Evening star., 1928-04-23
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

This is special department devoted
to the handling OF inquiries. You have
at your disposal an extensive organiza-
tion In Washington to serve you in any
capacity that relates TO information.
Write your question, your name and
your address clearly and inclose q
cent stamp for reply. Send to The
Evening Star Information Bureau. Fred
eric j. Haskin. director. Washington,
D. C.
@. What is anise used for and what
yield per acre may be eXpected?-M. G..
A. Anise Is grown chiefly for It's
aromatic seeds (fruits), which are used
incidentally and also in baking and for
fiavoring confectionery. The oil dis
titled from the seeds is used medicinal
ly in cordials and also for fiavoring va
rious beverages Yields of anise seed
are quite variable, since the plant IS
very sensitive to unfavorsble weather
conditions. In good season from 400
to 500 pounds per acre may be reason
ably expected
@. What Is meant by the practice Of
Fletcherism?-F B.
A. FletcheriSm Is a theory advo-
Gated by Horace Fletcher that perfect
health requires and is maintained by
complete mastication, or a chewing of
the food into pulp.
@. How can / refinish a childs
blackboard?--L. E. G.
A. Paint the board with ordinary
black paint such az will dry with a
gloss then apply coat of black paint.
mixed with turps instead of oil. which
will dry dead black
O. What is the plot OF The Dyb-
buk %. E. B.
A. The Book Review Digest thus
gives the plot: Contrary to an old
promise 10 wed his daughter to the son
OF a friend Sender has consented to
another match for Leah Channon.
now scholar I'm the synagogue. Is
Leah's betrothed He hears Of the ap-
preaching wedding and. despairing OF
his love. turns from piety to blasphemy
and dies. On the wedding day, at The
| eliminating moment in the ceremony.
/ the dybbuk-ChannOn' disembodied
| sDirit-enters the body of his predes-
/ tined bride and takes possession Of her
! the terrified father begs the re- bbis To
/ try to exercise the dybbuk In the
/ final scene the exorcism takes place
I
/ Leans body her spirit follows it,"
O. Does one-fourth Of the popula
| ton live In the Eastern part of the
United States?-K. j. II.
/ A. Over third OF the population OF
/ the United States lives in the North
| eastern section. which includes the New
| England States. New York, New Jersey
Pennsylv9 mia, Delaware and Maryland
@. How many submarines did Ger
many lose during the wars D.
| A. Germany is reported to have lost
203 submarines, while Austria lost 20.
i O. What punishments were given tC
/ criminals in Rome?-F p R.
! A. The following punishments were
meted out to the offender in ancient
| Rome: The mulcta. or fine; vincula i'm
| priSoment or fetterS; verbera. OF
! stripes: talio. or infliction of punishment
| similar to injury. i.e.. limb for limb;
| infamia public disgrace. by which the
| delinquent. besides being scandalized
was rendered incapable of holding pub
! lie Office and deprived of other privileges
OF Roman citizenship: eXilium. banish-
ment death. either civil or natural
| Natural death was brought about by
/ beheading Scourging. strangling. OF
/ throwing the criminal headlong from
/ the Tarpeian rock. or from place
| in a prison. from the Robur.
O. How many people visit the Metro
| politan Museum of Art in New York
annually. and what is the cost OF main
| tenance?-O. N
A. The report of President Robert
w de Forest gives the number of viSi-
tors at the main building in 1927 as
| .209,lT6, and at the cloisters 3S.34S.
The cost of maintenance for the year
was Sl.388.7l245.
O. Who originally composed the song
"CaSey Jones"?-I. Z.
/ \. According to Robert W. Gordon,
author of old Songs That Men Have
| Sung" referring TO Casey Jones" This
song In the form In which 1t is CON-
/ monty sung today Is the product OF
Eddie Newton and T. Lawrence Siebert
and was copyrighted by them In 1909
| They did not originate the song. but
merely made a new version built upon
| older material. Much of this material
was In the form OF scattered StanzaS