The San Francisco call., 1910-01-26
Answers to Queries

SWAN SoNG---J. s.. City. What is meant by
the song2
The ancients called the swan the bird
of Apollo or of Orpheus and ascribed to
1t remarkable powers. which it was
supposed to exercise particularly when
ten on the supposition that this was
true, and one of these. DR.. 6. Doane.
wrote:
What is that, mother2" 'oThe swan,
my love;
He is f1oating down TO his native grove.
Death darkens his eyes and unplumes
his wings
Yet the sweetest song is the last he
sings
The same idea is expressed by Kath-
ryn r. Brooks in Best Selections" and
j. G. Whittier in American Anthology"
but investigation has proved that the
bird, while it has soft, low. pIaintive
voice, with but little variety which is
heard chiefly while moving about with
its young, does not sing when it dies.
EATING Subscriber City Is it advisable
to take hearty meal when laboring under
state Of great excitement?
medical book says: Never sit down
to a table with an anxious or disturbed
mind; better intermit that meal; eating
under such circumstances can only pro-
long and aggravate the condition of
| things. Never sit down to a meal after
any intense mental effort, for physical
and mental injury are inevitable
oPTIoN-E. d. w. City. What is meant by
an option on real estate?
In real estate transactions an option
is deposit of certain sum of money
by an intending purchaser who agrees
that within specified time he will buy
the property or forfeit the deposit
SOLDIER-P. J.. s.. City 70 whom should
I address a letter Of inquiry about a soldier
who died while IN the volunteer service during
the Spanish American war?
Write to the adjutant general of the
state in which he enlisted, giving name,
place of birth, age, branch of the serv-
ice in which he served. also the COM
pany if known.
Fl. FIVE HI HuNpRED-E.. H, City. Was there
matter of bidding as high as 10?
In the early rules OF the game there
was the following: rNo>bid can be made
for less than six tricks If no one bids
six or more the cards are punched and
the deal passes to the left
BURNIsHING-F. c.. City. Some time ago
| yon answered a. correspondents question about
then burntshing Whatpart Of the process is
that?
Furnishing is performed with spe-
cially prepared tools for particular uses
and consists in rubbing, for the pur-
pose of producing smooth surface
COUSIN GERMAN-A. s.. Oftv. Which chill
dren are known as cousin german?
The children of brothers and sisters
are usually denominated first cousins or
cousins german. In the second genera
tion they are called second cousins
REAL ESTATE-E D. W, City why do
capitalists prefer investing in improved rather
| than in unimproyed real estate?
In one case the investment brings
immediate returns without further out
lay of capital and the other is specu-
lative.
A. PLAY-M B. Turiock What steps must
be taken in order TO write play from a book
without fear of getting into trouble?
If the book is copyrighted communi-
cate with the author of the book and
ask permission.
ELECTRo-CHEMISTRY- a. O. s. CITY.
What is understood by electro-chemistry?
1t is that branch of general chemis-
try that deals with chemical changes
produced or caused by electrical en-
ergy.