Evening star., 1935-06-24
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

ton EUenino Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Hdskin, Director, Washing
tom, d. C. Please incIose stamp for reply.
@. Why are so many Jewish people
named Cohen?-E. F.
A. The name Is Hebrew for priest and
Is Jewish family name, implying de-
scent from Aaron and the Hebrew
priests (Cohanim).
@. Are children in Great Britain re-
stricted from attending certain movies7
w. B.
A. The British Board of Film Censors
divides all pictures into two categories:
Those suitable for universal distribution
are labeled U films, and those suitable
for adult audiences are called A films.
When an A film is being shown no
person under 16 is. admitted unless
accompanied by parent or guardian.
@. How may one design stamps for
the Government?-R. s.
A. All postage stamps are designed,
engraved and printed at the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing, Treasury De-
partment. All artists and other persons
having to do with the preparation of
postage stamps are regularly employed
by the Government.
@. What are the names Of Huey
Longs children?-R. D.
A. Senator Longs children are Rose
Lolita, Russell Billiu and Palmer Reid.
Q. Please give directions for q crack
flller.-H. D.
A. A very complete filling for open
cracks in floors may be made by thor
oughly soaking newspapers in paste
made of one pound Of flour, three quarts
of water, and one tablespoonful of
alum, thoroughly boiled and mixed.
Make the final mixture about as thick
as putty, and it will harden like papier
mache. This paper may be used for
molds for various purposes.
Q. What is edema Of the brain?-
]. w. F.
A. There are two forms of edema, or
swelling of the brain: Edema ex vacuo,
an increase of fluid in cavity with un-
yielding walls, such as the skull when
part of the contents has become afro
phied, as through an injury, and in
fanmatory edema, an abortive inflam-
nation of the brain marked by lynn
phatic stagnation or congestion.
@. From what poem is the line, HE
fixed thee mid this dance of plastic cir
cumStance"? A. R.
A. The quotation is from Browning'S
rabbi Ben Ezra"
@. How long have theaters employed
woman usherS?-H. K.
A. In December, 1908, woman ushers
were employed by the Majestic Theater
in New York. This was referred to in
various periodicals as new job for
women.
@. How many Coast Guard cutters are
there's. B.
A. There are 81 cruising cutters, Sc
harbor craft, 4 special craft, 18 165-foot
patrol boats, 80 125-foot patrol boats. IL
100-foot patrol boats, 78-foot patrol
boats, So 75-foot patrol boats and "a
miscellaneous patrol boats. There are
seven cruising cutters under conStruc-
tion, whose length over all will be 327
feet; beam, Al feet; draft, IL feet 3
inches: displacement, 1000 tons; geared
turbine drive.
@. Please give the name Of an early
publisher Of dime novels in this coun-
try.-A. r.
A. The principal publisher of dime
novels was ErastuS F. Beadle, who issued
the first in 1860.
@. What is q teredo?-W. L. L.
A. A teredo Is a Shipworm, one OF
certain peculiar marine molluskS bs-
longing to the same class as the oyster,
which burrow in submerged wood and
are very destructive to piles of wharves
and to wooden ships. Their bodies are
long and wormlike because of the great
development of the united SiphonS, which
are protected by a calcareous tube, the
valves of the shell and the foot being
very small. Two small calcareous plates,
known as pallets, are borne on the
SiphonS The best known and most
destructive species is Teredo navaliS,
found in most parts of the world.
@. When a recipe calls for pinch"
of material, how much is meant?-L. S.
A. A pinch" of material in cooking is
generally about one-eighth of teaspoon
or less.
@. Please give some information about
the earliest circuit riders in the United
StateS.-L. F.
A. Francis Asbury, a follower Of John
Wesley, inaugurated the custom in the
United States in November, It'll, and for
As years travelled on horseback at the
rate of 5000 miles a year. preaching
twice a day on week days and three
times on Sunday. Each circuit was
under the supervision of a Wesleyan
Conference preacher. The salary was
S64 a year until 1900, when it was raised
to $50 a year, with the horse furnished
by the circuit.
@. Please give the origin and meaning
of the word chic.-M. B.
A. Chic, in French artistic slang, is
the quality of facile but superficial
brilliance in a work Of art, or an effect
produced by imagination without refer
ence to a model. In its general sense 1T
connoteS smartneSS in dress. The use
of the word in France dates from the
reign of Louis XIV, when 1t denoted q
lawyer who was master Of chicane or
legal trickery. a
@. How long did Stephen Decatur live
in the famous Decatur house In Wa8h-
ington, D. CIV. G..
A. This was the first private residence
built facing Lafayette Square. 1t was
designed by Latrobe and built In 1919