Evening star., 1937-04-20

Hasktn, Director, Washington, D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. Where did sit-down strikes orig
inate?-D. s.
A. This strike method was started In
Silesia, part of Austria, about three
years ago. 1t was employed in Poland
about the same time. Some people think
that the Gandhi passive resistance
movement in India may have stimulated
the idea but the method was known for
years in coal mines. 1t is not definitely
known where this method originated.
Q. Do solid rubber tires blow out?
F. l..
A. They blow out, but not in the same
sense as do pneumatic tires. Solid rub
ber tires blow loose from the rims, and
a noise is heard when this happens.
@. Where is the Land Of Ark-La-
Tex?-H. S.
A. 1t is the trading area around
Shreveport, La, which lies in the three
States of Arkansas, Louisiana and
Texas. The Rodessa oil field, in this
territory, is said to be the only one
which extends into three States.
@. How long has the tourniquet been
used?-H. J.
A. 1t was invented by Morel in France
in 1874.
@. What is the new bird called a
siskin?-J. w.
A. The Mexican red, or hooded, siskin
is similar to a canary and is being
crossed ho iy, 10
obtain brilliantly colored bird These
cross-bred birds do not reproduce. Sis
kins should be cared for in the same way
as canaries. They eat seeds similar to
those in the ordinary canary mixture.
They are fond of the seed heads Of
composite flowers, as thistles and dande-
lions. They also like ant eggs.
Q. Why are cartoons so called2-M. H.
A. The paper used for this purpose
was called in Italian cartone and thus
arose the application of the term car
toon to all preparatory sketches of pic
lures.
@. Who is the richest man in Can
ada?-R. J.
A. Sir Herbert Samuel Holt, chairman
OF the Royal Bank of Canada, is be-
| Neved to be. He is now 81 years old.
@. What is meant by the term chiaros-
| curo?-E. G.
A. 1t is the distribution of light and
| shade so effected in a picture that these
elements are of mutual aid. The term
| is applied especially to the devices by
| which figure or an object is made to
| appear as if enveloped in atmosphere.
Among the masters of chiaroscuro are
| Corregglo, regarded as its inventor, and
! Rembrandt, who developed it to its
! farthest limits
@. Why is the Right Hon Aga Sultan
Sir Mahomet Shah. Aga Khan wor-
SHIPPED as Pope of the Ismaili Moslems?
| M. NJ. M
A. His highness Aga Khan III is held
in such esteem by Moslems because he
| is believed to be direct descendant Of
the prophet Mahomet, in direct line
from Ali, by Fatima, the prphets
daughter. The present Aga is the
grandson Of the first Aga, who died in
1881. In 1855 Aga Khan became the
spiritual father of the Ismailias and CO.
| operated closely with the British gov
ernment in India and elsewhere. About
| lO million members of the Asmailias
Moslem sect recently reaffrmed their
adherence and presented the Aga with
about s15oooO in gold.
| q. Where do prairie dogs get water
in siege of drought?-B. R. E,
A. They can live without drinking.
Q. What is the name of the fastest
train in the United StateS?-L. M, D.
A. 1t is the Super-Chief Of the Atchi-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad which
makes the trip from La Junta to Dodge
City, distance of 2024 miles, in l45
minutes, or 1877 miles per hour, from
start to stop.
Q. How big are the largest bell buoys
used in this country?-L. F.
A. The Bureau of Lighthouses says
that lighted buoys are the largest bell
buoys in the United States They weigh
1880 pounds and are 20 feet inches
over all. They draw an average of 8
feet inches of water.
| Q. Where did kite-fying originate?
I. B.
| A. According to tradition, kites were
invented by Archytas of Tarentum four
centuries before Christ, but they have
been used by savage tribes of Asia from
time immemorial and kite flying has
been a national pastime of the Chinese,
japanese and other East Indians. The
origin Of kite flying is obscure, but it is
generally ascribed to religion. The
Koreans attribute its origin to a general
who many hundred years ago inspirited
his troops by sending up kite with a
lantern attached. The soldiers believed
it to be new star and the sign Of divine
help.
| @. When is the rainy season IN Mex
ico?-G. M.
| A. 1t begins in May and lasts until
November.
@. What proportion Of the food and
fuel used on the farm is usually pro-
duced there's. M. H.
A. The Bureau of Agricultural Eco
nomics says that in general over 60 per
cent of the value of the food and over
oO per cent of the value of the fuel
consumed by farm families is produced
on the farm.
@. Who is poet laureate of West vir-
ginia?-W M.
A. Roy Lee Harmon, newspaper man
and author OF column called Hill
billy Ballads" is poet laureate OF the
State.