The San Francisco call., 1909-12-13
Answers to Queries

PoRTUGAL-M NJ Sacramento Cal When
was Portugal founded? When did it become in
dependent OF spsinl Who was the nrst king
How many kings have there been since then
Did any Portuguese discover any land:
Portugal is the ancient Lusitania.
The present name. is derived from
Porto Cello. the original appelation of
Oporto. After a nine years struggle
under Viriathes, the Lusitanians sub
mitted to the Roman arms about 137
B. G. Portugal underwent the same
changes as Spain on the fall of the
Roman empire. 1t was conquered by
the Moors in 730. Alfonso Henriques
defeated five Moorish kings in July,
1139. and was proclaimed king. Since
then Portugal has had 3S kings and
rulers Magellan discovered the
| straits that We're named for him. the
south Pacific ocean and islands in the
Pacific.
sILvER-F R.. City. If recolIect right
silver dropped very low about the middle of
1897. Can you give the figures Of that time for
the white metal:
In dispatch to The Call, under date
OF July 2S, 1897. appears the following
"London-Today silver bars touched
2essd, the lowest figures on record.
New York--Bar silver was quoted here
at 81 q a G57ise, decline from yesterday.
and Mexican dollars went down TO
45Xc. The quotation used for bar sill
yer represents the price for which it
can be laid down in London, so that IL
freight charges and insurance were
deducted it would make the real value
of bar silver fractionally lower
SPEECHES Subscriber. Newark. Cal. What
are the requisites for making speeches in pub
Thomas wentworth Higginson in
Hints on Writing and Speech Making
says: The first rule for public speak
ing is to have something Ito say. that
you desire very much to say: and the
second is. always speak in natural
key and in a conversational manner.
The days of pompous and stilted elo-
quence are gone by and it was Wendell
Phillips, more than anybody else. who
put an end to it in this country and
substituted a simpler style
SHORTEST DISTANCE-C. +. D.. City. What
Is the shortest distance between San Francisco
5. W.. by steamer tours. also between san
Francisco and Yokohama via honolulu The
same as to Seattle, Wash
The photographic office furnishes the
following figures:
San Francisco to Yokohama. 4.536 miles
San Francisco to Hongkong. via Yoko-
hama :, ,,.,,;. 1S a5S m,ss a;,
Sam Sam Frsneseo Frsnis to to sxn.1 MaR,.s miles
San Francisco TO Yokohams via Homo
lulu ..........-..... . 400 miles
Seattle to Tiongkong via Yokohama. So miles
Seattle 10 Manila. .5.y6S miles
Seattle 70 Sydney. n. s. w..........6 .6.S27 miles
Seattle TO Yokohama via Honolulu. - 792 miles
FLOwERs-I r.. Bakersfield. Cal. What is
the meaning in the language Of flowers OF a
bunch OF red white. yellow and black prince
roses, one of each. TO a lady from gentleman
red rose signifies love- white
one, / am worthy of you; yellow. de-
crease Of love or jealousy. and black
prince, bashful shame. A white and a
red rose tied together signify unity
If the gentleman intended a message
by this bunch he got somewhat mixed
in his language.
ELECTRIC PIAN0-Subscriber. City. Who
invented the electric piano?
According to ''Moore's Encyclopedia
of Music edition OF 1852. the inventor
was Thomas Davenport of Salisbury.
VT, who in 1851 produced such an in
strument.
CENSUS ENrMERAToRs-L- ID. s.. kim
City Cal. 10 whom should application be made
for appointment as census enumerstor in this
state?
Communicate with the secretary of
the board of examiners. civil service
commissioners, Postofice building, San
Francisco, Cal.
HUSTING-B.. Martinez Cal. Can one. with
ont license, hunt on his own grounds.
Prior to the act approved March %,
1909. a land owner could. but now he
can not, for the law as amended says: