Evening star., 1932-09-12
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS :
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

G. How many bridges are there across
the Mississippi River?-R. B.
A. There are 100.
@. How many books did Elder Brews-
ter have in his cabin at Plymouth?-
B. r. G. .,>..--
A. He had over 400 volumes.
q. What is the meaning Of the term
cover charge?-E. H.
A. The term Is applied to the charge
made for the privilege Of occupying 9
place at a cafe or restaurant table. II
Is derived from the French word,
convert, which means einner things,
such as knives, forks and spoons, with
which a place at table Is set.
@. Where was the first radio broad
casting station in England that gave
p-ograms?-C. T.
A. In England the first station was
that Of the Marconi Co. at Writtle. near
Chelmsford, which began broadcasting
two daily programs February 23. con-
tinuing to March 6. 1920.
@. Where did the present system Of
punctuation originate?-D. N.
A. The system of punctuation as we
now use 1t was introduced by Venetian
printer, Aldus Manutius, in the latter
part Of the fifteenth century. Little
change has been found requisite. the
modern points came into use gradually
after the invention of printing, the
comma, parenthesis, note OF i1terroga-
ton, and period being the earliest in
troduced, and the note Of exclamation
last.
arcn
he has had exactly the same experience
before when he knows that 1t Is not
pcssib,e?-L. B. r.
A. The condition is known as parsm-
nesia. 1t is a common experience, and,
briefly explained, the reaction depends
upon little trick Of the mind mani
tested by momentary loss OF sense
of time and space. The individual
enters into an experience or a situation,
obtains a deeting impression OF this
situation, then the attention Is momen-
tarily attracted to something else. Inc
ueriod of time may be almost m
finitesimal. Then upon the return OF
the attention to the original SITUATION
this lapse Of time Is lost to the indl-
vidual and the period between the Two
experiences seems occasionally 10 eA-
pand into long period, even INTO tns
remote past. Another explanation, Wnicn
is based on more recent psychological
investigations. holds that ones uncon-
scious mind sees much more tnan the
attentive conscious one. and that .
situation, even to its details. may De
taken in without paying direct con-
scious attention to 1t. Then a moment
later when the faculties Of the conscious
mind are at work On the situation tne
experience seems to have been experl.
enced before. Here, again, the lapse Oh
time between the two impressions may
be greatly overestimated and expanoeo.
@. What is meant by saros in speak
ing of eclipses?-T. H.
A 1t is a time interval Of ID years
10 days, being 223 times the time elaps-
ing between two successive new moons
and 242 times the period OF the moon
in its orbit around the earth There-
fore 1t is the principal period between
eclinses-any eclipse which occurs y
repeated after Is years 10 days
@ How far is it across the Sahara
Desert at its greatest length?-J. D:
The greatest length is 5000 miles.
@ What does 'gnosis" meanf-T. P.
A In philosophy 1t refers to Q deep,
mystic, spiritual wisdom, based upon
faith rather than on reason
@. How large a rattlesnake has been
found?-R. P. 49,. !.
A The largest Of which there Is
record was 8 feet inches IN length,
with a girth (not diamater, as previous
ly stated of Is inches at its thickest
part.
@. Who invented the airbrake?-
@. II. D.
A. The airhrake was invented by
George Westinghouse, jr., in 1859. ms
was known as the straight airbrake' On-
jections to this led him to invent IN
lara the automatic airbrake. In 1887
he invented the quick-action triple
valve brake, and in 1897 he placed On
the market the high-speed brake.