Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-24
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKlN.

@. What is the meaning Of the old
saying, Beware OF the Greeks when
they offer you gifts"?-F. r.
A. The original. Il fear the Greeks
bearing gifts appears in Vergil's
"Aeneid." The reference is to the siege
Of Troy. The Greeks besieged the city
of Troy without success. Finally they
resorted to strategy. offering huge
wooden horse to the Troians as gift
The horse was taken into the city. and
while the Troians slept the warriors.
with which the horse was filled. came
forth and opened the gates for their
Greek comrades The conclusion is that
one should fear an enemy most when ne
seems friendliest
o. Can sugar be made from IN.
coconut palm?--W. A.
A. In the East Indies a sugar known
as laggery is made from the sap Of this
palm. The sap is obtained by cutting
the flower spathe ana the Juice yields
about Is per cent Of sugar. II Is con-
sumed locally and Is very impure.
Chemically, much Of it Is identical with
cane and beet sugar.
O What does the word "Selah" mean
M. M.
A. The exact meaning Of the word has
been lost, but most authorities agree
that 1t indicated a pause or natural
break in the hymn or psalm.
O. How many books are there in
the District Of Columbia libraries7--
TEN
A. According TO a recent survey there
are over 100000 volumes in over 200
libraries, exclusive Of volumes Of music
and prints In the Library Of Congress.
Counting the latter, also pamphlets.
monographs. etc, there would be over
10000, 900 volumes
@. Why Is 1t that sunken wooden
ships often remain intact for years.
w. w.
A. Wooden ships, after being sunk,
are very rapidly covered with a marine
growth. which forms sort Of lime de-
post and preserves the wood, In some
cases for centuries.
Q. Have ne as many symphony or
chestras as the older European coun-
tries have?-R. r. D.
A. Comparing orchestras In the
United States with those In other coun-
tries we find for 1928 the follow.
ing list: United States, so; Austria, 81;
England, 10: Germany. 10; France, IL:
Belgium. IL; Spain, IL; Rumania. Z.
Holland. s: Italy. Z: Czechoslovakia. 5:
Denmark, 2; Norway. 2; Scotland, 2.
@. What is the rate of Are Of
Browning airplane gun. and Of one used
on the ground?-A. z. II.
A. The rate Of fire of the Browning
aircraft machine gun. the fastest ma
chine gun. Is 1850 to 1900 shots per
minute. and the rate OF fire 81 the
Browning ground machine gun Is $50
to $50 shots a minute.
O. When was the Old Testament
ccmpleted?-D. ". r.
A. According to tradition. the canon
of the Old Testament was closed BY
Ezra and the books probably compiled
about 100 BIC.
O. What State may be said to Be
the leading recreational State?-M. NJ.
A. The State of California far ex-
ceeds all other States in recreation
visitors. including campers, picnickere,
transient tourists. hotel and resort
guests and those taking apartments
on short leases or boarding.
O. When we're surgical operations
first heard Oft. X
formed by the ancients. Among such
operations were trephining. or fracture
of the skull. and the crushing and ex-
traction of stones in the bladder. OF
course these we're all operations per-
formed without anestfesia.
Q. How many Presidents Of the
United States appear on postage
stampsH-J. w s
A. Sixtcen in all They are Wash
ington. Jefferson. Madison, Monroe.
Jackson. Harrison. Taylor. Lincoln.
Grant. Hayes. GARFIELD. Cleveland. Nc
Kinley Roosevelt, Wilson and Harding. +,
@. Please name some mountain
peaks other than the Matterhorn. which
are seldom scaled.-A. G. T.
A. Other peaks that are not COM
monty climbed are Mt. Perdu CPyre-
nees. Mt. Broken tHartZ Mts}. Mt.
Elbruz Caucasus MtsD. Mt. KaZhek
Caucasus MtSD. Mt. Ararat tArnle-
MIA. Mt .Argeus tArmenia). Mt. SIM
iolchum in the Himalayas is as steep
as the Matterhorn and about 5000
feet higher 1t Is built Of great gran
Re crags which throw the broad snow
fields into bold relief It is covered
with a magnificent network Of snow
up 10 its utmost peak.