The Hartford republican., 1921-11-04
QUESTIONS ANSWERED.


In France and Mediterranean coun-
tries they are especially popular as a
delicacy and are considered very
healthful. In this country they are
not popular. though attempts have
been made to cultivate a taste for
them. A less commendable use to
which they are sometimes put In Eu-
ropean countries is the furnishing of
creamy mucous which, produces a
close imitation of cream. The edible
snail was a favorite article of food
among the ancient Romans. II is
extensively cultivated in France as a
food.
Tea Tasting, Profession
Ques. What is a tea taster"?-
Ans. A person who ascertains the
quality of tea by tasting it. This is
profession in itself AS a rule, tea
tasters do not live to a ripe old age;
they die comparatively young from
effects of poison taken into their sys-
tenn. They never smoke, as this
would affect their palates.
Secret of sword
Cues. Can swords really be swal-
lowed PANS. Though in many cases
this is done by illusion. there are 9TH
ers with no trickery connected with
II. In the former the sword or
knife blade merely pushes up into
the handle which is usually quite long
and gives the appearance of Deing
iwsllowed, or the sword is passed
over the shoulder spd behind the
back. When the feat is genuine a
blunt blade IL to Is inches in length
is used. The throat is toughenod by
various chemicals. The blade Is rub
bed with piece of flannel to warm
and clean it. The head is thrown
back as far as possible and the blade
carefully lowered into the throat.
The Bible and Shakespeare.
Ques. Are there more words in-the
Bible than in Shakespheare's writ
pgs?-Ans. The Bard's writings
include S14,7SO words as compared
20 1862 in the James l. Bible.
Shakespeare's plays number over l.,
2TO characters; one of whom tIIam-
let) has IL .61O words to speak. Ham
let is his longest play, containing as
it does 1880 lines, while the Comedy
Of Errors" is the shortest. with 1777
lines.
Introducing q Bill In Congress
Ques. Can bill be introduced in
congress through eithsr house, or
must it first come up in the house of
representatives ?-Ans. 1t may orig
nate in either house, unlss it is one
which provides for the raising of rev.
anue to support the government. In
this case, owing to constitutional pro-
vision, it must first be introduced in
the house. This was thought to be
part of the wisdom exhibited by franz
ers of the constitution, for the mem
bers of the house, coming fresh from
the country every two years, might
DE expected to know more clearly
than the senate the wishes and re-
sources of the people.
Lost Atlantis a Supposed Myth
Ques. Is there a country named |
'Atlantis?'--Ans. A supposed Is
land of that name is mentioned by |
Plato as the home of a gerat nation
which was submerged by the sea. 1t |
was said to have existed thousands |
Of years ago in the Atlantic ocean, I
west of the Strait of Bibraltar. and |
in size was larger than Libya and |
Asia Minor. II was the reputed |
home of a great nation that con-
luered western Europe and Africa.
says the gods submerged it
in the sea to save humanity. The leg
end is accepted as true by few, who
cite the shallowness of the ocean at
that point as proof, as well as his
torical records of the ancients. There
are some others who think il refers
to an early discovery of America. The
world, however, accepts the story as
a myth. The island, according to
Critias, was the passage to other
islands and to another continent, of
which the Mediterranean sea was on
ly the harbor; and the empire of
reached to Egypt and Tyr
rhenia.' Homer, Horace and some
others tell of two "Atlanticas," dis
as the Hesprldes and the
Elysian Fields. Biologists say that the
coast lina of western Europe did run
further in the direction of America
than now; but its submergence seems
10 have taken place long before his
tolc times, so the whole ancient story
about the lost Atlantis probably rests
on some legend, but whether the
same is based on facts is impossible
now to determine. The original