The San Francisco call., 1910-08-28
your Job
Answers tOQueries
Herbert Kaufman

SARDONIC-C. F. G., Santa Rosa What is
inc the origin or derivation of ''sardonic," as In
a sardonic SMILE?
The word is -spelled sardonic and
cardonic and is as old as Homer.
Some dictionary compilers say that 1t
comes from sario, to show the teeth
like snarling dog, and others from
sardonion, the name of Sandman
plant, which is said to distort the face
of the one who eats it. Sir John Haw-
klns In a note on the word in Wal
tons Angler" in which Venator uses
1T in reciting the verses at Nottingham
cross, says "Feigned or forced smiles,
from the word sardon, the name of an
herb resembling smallage and grow
Ing in Sardinia, which when eaten by
men contracts the muscles and excites
laughter, even to death
CROSSING THE BARN. L.. City. Have
heard it stated that Alfred Tennyson. the poet
laureate, wrote Crossing the Bar while on
sickbed- If so, what were the circumstances?
1t appears that while Tennyson was
i'll, but on the road to recovery, his
nurse said to him that while he had
written many poems, he had never pro-
duced one that might be called
hymn" and the nurse asked: Can
you not write a hymn? 1t might help
and comfort many a poor sufferer"
The following day he handed the
nurse piece of paper, with the re-
mark: Here is the hymn you wanted
me to write" 1t was Crossing the
Bar" 1t was sung in Westminster
abbey at Tennyson's funeral.
SUNDAY. A. Dannemora N Y. What is
the first and seventh day of the week, accord
ing to the bible?
The word Sunday does not appear
in the bible, but is now in common use
for the first day of the week, which
has taken the place of the Jewish Sab
bath, and should be properly called the
Lords day, as the day of the resurrec-
tion of Christ These are the re-
marks of DIR. Schaff. theologian. The
great majority of Christian churches
celebrate the first day of the week,
Sunday, instead of the seventh (Sab-
BATH. The Sabbath was the name of
the seventh day of the week among
the Hebrews.
HoMESTEAD-JA A., Dannemora. n. Y.
What are the requirements for one who seeks
TO take up homestead on government land?
This department has not the space
to give the law on this subject, but an
application for a homestead may be
made by any one who is an American
citizen or who has declared his inten-
tion to become such and is the head of
a family. If you will write to the de-
partment of the interior, general land
Office, Washington, D. c., for copy of
Suggestions to Homesteaders and
Persons Desiring to Make Homestead
Entries 1t will be sent to you and
that will give you full information on
the subject
CALLING ON THE BRIDE-C. NJ, City.
Should person who has received invitation
to attend a wedding call upon the bride whom
she has never met and if so, how long after
the wedding has taken place?
A., f,,tr i+o+ ip,a 70
carry with it an Invitation to call
upon the bride after the wedding
After the honeymoon invitations to call
on the bride are sent out and 1t may
happen that some who were invited to
the wedding may not be invited. II
person receiving it should make the
call on the date named in the invita-
ton.
BLARNEY STONE. N. B.. Los Gatos
What is the origin of the phrase kissing the
Blarney stone,' and where in Ireland is it?
Blarney is a village in the County
the city of Cork. An old castle in
Blarney has in it a stone. the kissing
of which is believed to give the kisser
peculiar skill in speech.
AMERICAN BoRN-T. c. B., Fort Bragg.
II child is born in the United states, but
the parents shortly thereafter are employed
in some foreign capacity is that child an
American?
A child is native of the country in
which born, irrespective of where the
parents may go after the birth.
ADOPTION--E. L.. Oakland A father has
deserted his child and the mother wants me
to adopt it. What steps should take 10 make
the adoption legal and what will be the cost?
You can do so by application to the
superior court for adoption papers,
through an attorney.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. City. Read an item
were wrapped in sarplier. What is sarplier?
1t is the name of kind of coarse
cloth made principally of hemp.
GEM-G. c., Alameda. What is the gem
for the month of June and what does it SYM
bolize?
The gem for that month is the agate.
1t symbolizes long life and health.
SPIDER AND THE FLY-P. E. NJ. City.
Who is the author of the poem entitled. THE
Spider and the Fly?
Mary Hewitt.
HARI.AND--sub Oakland. Where is
the home of Marion Harland?
In summer at Pompton, N. j., and in
winter, New York city.