Evening star., 1940-09-26

a feddeT cGn pet the dnSUeT 70 any
question of fact by ,Drtttng The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. How long does it take to build .
battleship?-W. l..
A. The Navy Department says that
it requires about four years to build q
battleship.
@. In what direction does the cross
on Holy Cross Mountain in Colorado,
face?-D. H.
A. 1t faces east. The deep crevices
which form the cross are snow-filled
throughout the year, and it is visible
at distance of 80 to 40 miles.
@. How accurate are railroad
watches?-W. r. L.
A. The standard rule is that rail-
road watches must not vary more than
80 seconds per week from perfect time.
On most railroads, watches must be
submitted for Inspection once a month
and compared with designated standard
clocks before the start of each days
work
@. Will you tell me If the water OF
the Gulf Stream is fresh or salty?-
c. j. P.
A. The waters of the Gulf Stream,
which pass up the Atlantic Coast. are
salty.
@. What is the origin of the word cur
| few?-M w.
A. From the French -feu-
cover the fire. In the Middle Ages, a
bell was rung about or 9 pm. when
fires and lights had to be put out, tbs
object being the prevention Of fires.
This naturally became the signal for
people to retire to their homes, and for
the closing of public places.
@. Who invented the accordioni
j. D. NJ.
A. The invention Of the accordion in
1929 is usually credited to Damian Of
Vienna, Austria.
@. Is it correct to use ian" before
such words as hotel and hospital?-P A.
A. There is a definite rule to the
| effect that words which begin with "h"
should be preceded by the article IAN"
| rather than by "a" if the word is ac-
cented on the second syllable. It is
therefore correct TO say "an hotel" but
"a hospital"
@. May I have some information
about the Bronte sisters?-S. w.
A. Charlotte was the eldest Of the
Bronte family. Charlotte and Emily
attended school together and later went
| to Brussels to study. Due 10 conditions
! of the family they were forced to return
| to England and the three sisters turned
/ to writing as a source of income Anne
/ and Emily, who were, frail, died May
/ %, l849, and December 10, l548, re-
( spectiyely. Branwell, their brother.
died several years before Charlotte.
/ @. Where and when were colored
traffic signal lights first used in this
/ country?-E. A. j.
| A. The first system Of colored signal
/ lights was installed on Fifth avenue.
New York City, about 1920.
@. Was there really such a person as
| Anacreon?-T. L. B.
A. Anacreon was a lyric poet of the
9Th century B. c. who lived in Ionia, He
/ was the author of many melodious verses
on love and wine, of which only few
! genuine fragments have survived.
@. Is it known what happened TO the
great Colossus of Rhodes, one Of the
seven wonders Of the world?-R. G.
/ A. 1t was destroyed by an earthquake
! about 224 B. c. After lying broken for
! nearly 1000 years the pieces were sold
/ by the Saracens to a scrap metal dealer
! who is said to have carried them away
on 900 camels.
O. What is meant by a photostat copy
! of a picture or document?-M. T.
! A. 1t is one which is made by device
that reproduces photographically the
material which is photographed, directly
upon the surface of prepared paper with
the image in correct position and not
reversed as in a negative.
O. What is the altitude Of the new
observatory at Climax, Colo &c. o.
| A. The altitude is 1913 feet The
solar observation tower is the only one
in the Western Hemisphere. The two
! others in operation are in the Swiss
Alps and in the Pyrenees of France.