The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-11-16
Give i'd a Name, I Beg"

= A name to be really a name ought
to belong to one possessOr. There is no
sense in his sharing it with dozens of
other people. But parents seldom look
at things in this light. They do not
consider the value to their offspring OF
a definite title, which shall nOminally
distinguish them from the rest of man
kind, but give them names which please
their parental fancies or inclination,
without regard to the future needs of
the poor little creatures. Thus is con-
tinually increased that copy of Johns,
Williams and Marys which threatens to
Overwhelm and render useless the
nomenclature Of civilization. We speak
advisedly. We do not nowadays ma
terially increase our stock of %surnanles.
They must remain at about the present
level while their pOssessOrs increase
with the increase of the census. What,
then, a we do but vary IL Christian
names? These are left entirely to our
choice and Judgment, there is no reasOn
| why they should not be made of value
to those who must wear them all their
lives. And a good name-withOut any
| reference to reputatiOn-is SO very val
liable indeed, that every man and wo-
| man is entitled to one. The law takes
care that ships and streets and towns
shall have distinctive titles, and there
| are even rules i'll force to prevent q
confusion of names among race horses
| and fancy cattle. But the poor babies
are left to the whims and fancieS of
their parents, who from vanity or hope
| of gain, from the desire to please some
friend OF relative, NJ from admiration
| Of some noted person, give their chill
| dren names already ONned-ChriStian
names, surnames and abby numbers
of other people In their own family and
elsewhere. The practice of using a
family name as a given name is an e&-
cellent one, if said family name is ap-
piled ~judiciOusly but the business of
naming children " for or latter" other
members Of the family ought to be
stopped by law. 1t is often n COmpli-
ment to the older owner Of the name,
but it is an imposition upon the child
who hasa right to a name all its own.
Handsome or not, let it be distinctive.
We would rather be called BromptOn
| Stolumite Higgs than &. W. MOntmo-
| rencis. If there were any other male
MOntmorencis it is ten to II some
of them would be G, W. too. We
know a leading journalist ina neigh
boring city who was suspected OF beng
| CUIICCI HCN HI CAlCALiAS ."ONh INV
aud was, at the same time, avoided by
a large portion of his relations be-
cause OF an improper and secret mar
rage, when all the time 1t was another
man of his name who cheated in wool,
and still another who had sought the
Secret altar. One of the most accom-
pIished writer's of the day is often credi-
ted the most mOurnful trash because
several other persons who write for the
papers have exactly the same name.
We know a large family, all living i'll
the same house, where there are three
ladies of precisely the same name, It
was SO, pretty and touching--and. cruel
to give them that f~ayOrite family,
name. But examples are not needed OF
the mischief of this confusion Of no
menclature; we all know of it. SO if
you have a baby Ito christen, take the
advice ofSairey Gramp-we can't go to
her for advice in many thlngS11and
give it a name. IL that shall be all It's
own.-[Home and Society, Scrlbners
for October.