Evening star., 1932-04-19
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

The answers to questions printed
here each day are specimens picked
from the mass Of inquiries handled by
our great Information Bureau main
| tanned In Washington, D. G. This
valuable service is for the free use Of
the public. Ask any question OF fact
you may want to know and you will
get an immediate reply. Write plainly,
inclose cents in COIN or stamps for
| ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, Director, Washing
ton, D. c.
@. If a pitcher Is taken out Of the
box to play a different position during
base ball game, can he be returned
TO the pitchers position?-A. J. D.
A. He can.
@. Is near beer made from the same
materials that were used for beer be-
fore prohibition2-A. NJ
A. Near beer Is beer from which
the alcohol has been removed In de-
naturation plants. The alcohol re-
moved from the beer is used as indus
trial alcohol. The same raw materials
are used as in the making Of the beer
consumed prior to prohibition.
@. Why isn't Arbor day celebrated
on the same day throughout the coun-
try?-H. w.
A. Because Of the difference in
climatic conditions, the best date for
tree planting varies with locality.
@. What Is meant by a pompier used
in fire fghting?-A. r.
A. Pompier is a French word lit
orally meaning q fireman; from pompe
ox,fy1 Tr,
In English the word Is used in the
sense Of flreman's scaling ladder.
@. Who was the Lord Calvert after
whom a number Of things, such as
food products and hotels, have been
named?-D. H.
A. There never has been a Lord
Calvert. Calvert is the family name
Of the Lords Baltimore. Inasmuch as
| no Lord Baltimore ever was In Amer
lea, but sons or brothers Of such lords
who bore the name Of Calvert repre-
sented them here, confusion has arisen
and the title Of lord has been attached
to Calvert, whereas It should be at
tached only to Baltimore.
@. How much do the bank clearings
amount to weekly2-F. NJ.
A. They fluctuate with seasons, but
| average around $4,000, 100000 a week.
| 1t has been estimated that 95 per cent
| OF the Nations commerce Is carried on
/ With checks.
@. How should screens be cared for?
These are not copper screens-W. B.
A. Screen doors and window screens
when being stored away for the Win
ter should be thoroughly brushed and
cleaned and perfectly dry. When the
screens are taken out in the Spring
they should be brushed and cleaned
before hanging and If light coat Of
screen paint is applied before they are
| Put up the screens should last In
definitely. In doing this any little spot
that might have a tendency to rust
/ would be covered and thus prevented
| from rusting or deteriorattng
@. What is a hammer toe?-J. B.
A. It is toe, usually the toe next
! - the big toe, which is doubled under,
there being not sufficient skin on the
under toe to permit it to straighten
| out. Such toes are due to deformity
Of the feet which is often hereditary.
@. What was the name of the white
man who was so familiar with the ian
! guage and manners Of the Arabs that
he was able to join the pilgrims and
enter the sacred city of Mecca?-M. w.
A. Sir Richard Burton was the first
Englishman to enter Mecca, the first to
explore Somaliland, and the first to
find the Great Lakes Of Central Africa.
He was so skilled in the lore of the
desert that he could travel almost any