Evening star., 1940-06-29
Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.


D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. What is the significance Of the
various colored hatbands worn on Army
campaign hats?-J. D. NJ.
A. A. light blue hat cord signifies the
infantry; scarlet cord, the artillery,
and a yellow cord, the cavalry. Hat
cords of the engineer corps are scarlet
piped with white.
@. Why do radio stations use the let
ters w and KIT. C.
A. At the International Radio Confer
ence held in Switzerland, some years
ago, code was set down so that the
location of all radio stations could be
identified Immediately The letters w
and K were assigned to the United
States.
@. Is more of the worlds coffee sup
ply produced In the Eastern or Western
Hemisphere?-C. H. B.
A. The average number of pounds
produced annually, 1934-1939, in South
America, Central America, Mexico and
the West Indies amounted to 4,633,691,-
000 The total production for the rest
of the world was GOT 500, 900 pounds.
@. Which country first recognized the
Soviet Union as government?-A K
A. Although peace treaties between
the Soviet government and the Baltic
States were concluded in February, 1920,
the British government gave the Soviet
government its first de facto recogni-
ton of any of the western powers in
the post-armistice period, March 1s,
1921. Italian recognition was COM
pleted December g. 1921.
@. What character in religious history
wished to be buried where the rain would
fall on his grave?-S. F.
A. st. Swithin, a Benedictine monk,
when dying made the request that he
be buried outside the north wall of his
cathedral so that his grave might be in
full view of all passers-by, and that the
rain from the caves might drop upon 1t.
@. Will mahogany furniture wear we'll
in the tropics?-E. H.
A. Mahogany is widely used in the
tropics as cabinet wood because of its
comparative immunity to attacks of
fungus, worms, borers and termites. An
outstanding example of its wearing
qualities is the carved woodwork in the
Cathedral of st. Domingo, which was
finished in 1888 and is in perfect condi-
tion today.
@. How long does it take for elephants
to breed?-E. T. G.
A. The period of CESSATION in ele-
plants is approximately % months.
@. Please describe the ice formations
in the Coudersport Ice Mine in Penn
sylvania.-C. S. M.
A. Generally the ice forms in icicles of
beautiful and fantastic shapes, but oc-
casionally it appears in large slabs,
heavy ledgeS or in solid walls several
feet in thickness. Every summer icicles
of various sizes hang from the sides of
the shaft. Some are no larger than
lead pencil, while others are larger in
circumference than a telephone pole.
The ice-forming process begins at the
close of winter, sometimes as early as
March and again as late as May.
@. What is the weight of sand and
gravel?-C. w.
A. Gravel weighs 2,70O to 3,24o pounds
per cubic yard. Sand weighs 24oo to
2,970 pounds per cubic yard.
L. B. H.
A. Science Digest says that recently
the speed of tuna fish was tested at
Liverpool, Nova Scotia, with the speed
ometer indicating A miles per hour on
the first run.
@. Please give the location of the
smallest Catholic Church in the United
States.-F. r.
A. Monte Casino Church at Coving-
ton, KY, accommodates only three wor-
shippers. The Madonna Chapel in Bayou
Goula, Iberville Parish, La, measures
only nine feet square. There is room be-
fore the altar for the priest, but the con-
gregation sits outside on wooden benches.
O. What is the per capita consump-
ton Of cigarettes?-T. L. M.
A. In 1899 more than 172 1000 600 600
cigarettes were consumed in the United
States, which averages about 1900 per
capita.
@. How long is the needle groove on
phonograph record of 12-inch diam
eter?-rJ. G. D.
A. The groove is 73o feet long.
O. Who was the famous author who
met his death by experimenting In re-
frigeration?-A. F. R.
A. Sir Francis Bacon was riding in q
snowstorm when it occurred to him tn
test snow as preservative agent. He
stopped at house, procured a fowl and
stuffed 1t with snow. During the experi-
ment he caught cold and died soon
thereafter.
Q. Who played the leading roles in
the first motion picture production of
Waterloo Bridge"?-J. E.
A. Mae Clarke, Kent Douglas and
Doris Lloyd played in this aIl-talkinp
picture in 1881.
@. Who originated the word moronp
&C. S. T.