Evening star., 1945-07-20
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

@. How much has Japan increased
her land area during the last SO
years?-G. B. r.
A. After the war with China, 1894-5
Japan's area of 147,702 square
miles increased to 2,945,088 square
miles and her population from Co.
254, 1000 to 437, ,569 900. This included
all conquered territory, some OF
which has been retaken by the Al
lies.
@. Has the eruption of Particutin
the new volcano in Mexico, had any
bad effect upon animal life in the
vicinity?-I. E. j.
A. Observers say that apparently
it has not Some birds have been
injured by flying rock, but they have
shown no fear. Some of the animals
migrated after plant life died.
@. Why are British government
bonds called conSols?-R. I.
A. The term is an abbreviation
of Consolidated AnnuitieS, form of
government stock which originated
in l751, when considerable part of
the public debt, consisting of various
securities, was consolidated into one
fund.
@. Does the number of jewels in a
watch bear any relation to its ac-
curacy?-A. N.
A. Though the number of jewels
in watch is popularity associated
with its accuracy, this is not always
correct. A poorly adjusted watch
with 81 jewels is inferior to a IT.
jewel watch which has been carefully
adjusted. Generally, the care ex-
pended on the construction of a
watch movement is in rough propor-
ton to the number of jewels, so that
they do serve in general way as
an index of the quality of the watch.
@. What insects threatened the
destruction of Mormon crops in
Utah and were devored by sea
gullS?-W. E. r.
A The insects were black crickets.
In May and June, l848, these de-
structive pests rolled in legions down
the mountainsides and attacked
the fields of growing grain. In the
midst of the work of ruin, when
it seemed as if nothing could stay
the destruction, great flocks Of gulls
appeared. AL day long they gorged
themselves until the pest was van
quished.
@. What does the name vashti
mean?-S. N.
A. 1t is Old Persian and means
"the desired one" or "the beloved"
This was the name of the Queen of
the Persian King Ahasuerus. She
was divorced for refusing to show
herself to the Kings guests at a
feast. The events are described in
the first chapter of the Book Of
Esther.
@. Why are some American troops
being returned to the United States
on British ships?-G. L. v.
A. The troops recently returned
to the United States on the liner
Queen Mary travelled as the guest of
the British government through the
operation of reverse lease-lend.
@. Where was william I pro-
claimed German Emperor?-S. I. E
A. He was proclaimed Emperor
in the Hall of Mirrors in the palace
of Versailles, his headquarters dur
ing the siege of Paris in 1871.
@. Who was the first President to
die in office?-K. E. D.
A. William Henry Harrison, who
died from pneumonia contracted
after exposure to cold during his
Inauguration, March 4, 1841. There
were 26 pallbearers at his funeral
and a procession over miles long.
@. Why do the bishops in England
wear gaiters?-M. E. B.
A. This is a relic of the time
when the duties of a bishop took
him from parish to parish in his
diocese on horseback. For the same
reason the bishops hat has strings.
@. Please give some facts about
ti.e eivine sword of Japan.-E. L. H.
A. This is a treasured sword about
1000 years old. According to legend,
it was first used by Prince Yamato
Takeruno Mikoto to cut down
blazing grass which surrounded him