The San Francisco call., 1910-08-15
Answers to Queries

MEANING OF o. XIV. c., West SawaDZey,
n. II. What is the origin of o. X?
These letters, which in this country
mean "all right" or "alI correct" origi-
mated it is said, with Jacob Astor, the
old time millionaire of New York He
was looked upon in commercial circles
as a man of great information and
sound judgment and was a soAt of gen.
eral referee as to the solvency or
standing of other traders. If note of
inquiry as to any particular trader
came, the answer to which he intended
to be satisfactory, he was accustomed
to write across the note 20. k which
he explained was shorter than to write
"all correct"
r. II. Buxton in Jennie of the
Princes" has the following to show,
that the initials mean all correst: You
are quite safe now and we shall be off
in a minute says Harry. The door is
locked and the guard 0. X"
LEGION OF HoNoR-F W, City. Noticed
in The Call that the cross of the Legion of
Honor had been conferred on Pauhan. the air
shipman. What is that cross and what is the
legion?
The legion is French order of merit
instituted by Napoleon Bonaparte May
10, 1902 when he was first consul as
recompense for distinguished military
and civil service. The original cross
was 10 pointed, of white enamel edged
with gold, the points connected with a
wreath of laurel and in the center was
an effigy of Napoleon. At one time the
comforting of the cross was a great
honor. but in time, the insignificance of
many persons on whom it was con-
ferred detracted much from its value.
At one time nearly 10000 persons wore
the cross.
PLUMED KNIGHTS Subscriber, City. How
did James G. Blaine receive the title of ''The
Plumed knight?
1t was taken from a sentence in the
speech of Colonel Robert Ingersoll
when at the convention in Cincinnati
he nominated Blaine for the presidency
and said: Like an armed warrior, like
a plumed knight, James G.. Blaine
marched down the halls of the Ameri-
can congress and threw his shining
lance full and fair against the brazen
forehead of every defamer of this
country and maligner of it's honor"
SPECIAL PRIVILEGES a. c., City. In
discussing race suicide recently one person said
that in ancient Rome special privileges were
granted to men with large families. What were
| they?
| A man with at least three children
| was entitled to a better seat at the
| amphitheater than one who was less
favored, while any one who was the
| father of IL children was entitled to a
robe of honor and a pension.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. City Is primary cleo
tion day legal holiday in California:
Section 10 of the political code says
"The board of supervisors or other
governing body of any county. town
| city or city and county, may declare
the day on which a primary or other
election is held in such municipality to
| be legal holiday therein
| DECLARATToN-H NJ. City Is it neces
sary for a foreigner TO make a declaration of
! Of IL and has resided here ever since and has
now passed his majority?
| No foreigner can become a citizen
of this country until after he has made
declaration of intention to- become a
/ citizen.
AILIGAToRs.J. L. H.. City. 1t has beer
told me that alligstors are produced from eggs
Is that true?
The female lays from 20 to so eggs in
the mud, and leaves them there to be
| hatched by the heat of the sun, but
keeps a watch over the spot and shows
much affection for the young.
DIREcToRY-.w. Fl. S.. Oakland. wher
was the first directory of San Francisco pub
/ lished? Are there any copies in existence? II
! so, where are they to be found?
I
/ the state library in Sacramento and
there may be one in the free library
Oakland.
BLACK RosEs>Subscriber City. Have blacb
roses ever been produced?
No black roses have been produced
but there are roses of so dark a purple
that under certain circumstances they
may be mistaken for black
SHELLS-M c. H. city. How can l ascer.
tain how many varieties of known sea shell
/ there are?
BY going to the free library ano
reading books on conchology.
|
RELIEF HOME-A. NJ. f.. Los Gatos Where
| Is the relief home for the aged and infrm in
San Francisco located?
On what was formerly known as the
Almshouse tract.
TANNING-B.. Moss Landing. What is ths
| proper way to a seaskin, remove the hal,
and not injure the hide?
/ BY the process of tanning