Evening star., 1926-12-13
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

Q. What letter is most frequently
used for the initial letter of a word?
w. Z. b.
A. Among printers experience has
shown that s is used most often. Z,
p, A, r, D, r, NJ. follow in order. f.
T. A. 1. s. o. N, II, head the list of let
ters most frequently in general use.
O whv is stale air harder to heat
than fresh air?-E. S. L.
A. stale air may feel colder than
fresh because of the lessened vitality
it occasions. There is no appreciabie
difference in the amount of heat alb
sOrbed.
@. Who was the first Christian mar
TYRE. n.
A. Stephen is considered the tirst
The account of his martyrdom Is in
Acts. vii. His execution does not seem
to have had the sanction Of the TO
man authorities and therefore was IL
legal.
q. What biggame animals are tax
en- by still hunting?-N. G.
A. The smaller deer, moose, Carlpou
elk and bears are often hunted in this
fashion.
O. Please give the recipe for mar
malade which calls for one grapefruit
one orange and one lemon.-E. }. &.
A. Wipe fruit and slice very thin
rejecting only seeds and core Of grape
fruit. Measure, and add three times
the quantity of water. Let stand in an
earthen dish overnight, and next
morning let boil 10 minutes. Leave
until next day. then boil two hours
Measure, add an equal amount of SUI
gar, and boil, stirring occasionally
q bout one hour. Pour into sterile
glasses; let stand covered with cheese
cloth until firm, then cover with
melted parafiin.
O. What pension do the retired rail-
way mail clerks receive? Has the
amount been raised lately?-G. II. p.
A The Post Office Department says
that there is no special pension for
railway mail clerks that is different
from other Federal workers. Last
July, 1926, all Federal employees were
granted an increase in pension. OF
course, this included railway mail
clerks.
Q. Is baIsa wood durable?-E. B. 3.
A. It's life is said to be short under
ordinary conditions unless treated
with a preservative.
@. What is the highest elevation
in the Pyrenees?-N. A. n.
A. The highest point in this noun
tain range which lies between France
I and Spain is Pic de Nethou, with an
altitude Of 11,16S feet.
@. What is meant by "Derbyshire
neck"?-L. c.
A. This expression refers to goiter
@. Has a five-cylinder engine been
| used in a passenger car?-G. r. S.
A. The Society OF Automotive En-
gineers says that a five-cylinder' en-.
gine was used in a passenger car
| some years ago. 1t was located over
| the rear axle and had an almost YER
| tical driveshaft instead of horizontal
@. Where is the Holy Land?-
C. E. S.
A. This is the name given by Chris
tians to Palestine. Mohammedans
| however, consider Arabia, the birth
place of Mohammed, the Holy Land
while Buddhists call India, the coun
try of Sakya NUM-. the Holy Land.
Q. What is the origin of the term
! ''meander"?-C. NJ.
| A. In ancient geography, it was
the name of a river in Asia Minor
which was famous for its many
windings.
@ From what prehistoric animal is
the elephant descended?-C. l.. r.
A. The ancestor of the modern
| elephant was an animal called "moeri
therium." He was only or feet
high, had a flexible upper lip and
| long forecisors which, respectively
foreshadowed the trunk and the
| tusks.
@. How much was spent last Sum
mer in repairing the White House?-
| G. L. c.
A. For the remodeling and general
| painting of the White House last
Summer there was an appropriation
made of $4,000. Roughly speaking,
| only three-fourths of this was used.
Q. Where is the oldest pipe organ
in America?-G. n.
A. Frederick Millar, an expert on
organ history. says that the oldest
pipe organ in America is in an Epis-
copal church ait Clyde, n. Y. 1t was