The southern aegis, and Harford County intelligencer., 1862-06-14
Yolitits am @snsraI gnformatiGa.
WHATS IN A NAME.

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A knowledge of the etymology ofproper
names would spare many a sensitive child
the jars which dissonant name given by
ignorant parents, have inflicted upon it.
The Roundheads Of England, during the
days of Cromwell, were conscientious in
lconferring names upon their children
"It was usual, says Hume Quoting from
Broome's Travels ssfor the pretended
saints Of that time to change their names
from Henry, Edward, &C., into others more
sanctifed and godly. Sometimes a whole
godly sentence was adopted as name"
Think of man named "Search-the-
Scriptures Moreton," or ttFight the-good-
| fght-of- Faith White" or "Praise.G e.God
Atterbury," or worse than all, Of fellow
rejoicing in the euphonious appellation of
/" IT, Christ had -not-died- thou
hadst- been. damned Dobson !"
In assigning name, some regard should
be had to euphony. As parents commonly
call their children by the name of some
friend or relative, with no observance
whatever of the euphonic laws, incongru-
GUS and ill-sounding names often attach
themselves to Others Of different charac-
ter. The old Puritan ancestor was called
"Jedidiah," and the dashing young blade
must take his inheritance, and be "Jedi-
diah," too.
It it were possible to determine the
character, personal appearance or other
distinctive marks Of each individual be-
fore giving him or her name, the beauty
and fitness Of the latter would be much
enhanced by its propriety. If for in.
stance, girl child be Of a fair complexion,
let her be named Blanch, which means
sohite, or Susan, which means lily, or
Bridget, i. e. shining bright. If she be ia
brunette, name her Violet-if gifted with
smooth and flowing hair, call her Julia,
meaning "one vho has soft HAIR" if Of
small size, let her be named Paulana, j. e.
little. And when you discover dawnings
of a determined and infexible disposition,
name your daughter Constance, which ex-
presses resolution. Should this quality,
in later years, degenerate into rudeness
and obstinacy, you might add to the dam
sci yet another name, viz: Ursula, a little
she bear.
The timid child might be we'll named
Ruth, which signifies trembling--the qui-
ct gentle one, Prene, i. 9, peace; or Rosa
mund, Ca rose Of peace)
What a stain did Benedict Arnold
bring upon his good name, for Benedict
(Latin,) bene and dico, is blessed, and Ar
mold is maiatainer of honor. And this
brings us to remark that we are often, as
it were, committed to be good, or noble,
or brave, if we would carry out in our
words and deeds the characters which our
names have given US. Let no man whose
name is Charles, be guilty of amean act,
for his name stamps him with the title Of
noble-spirited. All Georges should turn
their attention to farming, inasmuch as
George signifies husbandman. Ferdinand
is another responsible name, meaning pure
peace. So Henry is rich lord; John,
the grace of the lord; Richard, powerful;
and Robert, famous in counsel, or as an
other authority has it, disposed to rest.
Female names are especially replete
with beauty of meaning, and tbercsponsi.
bilities attached to them are fully as great
as IN some eases before mentioned. -
Young lady is your name Agatha? ma
not that name by an evil thought, for
your name means good !; is it Alice, stain
it not BY plebeian deed, for the name
means noble; is it Anne or Ann or An
ME LET no harsh words eseana vo,,,. l,ns