a major
flood last year and which this year again
will render harmless great rush OF
water.
O. How many illiterate Russians have
been taught to read and write since
the beginning of the first flve-year plan
under the Soviet regime?-W. B.
A. Nearly forty million workers have
been taught since 1928.
@. What and where is the Traders
Exchange?-C. S.
A. The Traders Exchange is three
years old, and is probably the Oldest
swapping agency in the country. 1t Is
located at North Wells street, Chi
cago, Ill.
@. What is the speed of the fastest
tank used by the United States Army?
S. c.
A. 1t is a convertible tank which on
a good road with the top of can make
An or IN miles nor hnlir Fifty miles Oer