The San Francisco call., 1909-01-30
Answers TO Queries

Jose Cal What is the i'phlosopher's stones san
That is the name applied to a red
powder or afnalgam used to drive off
the impurities of the baser metals.
The word, in this expression, does not
mean the mineral so called. but the
substratum or article employed to pro-
duce certain effect. The ancient
alchemists thought there was a sub
stance which would convert all baser
metals into gold. This substance they
called the philosophers stone"
According to legend Noah was COM
manded to hang up the true and gem
uine philosophers stone in the ark to
give light to every living creature
therein In searching for this stone Bot
fischer stumbled upon the invention of
Dresden porcelain; Roger Bacon on the
composition of gunpowder; Gerber on
the properties of acids; Won Helmet on
the nature of gas, and DIR. Glauber on
the salts that are known by his name.
The powers attributed to the stone
were first given to the world by Zosi-
mus in the fifth century. The ANAL
gam formed into a stone is said to
bring the wearer wisdom and virtue.
MUSHROOMS H. b., Oakland. Cal Is
the climate of California unfayorabie for the
growth OF mushrooms, especially around the bay?
The climate is not unfavorable. The
counties that front on the bay produce
many natural grown fungi. Expert
ments by gardeners in San Francisco
and vicinity to raise mushrooms on a
small scale out of the mushroom sea-
son have proven Successful, but such
We're never carried on to any extent.
MACHINIST-w. E.. Oakland Cal. What is
the pay and what are the duties of warrant
machinist in the United States navy7
The pay for the first three years is
$1,000, for the following three con-
secutive years $1,000, for the ensuing
three years 81. 400. for the fourth con-
secutive three years $1,000 and after
twelve years $500. The duties of the
Office are embodied in the name
BOoKs-A. A. D.. City. viii the public
library in this city purchase books5
Submit list OF the books you have
to the librarian at the Hayes and
Franklin street library and he will be
able to tell you if they are needed, and
what their value would be to the IL
brary If acceptable.
DECgoUIx BRoTHERs-G. r.. city. when
were the Decrouix brothers, Fred and Louis.
drowned in the marshes OF San Mateo county
several years ago?
The drowned body of Louis was dis
covered in a submerged skiff. Decem-
Der IS. 1901 and that of Frederick in
the marsh, January 8, 1902.
WOMAN MAYoR--A f. S. City. Who was
the first woman mayor in England7
England's first woman mayor was.
Mrs. Garrett Anderson, M. D.. sister of
Mrs. Millicent Fawcett, we'll known
English suffragist leader.
CROKER-F. r. F.. Santa Rosa. Cal. Has
Richard Croker. formerly political boss of
New York city. renounced his American citizen
ship?
He has, and is now citizen of
Great Britian.
DRAMATIsT-B. H. y. City. Where does
George Bernard Shaw. the English dramatist
-eside?
(, No. 10 Adelphi Terrace, w. c., Lon
don, England.
LITTLE MINISTER subscriber Oakland Cal.
United States7
Maude Adams, in New York city, in
1896.
FOREIGN PAPERs-s. Monterey. Cal Where
Any first class book store will pro-
cure such for you.
MRS. MURPHY,s cHowDER-A. H. H..
Berkeley. Cal. Can one of the readers tell me
where | could find a copy OF the old time
comic song entitled sswho Threw the 0vernlIs
in Mrs. Murphy's ChowderT5