Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-12
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.
Why is holly so called?-M. G..

@. Why is holly so called?-M. G.
A. The name molly rs said to be
derived from the use of the branches
and berries to decorate churches at
Christmas, from which the tree was
called holy tree.
@. In shipping. what is meant by
the phrase bill of health?-N. N.
A. This refers to a certificate of a
consul, or health officer. as to the
health of the crew, when the ship has
come from a suspected port. A clean
bill, a suspected bill, and foul bill are
the three short names given to the
several degrees of health.
O. Where did F'rieda Hempel make
her debut?-T. NJ. l..
A. She made her debut as the
Queen in 1.-The Huguenots" at the
Royal Opera in Berlin in August, 1905,
O. When does the hunters moon
appear?-G. N.
A. The full moon Immediately fol-
lowing the harvest moon is known as
the hunters moon.
O. Who designed the Parthenon?
Give some information concerning
other work of the architects. A. A.
A. Ictinus, the chief architect or
the age of Pericles, designed the Par
thenon at Athens, the great hall for
the mysteries (Telesterion) at Eleusis,
and the temple OF Apollo Epicurius at
Phigalia. He is said to have written
an architectural treatise on the Par
thenon.
O. What illustrated weekly is the
oldest?-V. r.
A. The Illustrated London News is
the oldest illustrated weekly. 1t was
founded in 1912 by Herbert Ingram.
@. Why do authorities differ con-
corning the distance Of the North
Star?--P. ID.
A. The United States Naval OBJ
servatory says: The parallax, and
hence the distance of a star, is very dit
fcult to determine accurately. The DIS
lance of A light years for Polaris is an
old value obtained about 40 years ago
All modern observations, made with
improved instruments and methods. in
crease this distance very much, but
even yet it is by no means accurately
known. The best values of the paral-
lax from modern observations give the
distance as 200 light years or more.
The value of the parallax adopted in
the star catalogue recently issued from
this office gave a distance of 800 light
years. If at any instant the North
Star ceased to give out light, the light
given out during the 800 years pre-
ceding that instant would be received
at the earth during the 800 years fol-
lowing that instant.
@. When and where was rye grain
first known?-W. H. w.
A. The nativity of rye appears to
have been in the region between the
Black Sea and the Caspian. Its Gull
ture has been chiefly in the north, and,
though ancient, is not of the highest
antiquity. 1t bears more cold than
any other grain, thrives on light and
otherwise barren soils and can be
grown continuously on the same spot.
1t is most extensively grown in central
and northern Europe. where it forms
the almost exclusive breadstuff of
large populations. 1t is less nutritious
than wheat, though in that respect
standing next to it.
@. What is the derivation Of the ex-
preston joss house?-K. S.
A. The word joss is corruption of
the Portuguese word deos, meaning
God. Joss house is a term applied to
the Chinese temple, or house for the
Chinese mode of worship. 1t Is a COL
loquial term.
Q. How do Eskimos bury their
dead?-D. d.
A. When an Eskimo man or wom-
an dies, the body, is removed from
the house through window or
through a hole in the wall, never
through the doorway, since this might
induce the ghost to return. The