Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-03
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

q. How much silk is obtained from
a single cocoon?-.B. Is. s.
a. A single cocoon of good quality
may furnish from 400 to 500 yards Of
reliable filament.
@. What is the origin Of the term
"Pig and Whistle" as applied to
coffee houses?-W. W.
A. Some authorities believe it to he
corruption of Peg and Wassail.
Peg" is from the low German
"pegal." meaning a measure of liquid
capacity, such as was marked by
pegs in peg tankard." "Wassail"
is an old expression OF good wishes,
also the liquor used for drinking
healthS.
@. OF what are sea shells com.
posed?-C. Z. b.
a. The Bureau of Standards says
that shells are made up of alternate
layers of a horny material and cal
cium carbonate containing "a little
organic matter.
Q. Why does the freezing point on
Fahrenheit thermometer come at
80 u. T.. IT.
a. The freezing point Of the
Fahrenheit thermometer is obtained
by immerSing the bulb in melting ice
and marking at this point the column
of mercury. In order to lessen the
use of minus degrees, the thermom
eter was so graduated that the freez
ing point comes go above zero.
q. What is scrapple?-J. VI. IL.
A. Scrapple is the product consist
ing of meat, or meat byproducts
mixed with meal or the flour Of grain
and cooked with seasoning materials
after which it is poured into n mold
Q. Is the Diesel engine made by
American engineers built on the
same principles as the German one?
M. l.. ID.
A. The Society of Automotive En-
gineers says that the two outstanding
mechanical features Of the Diesel en-
CINE are that it congresses pure air
instead Of an explosive mixture of all
and fuel vapor, and that ignition is
effected by the heat of compression
The combustion of the charge pro
ceeds at, or approximately at, con
slant pressure. The term Diesel en-.
CINE" is very often misused and the
only Diesel types Of engines are those
with the two outstanding mechanical
features as outlined above. The Diese
type of engine, as built by American
engineers, is built on the same prin
ciples and operated In the same man
ner as the German-built engine.
Q. Why does wood alcohol poison
| ing so often result in blindness
l. NJ. G..
A. Wood alcohol acts on the blood
vessels, causing hemorrhages. The
| tiny arteries of the retina of the eye
are often ruptured. causing loss o.
sight.
@. Has the sHawaiian swimmer
| Duke Kahanamoku. ever played OF
| the screen?-C. NJ. E.
| A. He is appearing in 1.-THE Eagle
of the Sea- In which Florence Vidol
and Ricardo Cortez are also featured
Q. What is the oldest organ in ex
| istence and where Is it?-M. p.
A. The oldest organ now in exist
ence of which we have been able t.
| trace any record is one dating bacl
doubtedly played on by him. 1t Il
kept In the picturesque church of st
George. built before AID. 100. in tn
little village of Rotha, near Leipzig
@. What country was referred. t.
as the key to the European Ed
fice"?-P. NJ.
A. Poland was so called by Ma
poleon /.
| Q. Have the Philippine Islands {
national f1ag?-C. c. r.
A. They have a flag. 1t is red
white and blue. The upper half 1:
blue, the lower red, with a white
triangle extending through the cente
from top to bottom. In the centel
of this triangle Is q yellow sun anC
in each corner is a yellow star.
Q. What Is the comparative value
oF Farr, buildings and farm imDle