Evening star., 1932-09-07
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

q. How many tons Of mud are carried
into the Gulf Of Mexico by the Missis-
Eppt River?-J. d.
A. The Mississippi River has Q total
annual discharge at It's mouth Of 7e5,-
100, ,000, 900 cubic yards, and the total
amount Of sediment carried into she
gulf annually Is about 406, $50 900, 900.
tons.
@. Was there o time whan physicians
were paid by the year by their patients?
A. This was done m Colonial days.
They are said to have presented their
bills with commendable dehberation."
q. Please identify the Englishmen
bearing the name Of Bulwer-Lytton.
who have occupied important places In
literature-W. w.
A. William Henry Lytton Bulwer,
180l-72, was a distinguished British
diplomat. He produced important lit
erary works, including Life of By
ron" He was raised to the peerage as
Baron Dalling and Bulwer. He had o
younger brother, George Earle Bulwer-
Lytton, 1803-73, who wrote many novels,
among the. more famous being Ernest
Maltravers," "Rienzi," The Last Days
of Pompeii' and THE Last of the
Barons" He also was raised to the
peerage as Lord Lytton. His son was
Edward Robert Bulwer- Lytton, 1881 81.
He also entered the diplomatic service,
acting as secretary to his uncle when
the latter was Minister at Washington.
This younger Bulwer-Lytton was the
poet who wrote under the pen name of
owen Meredith and produced Lucille,
the Wanderer." and heavy volume of
other verse. He became viceroy Of
India and was created Earl Of Lytton.
@. When was the first contribution
made to the conscience fund in the
United States Treasury?-C. H.
A. The conscience fund was opened
with contribution of IS in 1911.
Money received for this fund is not
carried on the books of the Treasury
Department as such, but Is listed as
miscellaneous receipts. The amounts
sent in range from cents from q per-
son who failed to put stamp on O
letter when mailed to several thousand
dollars from persons who smuggled
goods into the United States without
paying import duty. Usually the sums
sent are small. No special use Is made
of the money. It simply goes into the
general funds Of the department.
@. Why is It reported that airplsne
flyers in Bolivia are not equipped with
parachutes?-D. o. C.
A. Bolivia Is q very mountainous
country, with consequent rarity of
atmosphere. This makes the rate of
descent Of parachute so rapid that It
Is dangerous to life and limb.
@. In poker, II two fiushes are held
Of identical cards, which suit Is higher?
"A. H.
A. In poker all suits are of the same
value. Should two or more hands of
identical value be held the pot is d.
vided.
@. What makes the sap run out of
the bark on peach and cherry trees?-
P. T.
A. Gumosis in fruit trees Is caused
by number Of factors, the most i'm
portant of which Is Winter injury,
Winter injury is damage to the surface
OF the trees bark, caused by too quick
thawing after cold spell. This breaks
| the bark, and may cause the sap to
exude in places. The remedy Is to re-
move carefully all portions Of damaged
or unsound bark and to protect the
bare parts OF the trunk by some pre-
servatiye, such as coal-tar creosote.
@. What Is the function of an actu-
ary in q life insurance company
w. A.
A. He is the officer who deals with
the mathematical side Of the business.
He computes premiums, 0sh and loan
values, ETC., and apportions dividends.