Evening star., 1943-11-04

| the Information Bureau sioued onI,,
Dith initials, asking that the ANSWERS
appear in the newspaper. The SPACE
IS limited and MOULD not accomno-
date fraction OF such requests. Be-
SIDES, the subject matter is often too
personal to be OF general interest.
Send your question to The Euening
Star Information Bureau, Frederic J.
Haskin, Director, Washington, d. C.
Inctose stamp for return postage.
@. What is the least elevation from
which paratroops can jump safely?-
B. E. F.
A. The War Department saws that
paratroops cannot jump very well below
300 or 400 feet because they land too
last. The minimum ceiling from which
they jump is about 400 feet.
q. What tree was given a funeral ora
ton when 1t died?-L IN
A. When the Charter Oak, giant tree
believed to be nearly 1000 years old, was
blown down in a storm on August Il.
1856, great crowds gathered to bid it
farewell and to listen to funeral
grafton.
@. Has the alloy in the new scent
| piece ever been used before in COIN
age?-W. P
A. The alloy has never before been
used in the United States or any other
country for coinage
@. What musical show has had thu
! longest run?-E. P. S.
A. 'Hellzapoppin" is the longest-run
musical show in the history of the
/ theater.
@. What is meant by "geisha" girl?-
P. E. H.
! A The term "geisha' is derived from
two Japanese words, gel" meaning ar
! tistic performance" and "sha." mean
! ing person Geisha girls sing and
/ dance to entertain not only strangers,
! but japanese men who live in the en-
pre.
@. When was the Alaska highway
opened for traffc?-M Ell
A. The highway was opened for traf-
fic on November IS, 1912
@. What is the salary Of the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court of the
United States?-D. C.B
! A. His salary is s20.500 year. Origi-
nally the Chief Justice received only
$4,000 and it took six steps TO reach the
present amount. the last increase hav-
ing been given in 1926.
@. How many parts are there In
range fnder?-M. L. E
A. A big range finder may contain as
many as 1900 mechanical parts. to-
gether with $50 optical parts. including
lenses. prisms, etc. Such an instrument
weighs close 70 10000 pounds. costs
$4,000 and requires a year and a half
! to build
@. When did Barnum first move his
circus by train?-L c.
/ A. In 1872 P. T. Barnum purchased IS
railway cars, painted in brilliant colors,
and began touring the country by rail.
Previously he had used 500 horses 70
| transport his circus and menagerie from
town to town.
@. Are there any people who hiber-
nate?-G G.
A. Human beings do not hibernate.
! However. there are reputedly certain
| Russian peasants who retire TO SOM
nolent condition in winter, sleeping al
most constantly. eating little and NOV
ing only to drink a swallow of water or
! replenish the fire. This condition re-
sembles Information.
Q. What is the relation of a knot to
land mile *. NICK
A. A knot is a unit of speed. eouiva-
lent approximately to one nautical mile
| per hour. A nautical mile equals 5000
feet, nearly one-sixth more than a
statute mile. Thus when ships speed
is 80 knots the vessel is travelling 30
nautical miles per hour, or about BAL,
! land miles per hour.
Q. Who created the Dying Swan"
( Pavlowa's famous dance?-E. L. H.
A. The late Michel Fokine. II vas
created originally for student per-
formance in ST. Petersburg nov Lenin-
grad.
G. What kind of gem is the Star OF
| Indla?-D FEE
A. This is the largest known cut sap
phlre. 1t is pale blue in color p inches
in diameter and is in the collection of
the American Museum of Natural His
| tory. The early history of the stone IL
unknown but it is believed to have been
found at least 800 years ago.
O. Does any portion of the ancient
dukedom Of Normandy still remain in
British hands?-R. o. c.
A. No The Channel Islands. occu-
pied by Germany in 1910, formed the last
remnant of the ancient dukedom re-
naming in British hands since 1866. the
year in which William Duke of Nor
mandy became William l of England.
| Q. What is an atoll?-S S
A. The term denotes a ring shaped
coral island, inclosing a lagoon Christ
mas Island is the largest atoll in the
Pacific, being more than 100 miles
around.
@ What composer died from the ef-
fects of dropping a baton on his foot?--
P. l..