The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-08-23
Something About Names.


WRITTEN FOR THE COMET,
In tracing names to the Latin origin, w
find many significant, and must have beer
given to suit tho character of the person OF
whom they were bestowed. Amanda sig
nifes worthy of being loved. Alma, cher
ishing; Sophia, wisdom; Mirandi, worthy
of admiration Clementina, courteous,
Augustus, majestic. In Daniels "Divine
Comedy" tho leads his reader to Lucin
light, which has been contracted to Lucy.
When he arrives at tho highest heaven, he
depicts the countenance of beautiful wo-
man enjoying supreme felicity, whom no calls
Beatrice, meaning perfect happiness, and
l suppose, not "Beatrice Cenci." A Roman
Emperor consoled himself for the gaities
of his wife, by saying that ''all Julias were
frail.' Malvina means poisonous herb,
! and Florence and Flora mean flower. All
the Scotch Kings named James were unfor-
tunate. Every Cesar named Caius perish
ed by the sword Julius Cesar had such
faith in names that he entrusted the COM
mand of the African expedition to a name-
sake of the Scipios, because Scipio had
proved invincible in Africa. But in these
days cognomens were given to suit some
popularity or calling of the individuals
thus Scipio Africanus because his con-
quests were in Africa. Adam, the reputed
father Of us all, was 30 called from the red
dust or clay of which he was made; doubt
less Adam was an Indian. Blanche was
first given to Princess of Spain, for the
fairness Of her complexion, thence it trav-
eled to this country, and has been given to
many who were not remarkably white.
I will pass over the Pagan days, and come
to Puritan names, when children were bap-
tised, or christened, and pious souls consid-
cred those names alone christian" which |
were taken from the Holy Scriptures. Boys
were called after some renowned name tax. |
en- from Bible genealogies. once heard of |
woman who desired her son to be called |
'Tgood Scripture name-Belzebub !" Girls,
such names as Judith, Sarah, Susanna,
Della, and Kerinhappuch. When varied
with these names Of persons, they took
the graces and virtues, calling girls Tenn
peranoe, Piety and Patience, Faith, Hope,
Charity; for boys Wear the Crown, Stead
fast, Overcoming, Live~well.
A father bringing his little daughter to
be 'christened," said, in reply to the min
ister's inquiry for the name, "Ax her." and
when the minister said the child was too
young to tell her name, explained that he
meant "Aots, sir, having four boys named
Mark, Luke and John, and he in
tended to go through the New Testament.
Next came Will, Bob, Tom and Dick;
afterwards the rage for 'y's" seemed to
have no end; Elizabeth became Betty and
Lizzy; Jane, Jenny. But unfortunately for
that letter the boys assumed it and the girls
took ''ie," because it sounds
Frenchy; writing Katie, Annie, Marie, etc.,
md some even changing the charming
name of Mary to Mamie; only think of
Mamie" the Queen of Scotland, or the
Virgin Mamie" Horrid!
Give children good names and call them
BY their real names; nicknames are often a
source of annoyance and modification to
hem when they are men and women. l
once knew young lawyer to write letter
% gentleman, and being ignorant of his
christian name, asked his sister if she knew;
she replied, "Consider, Ben." He said,
4 Where is the use of considering, how will
hat make me know2' His name is Con-
,ider Parish.
The first instructor had, was named
salem Town. the author of some of the
pest books now in use in our schools. He
vas a native of Salem, Mass, and died not
many years ago, at very old age, in New
FORK. He was '.fIHus nWlius,' and the
natron of the Founding Hospital, gave
i'm his name; and he could afford to tell
low he got his name, after acquiring the {
equation of wise, useful and learned I
nan. "What's in name?' Often not {
nuch, sometimes a great deal. To call l
boy after truly good, and great man,
'ften arouses his dormant faculties, and
auses him to strive to be more than he
'ould be with an ordinary name. But il
My think of the many triflng Napoleon a
and George Washington's! Mr..
astus Joye became curate, nothing Ii
lore, he could never be bishop. Preserved c.
ish, it is said, inherited large fortune L
rom an eccentric, wealthy old bachelor for - -
lie singIllarity of his name. There was d
ertainly much in that name, No name q
IN be more appropriate for charmingly h
veet young girl than the name of beau :,
full and fragrant flower, yet often have 1 h
ZEN them with names, which were not al
easant, make themselves so agreeable and O'
vely, that from association, their names w
,came 30. II, n. j. Il
CLINTON, Aug. 18th, 1879. &C