Evening star., 1933-10-14

better than usual on account Of traffic
to and from the Chicago Worlds Fair.
@. What mix Of Portland cement
should be used to chink log cabin?-
F. w.
A. Most of the difficulty with chink-
ing material is due to the application
before the logs have thoroughly sea-
soned and dried, the shrinkage and
warping of the logs opening up gaps be-
tween them and the chinking material
The chinking should be continuous from
the front surface to the back surface
with no space between. The mix sue-
gested for use would be composed OF
one part Portland cement to three parts
of sand by volume.
@. Please give directions for can
ming pumpkin?-E. A. 80.
A. The best pumpkins for canning
are those which color and ripen evenly.
Wash the pumpkin, cut into slices and
steam until tender. Remove the pulp,
from the shell and heat 1t thoroughly
in a pan over boiling water. A double
boiler is a convenient utenSil to use for
this purpose. Spices may be added to
the pumpkin If desired, and the flavor
obtained by cooking the spices in at the
time of canning IS better than making
the addition at the time Of using. The.
following proportions of ground spices
is generally used: For each quart Of
steamed strained pumpkin add one-half
cupful of brown sugar, two teaspoon
fulS of cinnamon one teaSpoonfu OF
salt and one teaspoonful of ginger. Stir
the pulp until of smooth, even con-
Sistency, pack into cans or jars while
hot, and process in water bath inter-
mittently one hour on each Of three sue.
cessive days or process in a steam-pres =
sure outfit for IS minutes under 10
pounds of pressure. .7
@. Have ships or trains ever been
lost in quicksands?-C. F. r.
A. Historical records show that ships
have been engulfed in quicksands. In
1703 thirteen warships were lost In a
night and the wrecks entirely swallowed.
The effects Of quicksands were well
illustrated in 1875 by the sinking Of a
locomotive and train at Pueblo, Colo.
The train sank beyond discovery though
probed for to depth of so feet.
@. Why ARE restaurants in this
country often named Pig g. whistler
e. Men.
A: They are named after a famous
OLD English inn in London Of the same
name, which was famed as early as the
seventeenth century for its good cook
ing.
Q. What insects destroy books in
this country?-S. O..
A. There are two insects which
characteristically destroy printed mat
ter-the silverfish and the book louse.
However, cockroaches damage the cloth
and leather bindings of books the paste
used on the cloth covers and in the
bindings being very attractive to them.
Q. What country first used playing
cards?-F. P
A. Many nations claim the invention
of playing cards, but it is generally be-
lleved that they came from Asia, prob
ably China. The Great Chinese Die
tionary G678) states that they were Ia
vented in the reign Of the Emperor
Seun-ho in 1120 AID.
@. Is there scientific explanation
for the working of a Ouija board?-E.
G. M.
A. Study Of the phenomena Of ~
Ouija board has led to the conclusion
that its movement is due to unconscious
muscular action. The first step towarc
scientific explanation was made BY
Prof. Faraday, who invented an instru.
ment which would register the uncon.
scious muscular action of any person
placing his hands upon it. This showed
that all persons eXerted more or less .
powerful push or pull action, but quite
unconsciously. Prof. Jastrow proved
further that this action is not only
present and operative in all normal in.
dividuals but corresponds generally with
the expectations of the sitter who has
his hands upon the table.