Evening star., 1924-10-03
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

~. HOW IS perfume exLTdCteu ITOIIl
volets?-Y. B. j.
A. Flowers for perfumery are grown
chiefly in France and Italy. The fresh
ly picked blossoms are placed on sheets
of glass covered with lard. When this
lard has absorbed as much oil from the
flowers as it will contain it is shipped
to perfumerS. The extract is obtained
by melting the lard and dissoving it in
purified alcohol. so as TO leave only the
essential oil This is mixed with other
ingredients to make a perfume.
Q. Please give a practical definition
of a successful life?-F. NJ. n.
A We suggest the following state
ment made by II. G.. Wells in an
article in the American Magazine
Wealth. notoriety. place and power are
no measure of success whatever. The
only true measure of success is the
ratio between what we might have been
and what we might have done, on the
one hand, and the thing we have done
and the thing we have made of our
selves, on the other"
@. Was hydrotherapy known TO early
heaIers?-C. b
A. Hydrotherapy, or the use OF
water for curative purposes, was en-
medicine" in the fourth century, B. G,
O. Would not improvements i'll road
construction prevent many accidents
c. N T.
A The Bureau of Public Roads has
made a study of the auSeS of highway
accidents and it lists the following as
dangerous: Blind curves and road in
tersections sharp curves on embank-
Nt.<.rN aFlyI
row bridges sharp convex vertical
curves, slippery road surfaces, steep
grades, narrow road surfaces. low or
rough shoulders, steep crowns. SHARP
curves at bridge and underpaSS ap-
proaches, grade crossings, unsuperele-
waited curves. This particular list Is
limited to the dangers which highway
engineers can eliminate or which car
be lessened by warning signs.
O. Is il true that gas can be pro-
duced from straw?-S. T. g.
A Tests conducted by the Bureau OF
Chemistry show that gas produced
from straw may be used successfully
for lighting and heating and as motor
fuel. but indicate that use of this ma
terial for the production of gas on the
farm is not practicable.
Q. Who was sent to notify George
Washington of his election to the presi-
dency e. q. X
A. The secretary of the Continen-
tai Congress, Charles Thomson. was
sent to Mount Vernon to notify
Washington.
Q. Is insanity increasing in the
| United States? e. y. o.
A. In 1890 there were 10000 in
sane persons in the country. Recent
/ figures show more than 100000 in
! 1924. Inmates of asylums and other
| institutions treating mental disorders
are increasing about 3 or per cent
annually.
Q. When and where was the first
subway constructed?-LA G..
A. The urgent need of an under
ground railroad was first felt by the
| city of London. A tWo-track under
| ground railway running from Edge
ware to Kings Cross was begun in
| 1853.
| Q. What is the significance of the
| little light which ] saw burning
| above the tomb of Mumtaz-I- Maha1
when / visited the Taj-Mahal?-A
J r o.
A. You evidently refer to the lamp
| which Lord Curzon, with special per-
| mission. placed in the Taj-Maaal in
memory of his first wife.
O. Does the Patent Office send out
| a list of important, needed inven-
| tions?-I L B.
a. 1t does not. Such a list was
reported at one time as having been
| suggested by the British Patentees
| Institute. The items were as follows
| Shrinkless flannel, a non-skid road
| surface, a furnace that will conserve
| 95 per cent of it's heat, glass that
| bends. noiseless airplanes and some
! that children can manage safely, d