Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-10-10
Name Giving.

| Name Giving.
ga good name is rather to be chosen
than great riches"
am q strong believer in the power
of nomenclature. When asked, What
is in name ?" I point to living replies,
and show how some names stimulate
and encourage the owner, while others
defect and paralyze him." All honor to
Bulwer for putting in the mouth of one
of his heroes, con the altar of the name
of Peter l have been sacrificed. That
name has been dead weight on my in
tellectual energies. My son shall not be
petrified into Peter !" He then quotes
Mr.. Shandy's pleasant words, of pleasant
memory and delightful saver, even at
this far off-day: "That among the re-
probabilities of APPARENT, the choice Of
the name his child is to bear through
life is one of the greatest" My favorite
Bulwer, to quote him again, says: " If
you want the BOBBY to turn the world
topsy turvy you had better call him
Julius Cesar, or Hannibal, or Attila, or
Charlemagne. "The choice OF name
lies between the two extremes Of ludi-
crous insignifcance and oppressive re-
|
to gentleman who sent him word that
he had named newborn son for him.
"Don't make mistake. Never name
child after living man. This is the
counsel give always, and most sincere
ly. Who knows that may not fail 2
1, too, may faint or may turn aside to
false gods. hope not, but this is one
of the mysteries OF the future.
1 once met q strong anti-slavery youth
who bore the name of Martin Van
Buren,. He was born while New York
sat in the presidential chair, and his
father named him after the chief of the
land. But the youth did not find the
sentiments of the late Mr.. V. B. such AZ
he wished to be associated with"
A name should neither he too light
nor too heavy. A baptismal that pro-
vokes ridicule is heavy burden to
carry "from the cradle to the grave"
Sacrifices are offered, and banquets
given in honor of the name-day in
almost all lands. A pretty custom
among the Jews is the name-verse. A
verse in the Psalms is selected the first
and last letter of which, corresponds
with the initial and final letter Of the
name. 1t is carefully written out, COM
mitted to memory, and repeated every
night at the conclusion Of prayer. After
death good angel is supposed to de-
scend and inquire the name. A good
Jew or Jewess remembers and repeats
the verse, and rests in peace, but il
their life has been evil, the sacred text
will all have passed from their minds.
One of the principal ceremonies pro-
formed by the Greeks on the name day
consisted in carrying the child around
the fire followed by all the women in
the company. BY this means the newly.
born babe was supposed to be placed
under the protection of all the house
hold gods, to whom the pagan hearth
was always cOnsecrated. An olive
branch was hung at the door if it were
boy, and fleece Of wool if it were q
girl. Sometimes they decided upon the
name by the Fates. Different names
were attached to a certain number of
tapers. and the name was chosen from
the taper that burned the longest, sup
posing that would insure the longest
life. Chrysostom inveighed against it
century the Emperor Andronicus pub.
licly employed this method to deter
mine the name of his daughter. The
Mohammedsns often place five names in
the Koran and draw at hazard. Pytha-
goras is said to have originated the
belief that an uneven number OF vowels
in 81 name was q sure presage OF mis-
fortune, loss OF sight, broken limbs or
some other mischance. Up to this day,
astrological calculations are made by
the Arabs. founded upon the numerical
value OF the letters which compose the
names of individuals.
Christian names are one OF the marks
of civilization and are of much earlier
invention than surnames, and arose
first from some circumstance of birth as
Evan-hairy. Afterwards from COM
plexion, as Edom-red, Fulvius-
low, Don-brown, Blanch--fair, etc.
Next some quality desired for the child,
as David-beloved. Several times in
the Bible epochs are marked by new
name. / have always been struck with
the appropriateness CT Sinon's faint
hearted name being changed to Peter,
signifying rock; 80 glorious in life and
death did he fulfill his divinely ap.
pointed name.
| Inc Japanese take new names at four
different periods of life: childhood,
youth. manhood and old age. The
Chinese receive a "milk name" and on
entering school "book name," in
marriage another, and still another that
he shall earn which is called his lofty
and great name" The Romans also
had four names: the noman or family
name, the cognoman or surname, agno-
men, title of honor. Indian braves
purchase new names with their hearts'
blood. Like Netty Bumpo, every man
received according to his gifts. His
names of Deer.slayer, "Straight
Tongue" Hawk eye" Long Car
bine," The Scout" "Path Finder"
Leather Stocking" and "Trapper,"
mark the different periods of his career;
an epitome of his history. Among the
Arabs they give names in ridicule SET