The San Francisco call., 1908-07-24
Answers to Queries


MORTGAGE. c., City. Is mort
gage on real estate given as security
for loan valid if not recorded?
The object of recording a mortgage
is to give notice to third party. AS
between the parties a mortgage is just
as effective for its purpose without re-
cording as with
CHARCOAL-A. S, Vallejo. Is sugar
produced from charcoal?
In the process OF making sugar char
coal is not used 1t will not produce
sugar.
SHEENEY-S., Oakland, Cal. What
is the origin of the word sheeney?
Sheeney is cant and is intended TO
mean a sharp fellow. The origin OF
the word is obscure. Barrere holds
that it is probably from Schema
schema jaudes lischkol," meaning
stupid fellow who does not know
enough to inquire for anything. Thus
there are two definite, diametrically op-
posites in meaning about the word.
The dictionary of American fElang
says it is slang and is term OF OPP
probrium. The New York Sun some
years ago declared that in the middle
ages the Jews used to curSe their enc
mics with the expression, 'Misah Nee
schina," meaning, mayest thou die one
of the five deaths. This curse became
common, and English speaking people,
taking the terminal sound from the
people, corrupted that into "sheeney"
and applied it as q designation or the
people.
RUTH cLEvELAND-W. L. B.. City.
When and where was Ruth, daughter
of the late Grover Cleveland, born and
when and where did she die?
Born in New York city in 1891. died
in Chicago, January 6, 1904, at the age
of 1S, of diphtheria and heart failure
CITIEs-w. P. ST.. Oakland. Cal.
Please print the names Of the so most
important cities in the world, also the
names of first 19 nations of Importance
in the order of their rank.
Cities are important for particular
things, and as the correspondent does
not designate the character OF i'm
portance, it is not possible to give an
answer that would be satisfactory. The
same relative to nations.
DAMON AND PYTHIAS-A. F., City.
What is the exact story of the friend
ship of Damon and Pythias?
It is that of Damon pledging his own
life for the return of his friend Pythias,
who had been condemned to die
and who was granted an opportunity
to go to his home. You will md the
story told in prose and verse in the
free library.
GoEBEL-H. F. s, Bakersfield, Cal.
When was Governor Goebel of Ken
lucky killed?
William Goebel, thirty-third governor
of Kentucky, was assassinated Feb
ruary 8. 1900
THE oREGON-w. F. r., City. When
and where did the United States bat
tleship Oregon run on the rocks off
the coast of China?
June, 29, 1900. 35 miles north of Che
fu, China. She was gotten off, taken
to Japan and repaired.
STAMPS Subscriber, Montague. Cal.
What is the meaning attached to the
placing of stamps in certain positions
on envelopes?
Stamps may be arranged on en-
velopes in any manner that two corre-
spondents may agree upon. and they
will mean just what they wish to con-
vey one to the other.
EXPATRIATION-L. z. B., Fruitvale,
Cal What is the new law in regard
to Americans expatriating themselves
IN a certain number of years?
The act of March 2, 1907, provides:
'Any American citizen shall be deemed
to have expatriated himself when he
has been naturalized in any foreign
state in conformity with it's laws, or
when he has taken an oath of allegi-
ance to any foreign state.
when any naturalized citizen shall
have resided for two years in the for
eign state from which he came, or
for five years in any other foreign
state, it shall be presumed that he has
ceased to be an American citizen, and
the place of his general abode shall
be deemed his place of residence dur
ing said years; provided, however, that
such presumption may be overcome on
the presentation of satisfactory evil
dence 80 diplomatic or consular Of
ficer of the United States, under such
rules and regulations as the department
of state may prescribe; and provided
also, that no American citizen shall be
allowed to expatriate himself If this
country is at war;"
COMMERCE AND LABOR-Reader
City. How many secretaries of COM
merce and labor have there been in the
cabinet since the Office was created?
Three-George B. Cortelyou, 1908:
Victor H Metcalf. 1904. and oscar S.
Straus. 1907.