Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1872-07-20
The Significance of Names.

The significance of names is as
variable us tho clouds, depending
on conditions too delicate to be dc.
fined. Still, names have what might
be termed n quality Of average as
sociation, which translates them to
the mind in not materially different
huos and forms. Nobody consid-
ors Jcrusha fascinating or Mabel
rcpulsivc. Sibyl suggests softncss
and tinencss, and Angelina mawk
ish sentiment. Blood and breeding
seem to lie in Edith, and inclcgancc
and rusticity in Priscilla. Mary,
whom bards have made tuncful in
many tongues, has lost such SAVIOR
as she might have had from the OK
cess Of handling. We think Of her
now in connection with almost any
thing else than grace and lovclincss.
Kate is interesting, though she con
vcys u certain impression of wild
ness approaching hoidenhood. Pau
line is Iackadaiscal, prctcntious, and
shallow. Ruth is simple, genuine,
winning, full Of modesty and merit,
and stcrIingto the core. Ada and Ida
show gentlcncss without strength,
and dolcacy rather than discern
mcnt. Alice is what circumstances
may make her-prctty and spoiled,
needing trial for development, ad
versity for elevation. Amy is Il
child always, even after maternity
and maturity, and nothing can rem
der her otherwise. Stiffness, self
consciousness, and angularity ema-
nate from Arabclla; and Augusta
should be consequential and inhat-
cd without desert. A certain hot
house air might surround Blanche
and Bertha, and they should be
kept there if it bo desirable to pre-
serve their freshness and their fra
GRANGE.
Clara, not to belle herself, should
be pure, atfcctionatc, and free, car
rying with her the form and daint-
mess Of distinction. Eliza is plain,
but profound, and Ella u slender
echo Of what she initiates. When
the average man seeks for q wife,
dcspising romance and discarding
the ideal, he should sue to Esther,
who will perform all sho promises,
becoming the most conscientious of
housekecpcrs, the most devoted
slave of the nursery. A thorough
scattcrbrain is Fanny, whom trouble
spares and adversely does not touch.
Helen is precocious at sixteen, a CO.
quctto till five and twenty, and an
ambitious and match -makirg 6 man.
ma, while she abscnts herself from
heaven to discharge her duty to 50.
ciety. Isabella should be tall and
dignifed and clever, laughing at
what she most sincerely believes,
and wounding with Parthian ar
rows her well-guarded heart. Julia
has tendency to be in love with
herself, undisturbed by rivals. She
secs in her mirror the beauties 9th
crs fail to discover, and her much
proclaimed righteousness is but
phase of her conceit. Jane is likely
TO suffer from lack Of appreciation,
for she wears her Jewels out Of sight,
and is content to be misunderstood
when understanding demands any
betrayal of herself. In sentimental
woes Lconora is ever bound; is most
happy when most distressed. Lou
isc has a spice Of affection, but is
engaging at first and enchanting at
last to those she admits TO the sane
tuary of her sympathy. The image
of Madeleine is shown in tho strict
est conventionality. Sho is a we'll
bred automaton; dresses admirably,
talks faultlcssly, acts bccomingly;
is, in word, n reflection of her sur
roundings because she has not suf.
ficient force To- vary from her pat
tern
Maud affects Tonnyson and tears,
muslin of the whitcst and misery
of the blackcst sort. She is dis
tillation of fsimper, Stiffness, and sem
timcntalism. Miriam, Penelope, Cor
della and Rachel need TO be stately,
calm, and Observation-Disclosures
by many, esteemed by all, and he
loved by one. Phoebe and Phillis
are not urbane in mind or manners.
They are prominent figures in a
landscape filled with farms and
farm houses, and commend them
selves warmly TO the swain crcdu-
lous enough to believe that God the
first garden made and the first city
Cain. The heart of gallantry does
not throb at the mention OF Susan.
nah, who rises TO the fancy with
milk and water eyes, unshapely
mouth, and an ill.ftting gown; but
it beats wildly TO the sweet sylla
bles OF Niola's name, and awaits
with eager expectancy the rega
presence Of Zenobia, too lofty To b,
lightly loved Gdldry.