Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-11
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

shaft as used in the days Of Robin
Hood2-C. T.
A. The Archers Company of Pine.
hurst, N. c., says that toxophilites for
many years have accepted 20 inches
as being the length of the cloth-yard
shaft. Elmer's Archery says: Arrows
for men are standardized. and have
been for time out Of mind, at 2s inches.
That Is the real length Of the cloth
yard shaft of the old English ballads
because the Flemish weavers brought
over the continental cloth-yard Of ~
inches, and 1t was 20 called to dis
tinguish It from the standard yard Of
So inches which survives today. With
the inch-long pile added TO It the cloth
yard shaft thus became 2s-inch."
@. How often have real business
Expressions occurred during the past
thirty or forty years?-S. s.
A. Business Conditions Weekly Of
the Alexander Hamilton Institute says:
During the past 20 years about q
dozen noteworthy business recessions
have occurred. The shortest recession
began In 1907 and lasted for only eight
months The longest recession began
In 1912 and lasted for IS months. This
recession, however, may be left out Of
consideration because 1t was abnormally
prolonged by the outbreak OF the World
War. The second longest recession be-
gan in 1910 and lasted Is months. The
average length of these various recess
sions, excluding the one which began
in 1912, was IL months. The one
starting in 1898 lasted IS months; 1895,
months; 1907, 8 months; 1910. 16
months; 1912, IS months; 1917. 8
months; 1919, IA months; 1924, IA
months; 1927, Q months; 1929, depres-
sion not ended"
9. For whom was Hunter College
A. Hunter College Of New York
City was frat opened in 1870. It was
established by the Board Of Education.
1t was named for Thomas Hunter, who
was the first president Of the tnstitu-
ton. In 1880 there were 1907 students
In attendance.
Q: What is the derivation Of the
word "doll"?-O. D.
A. The word Is derived from the old
Saxon dol, whose relation to the Greek
eldoion' likeness or image, Is apparent.
@. : :. Why q is there a salt tax in India'-
A. In many parts Of India, particu-
larly In Madras and in the south, salt
u manufactured from the sea, On any
maritime coast except In Bengal, It can
be made by scraping hollows in the
ground. The sun evaporates the water
and the salt is deposited. Before British
rule each kingdom had its o n salt
duties and different rates prevailed.
When the East India Co. began colon
ization it tried to deal with the salt
problem and after much effort the salt
rates were regularized in the decade be-
ginning with 1869. When India was
absorbed into the British Empire, salt
became q government monopoly. The
Inland Customs Department insisted
that 1t was necessary to restrict all salt
manufacture In the states. During
Lord Curzon's administration, the salt
tax was practically halved to represent
an annual payment Of about twopence
halfpenny 6 cents) per head of popus
lation. Many think 1t should be ABOLISH
ed, but the Official reason for its reteu-
ton in q limited form Is that It serves
as q convenient form Of taxation In the
event Of q war.
q. What is the origin Of the term
''bar sinister"?-M. B. j.
A. It Is derived from . herAldry term,
baton sinister" and signifies nlegitinata
birth.