Evening star., 1924-07-22
Answers to Questions
BY FREDERIC j. HAsKIN

only 80 hours and s minutes going
east, while it takes "a hours and 35
minutes on the westward trips?-
w. J. r.
A. The Post Office Department says
that the reason for the schedule OF
the air mail plane is the fact that
going west there is prevailing
head wind which delays somewhat
The planes also stop at Rawlings go-
ing west, whereas they do not COM
ing east.
Q. Which coal makes a hotter fire,
pennsylvania or Colorado anthra-
cite?-E. M. v.
A. Analyses made by the Bureau
or Mines indicate that Pennsylvania
and Colorado anthracites have ap-
proxlmately the same heating value.
Q. What state had the largest pop
ulation when the first census was
taken?-A NJ
A. Virginia was first with a popu-
lation of 1850, Pennsylvania sec
lima. 393,751; Massachusetts, 37s,7S7,
and New York fifth with 34O,l2O.
Q. Why was the name straw berry,
given to the fruit?-V. L..W.
A. The name "strawberry" is de-
=
act application of the word stray
to the berry is uncertain The old
Ansio-Saxon word literally means
that which ~ rcattered about" and
was originally applied to the broken
Stalks or grain after threshing. In
connection with the berry, the word
may be taken in the sense of a long
stem, referring to the runners of the
plant, or 1t may allude to an old
habit OF stringing the berries on
straw. The word is often explained
as corruption of the supposed stray
perry or even as referring to the
common use of straw or hay about
the plants to keep the earth from
solllnS the berries. No corresponding
WORD appears in other languages.
Q: When was the English sparrow
orousht TO this country. H. G..
A The English sparrow was
brought to the United States from
england in 1850 by Nicholas pike and
otner directors of the Brooklyn Insti-
tute, when eight pairs were liberated
in Brooklyn, N. Y.
Q. How old is the Roya1 Geopra.
phlcal Society of England I'm. G.
a This society was founded in
1880. It's object is to collect.
register. digest and print in a cheap
ana convenient form such useful and
discoveries
the society might from time to time
acquire 1t has always welcomed to
It's fellowship those anxious to fur
ther this object by their interest and
support as well as those able to take
more active part in their work Of
discovery and explorations
Q. Is there an air gun designed
ilke pistol and of the same
size?-R. f.
A. The National Rifle Association
does not know of any air gun that
is designed like a pistol. 1t would
De impossible on such a design to pro-
cure barrel length sufficiently long
TO permit the construction of a suffi-
ciently strong spring and air COM
preston cylinder.
Q. How long have cucumbers been
grown?--W. n G.
A. The cucumber is one Of the
Oldest of the garden vegetables. 1t
had its origin some 5000 years ago in
the Far East, probably in India.
Q. What is lemon sole?-J. EB.
A. 1t is a kind of founder. 1t is
hSh well liked in England and is
found near Boston and Gloucester on
our coast. 1t is called lemon sole on
account of it's light color.
Q. What is pariah?-A. C.
A. The word is used to mean an
outcast or one despised by society
This is not what the word meant orig
lnally, since a pariah was not an
outcast nor the lowest in caste rank.
but a member of low caste in
Southern India and Burma, just be-
low Sudra rank.
Q. Why does one speak of some
thing not wanted as white ele-
phant?-M. w.
A. 1t was the custom of the King of
Siam to send a white elephant to a
courtier whose fortune he wished to
destroy; hence something one has
and does not know what to do with
Q. How is white sauce madeo-M.
A. The making of white sauce de-
pends upon the use to which it is to
be put For soups, use one cup milk
one tablespoon fat and one table
spoon flour. For cream sauces, dou-
bic the amount of flour. and when
using the sauce as a binding agent
tcroQuettes, etc.) use four tablespoons
of flour to one cup of milk and one
tablespoon of shortening.
Q. How long did it take Noah Web
ster to compile his dictionary?-M
E. r.
A. Noah Webster began his prep
aration for his American Dictionary
of the English Language in 1907, and
"Compendious Dictionary" both Of
which were probably helpful in the
new Undertaking: The American
dictionary contained 10000 more
word and about 10000 more defini-
tions than had appeared in any Eng
lish dictionary published before his
Q. What language did Pennsylvania
Dutch come from?-O. E. B.
A. The idiom of the PENNSYLVANIA
Dutch is really high German. 1t is
fusion of Franconian, Alemannic
and other German dialects, with an
admixture of English varying from 1
per cent in rural districts to a large
percentage in towns.
@. Who was H. HIS. GA.
A H; H. was the pseudonym of
Helen Maria F'iske, who was Mrs.
Hunt and afterward Mrs. Jackson.
@. Is there any means of softening
the bristles of toothbrush that
seem hard enough to injure the gums?
H. D. T.
A The bristles of a toothbrush may
be softened by soaking in hot water.
@. Kindly tell me in what year
was the rain of stars.-A. Z. NJ
A. The Naval Observatory says you
probably refer to the great star show
er of November IL, 1888, which lasted
five or six hours, and was seen every
where in the United States.
Q. What is meant by the initials
A. M. after a date?-M. u.
A. The initials stand for ammo
mundi, in the year Of the world.
Q. Was Claude Duval a real or fic-
titious character?-L. D.
A. Claude Duval was a notorious
highwayman, born in Domfront, Nor
mandy, 1643. He was a follower of
the Duke Of Richmond at the time of