Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-02-28
For the Waterman and State Journal.
WHATS IN A NAME! WHY MUCH



Who will not exclaim against filling sheet
of paper we mean-upon so trifiing mat
ter as that OF bestowlng christian names upon
little babies? Verify we say it is no trifng
matter. To begin we will speak Of the prac-
tice which is quite common hereabouts, and,
for ought we know to the contrary, in other
parts; to wit, the giving children double
names, or two distinct christian names, and
then invariably calling them by the second in
stead OF the first Of said names, a practice
" hich we aver to be utterly ndefensibe and
highly improper, inasmuch as it is equivalent
10 introducing people to The world under the
disguise Of wrong name. 1t is no unusual
occurrence after social intercourse with per-
son for years, 10 discover all at once Il at his
real name is different from the name by which
you have always known him; and it some-
times happens that the first knowledge a mer-
chant or lawyer has of the proper and lawful
name of person they have known for a con-
! siderable time, is before Justice Of the Peace,
! when one finds he has got wrong name in
his book, the other in his writ. Why cannot
Parents, whether they bestow upon their little
paragons two names or twenty, let that one
come first in order which they prefer speaking
at length? We would pronounce the custom
here alluded to as not merely improper, but
absolutely absurd did we allow ourselves the
! shall not thus characterize il.
The custom of bestowing a string Of names
upon a child when one would abundantly an
swer every purpose for which christian names
are designed, or calling them by the names Of
distinguished personages, we feel no DISPOSE
| ton TO quarrel with, as the exceeding weak
ness it denotes in the fond Parent, has stron-
ger claim upon our commiseration, than the
custom is deserving our apprehension. Yet
we cannot conscientously pass it by, without
deprecaing on bthalf Of the poor children, a
practice which will frequently in after life cx-
pose them 10 comparisons, which, whatever
the doaiing parents may dream 10 the contra
ry, will seldom be 10 their advantage. Would
it not be more kind and considerate 10 desig-
nate a child by some name, which, while il
would not expose him TO uniavorable compar-
isons in case he should, by some mischance,
disappoint the confident expectations OF his
fond parents, would, in the event Of his rising
TO eminence, inst re 10 him the enviable honor
Of adding another 10 the already existing list
Of distinguished names
Giving children the same christian name as
their fathers or those near Of kindred whose
surname is the same, is also an Objectionable
practice. Ii in n measure defeats the object OF
insliluting christian names, which was for the
purpose Of distinguishing between those Of the
same surname. When two or more have both
the same christian and surname, it subjects all
who ever have occasion TO speak of either 10
the necessity Of resortng to such mode Of de-
signailon as suggest itself at the moment, as
which John Smith do You mcanl mean The
old man, or the young man, or the father, or
the son but more frequently some mode Of
distinction, originating in accident or waggery,
adheres 10 the name through life as long
John, limping john redhaired John, etc. And
; il some Of these additions happen 10 be dis.
pleasing or provoking, the individuals to whom
they are applied, have generally to thank their
afectonate Parents, for occcasiong the neces.
slty OF an atiix or cognomen OF some sort, to
distinguish them from others Of the same name
Again We cannot refrain from remonslra-
ting on behalf OF the poor children against III,
practice OF bestowing upon them christian
names, which, either of themselves or in con.
junction with certain surnames, are liable to
call up some luJcrous idea, or are readily sus
ceptible Of come ridiculous para phrase, which
both moriify and irritate, and encourage dis
=, position 10 harbor secret i'll will towards the
associates, or beget certain pugnacous pro
pensities, hich it is sometimes difficult {,
0 leave behind when they exchange their schoo
2 companions for the society of men.
Giving children long break jaw names, o
h names difficult OF articulation, 10 almost invo