Evening star., 1924-04-22
Answers to Questions
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN

Q. Why is Lent so called?-A. b.
A. The word is derived from the
Anglo-Saxon lengten, meaning to
,lengthen, and was so called because
the period of special penitence comes
in the early spring, when the days
begin to lengthen.
@. Do ships convert sea water into
drinking water?-J. Il. l..
A. The large ships distill sea
water by process of evaporation
which eliminates the salt. Some of
the smaller ships stfll carry drinking
water.
q. How far from land Is the
Island of Elba? M. l..
a. 1t is in the Mediterranean Sea,
about five and one-half miles south
west of Prombino. Italy.
Q. Are rhubarb plants raised from
seed as good as from divided roots?-
+. f.
A. Those raised from seed may or
may not be as good. When it is
necessary to produce a definite va
riety the plants are raised from di-
vided roots.
Q. What is the name of the hold
used In wrestling in which one man
puts his arm around the others neck,
his breathing M. =.
A. This hold is termed "the head
lock grip" Stranger Lewis uses this
grip to win his matches. One person
sits on the floor and holds the OPP
ponent's head in his lap He raises
his arm around and across the nose
of his opponent and, using his left
arm as a lever, draws ii tight. so as
to make 1t difficult for the opponent
to breathe.
Q. How can / drill a hole in a
porcelain vase in order to make an
electric lamp?-C. NJ.
A. The bureau of standards says
that holes in glass and porcelain are
usually drilled by means of copper
tube rotated in drill press: The
tube should be the size of the de-
borundum suspended in water is fed
to the copper tube during the drilling
operation.
Q. Does the film OF a motion pic
ture stop in front of tho lens for
each photographic. y.
a. The film stops each one-thirty-
second Of second when the camera
is being operated at a normal speed.
Q. Where do sea Culls go at night?
E. +. Il.
A. The biological survey says that
at night sea gulls sleep on the water.
In the event of storms they some
times seek shelter in coyes.
Q. Can birthmarks be removed p
Z. H.
a. a birthmark is merely the re-
suit of excessive development of
fibrous tissue. hair, blood vessels, or
pigment in CirCumSCribed area. sur
gfcal treatment is generally pre-
Scribed for the removal of birth
marks. Among the methods employed
are electrolysis, X-rays and the use
of chemical cauStics, such as nitric
acid or the acid nitrate of mercury.
The removal of a birthmark is a deli
cate operation and should only be
performed by a competent physician.
Q. What are the dark places in
Roquefort cheeseP-G. NJ. T.
A. The dark spots on Roquefort
cheese are 4 mold cultivated on bread.
This mold is mixed with the curd and
this gradually permeateS the white
mass. giving it u mottled blush color
and imparting a characteristics flavor.
Q. Is il true that a humming
bill consists Of single hollow tube,
which cannot be opened?-A. r. s.
A. The bill of the hummingbird
does open, but the lower mandible
fits into the upper The biological
survey says the tongue of the hum
mingbird is a double tube.
@. How high a wind has been OBJ
served in the United States?-S. L. y.
A. A wind velocity of 13s miles an
hour has been recorded on Cape
Lookout, n. c.
Q. How should a concrete floor be
prepared for dancing?-F. w. C.
A The floor may be treated with
ffa,,r iy sy0,
followed by a coating of powdered
wax worked onto the floor in the
same way that a wooden floor is
waxed or polished. Or the floor may
be coated with a lather of liquid
soap rubbed in with scrubbing
brush An occasional application of
powdered soap will keep the floor in
condition.
Q. Could you inform me where the
located?-O. O.
A. The steering wheel of the Maine
is in the National Museum at Wash
ington. The mainmast is at Airing
ton national cemetery. The wreck
proper was sunk in 600 fathoms of
propriate ceremonies had been OBJ
served.
Q. In poker, must the cards be
cut -. NJ =.
A Cutting the cards before the
deal in a poker game is optional.
They are offered to the player at the
dealers right. If he refuses to cut
them. no other player may demand
the right to cut.
Q. Name some other discoverers of
Columbus time?-A. w.
A. Among the greatest discoveries
of Columbus time were Nincente
Pinzon, Amerigo Vespucci and Fran
cisco de Orellaya.
(Any reader cun get the dns1oer to any
question BY trviting The Star Infornld-
ton Bureau, 1890 North Capitol street.
This offer applies strictly to Information.
The bureau cannot giUe Gdpice on legal,
medical and financial matters. 1t does
not attempt to settle domestic troubles,
nor to undertake eIhGlLstipe research on
any subject. Write pour question plainly
and briefly GfUe fun name and address
and i7ctose cents in stamps for return,
postage. All replies are sent direct to
the inquirer.)
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