Evening star., 1924-07-04
Answers to Questions
BY FREDERIC ). HAsKIN

Q. Does it take more heat to
evaporate water than it does to melt
tce?-R. S. l.
A. The evaporation Of one gram of
water consumes 537 heat units or
calories. while the melting of one
gram of ice consumes only 79 calories.
@. How much wool 10 used In the
United States?-A. r. R.
A. The total consumption Is 640,-
100000 pounds a year, which amounts
to about six pounds for each person
in the United States.
Q! What bonus did the government
pay to the railroads during the world
war?-R. K. G.
A. The bureau of railway economics
says that no bonus has been granted
or paid to railroads since land grant
days, about fifty or sixty years ago.
The government paid the railroads a
rental for their use during federal
control, December, 1917, to February,
1920. of $944,639,3O4.2S per annum
Any earnings of the railroads during
this period were taken by the Rail-
road Administration, the railroads
receiving merely a fiat rental based
on average earnings Of the carriers
for three years ended June 80, 1917.
Q. What do the three white stripes
on sailors jacket stand for?-J.
T. B.
A. The three white stripes around
the collar of a sailors jacket and the
black neckerchief are traditions from
the British navy. The neckerchief is
mourning badge for the death of
Nelson, and the three white stripes
represent his three victories-Trafal-
nd nhox
Q. In rubbing two sugar loaves to-
gether in very dark room a
phosphorescent light is caused. What
Is the reason for it?-F. T.
A The bureau of standards says
that this phenomenon, which is
known as tribo-luminescence, is one
OF the several examples of lumine-
scence which are at present but lit
tie understood. The term "lumfne-
scence" Is applied to the property of
producing light without the applica-
present instance the light is produced
by friction. A similar result is OBJ
tained by crushing crystals of
Uranium nitrate in a mortar.
O.; What was an escarelle?--B.
A: This was an old kind of purse
which hung from the belt.
Q. How can hardened paint brushes
be put in condition?-C. W.
A. They should be soaked in raw
linseed oil for twenty-four hours, and
then placed in pot of benzine After
time, work the bristles with the
hand until they are separated, when
the paint will soften so that it will
wash out Ordinary fiber brushes may
be soaked in laundry soda water un-
Nod ~l n
soap and water.
Q. What is the derivation and
meaning of the word "Zion"?-P.
K. D.
A. Zion is a form of the Hebrew
older word meaning ito be dry" Ito
set up or ito protect" Arabic anal
oB1es favor the meanings hump
summit of ridge" and so "citiadel. "
Zion was properly the southern part
or the eastern hill on the top of
which the temple was built.
.. Why do we speak Of our am
bassador to England as ambassador
to the court Of St. James?-w. C. D.
don residence Of the British kings
from the time of William III to the
accession of Queen Victoria. During
this period the expression, court Of
81. James, came to be generally
used, and is still maintained as the
ofnclal designation of the British
court.
9. Who wrote the story about the
lady who threw her glove into a lions
den, commanding her lover to return
it to herr. s.
adapted by Schiller, Leigh Hunt and
browning. but was originally told
(about 1850 by Pierre Ronsard.
Q. How can peppers be peeled for
canning?-F. r. NJ.
A. Place the peppers in a hot oven
fom six to ten minutes, until the
Skin cracks and blisters, but do not
let them burn. The skins can then
be easily removed with a slender par
ing knife.
O. Does the moon rotate on its
axis? If so. how does 1t happen that
we see but one side Of the moon?
IT. r. P.
A. The moon does rotate on it's
axis. The exact coincidence of the
moons period of axial rotation with
that of its revolution about the earth
is generally accepted as due to tidal
influence. The moon is believed to
have been plastic at one time, and
great tides must then have been pro-
duced by the earth's attraction.
Q. Where do marabou feathers
come from?-R. A.
A. Marabou feathers are the deli
cate white feathers obtained from
under the wing Of the marabou stork.
a native of West Africa.
Q. What is meant when it is said
that an airplane taxis?-N. M 1.
A. To taxi is to run an airplane
over the ground or a seaplane over
the water.
q; What is Barmecide feasts-
A. Barmecide, . character in Arab
to dinner and set empty dishes before
him.
Q. What per cent of sugar is there
in the following: Raisins, dates and
figs7-C. A. B.
sugar. dates 66 per cent and fgs 4s
per cent.
@. Is the country in South America
called Brazil or the United States of
Brazil?-N. E. I. r.
A. The proper name of the coun-
try is United states Of Brasil, but the
Pan-American Union says that 1t is
more generally known as Brazil The
name Brazil is from the Portuguese
"braza," meaning live coal, ana was
applied to the country on account Of
the color of its dyewoods.
@. What is meant by . plenary
conference?-L e. S.
A. A conference fully attended,
with authority to. take final action,
is a plenary conference.
Did yo0 cuer to7tte letter to
Frederic H. H0skSHf YoN con ask
our Information Buyedu any Ques-
/ tiop of fact and get the anssoer in
q pcrsonol letter. This Is q part Of
that best purpose OF this nesos.
pdper-SERTICE. There u 10