This is a short summary (from a description provided by Lars) of how
special types are handled.  It describes how the static, private, nomask,
and public type modifiers affect the definition of variables.  Any of
these type modifiers may precede a variable or function declaration.
E.g. a static integer variable x would be declared as follows:

static int x;

A private static function xyz that returns a string would be declared as
follows:

private static string xzy();

o 'static' variables: Will not be saved at save_object(), nor modified at
  restore_object(). 'static' functions can not be called through
  call_other(). 'static' inheritance will make all inherited definitions
  'static'.

o 'private' variables and functions: Can not be accessed by an object
  inheriting their definitions. Functions can not be called through
  call_other(). 'private' inheritance will make all variables and functions
  'private'.

o 'nomask' functions and variables can not be redefined by a subclass.
  'nomask' inheritance will make all inherited definitions 'nomask'.

o 'public' variables and functions can be redefined by a subclass, even if
  they have been inherited using 'private'. 'public' inheritance will make all
  inherited definitions 'public'.