Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1881-09-29
NAMING CHILDREN.

There Is kind Of physiogomy in the
names OF men and women as we'll as in
their faces; our Christian names is our
self in our thoughts and in the thoughts
Of those who know us, and nothing can
separate II from our existence. Tn
questionably, also, there Is IA luck in
names, and certain success in satisfy
ing the public ear. To select fortunate
names, the bona nOmitd of Cicero, was
anoiently matter of such solicitude
that IL became popular axiom-"a
good namp is good fortune" From n
good name arises good anticipation,
3 fact novelists and dramatists readily
recognize; indeed, Shakespeare makes
Falstaf consider that "the purchase of a
commodity Of good names was all that
wasnecessary TO propitiate good fortune.
Imagine two persons starting in life
rs rivals in any profession, and without
doubt he who had the more foTcible
name would become the more familiar
with the public, and would, therefore,
in business sense, be likely to be the
more successful. We all know that
there are names that circulate among
us instantly, and make us friends with
their owners, though we have never
seen them. They arc lucky people
whose sponsors thus cast their names
in pleasant and fortunate places,
II is matter, then, of surprise that
among civilized nations the generality,
even of educated people, are SO care
less on this subject Now evil is as
often wrought for want OF thought as
for want of knowledge, and as a stimu-
liant TO thought in parents the following
suggestions are offered.
Il is not well to call tho eldest son
after the father and the eldest daughter
after the mother. The object of names
is TO prevent confusion, and this is not
attained when the child's name is the
same as the parents. Nor does the adj
dition Of junior or senior rectify the
fault; besides, the custom provokes the
disrespectful addition of ''old' TO the
father There is another very subtle
danger In calling children after par.
cnts. Such children are very apt TO be
regarded with an undue Partially. This
Is feeling mover acknowledged, per-
haps, but which nevertheless makes its
way into the hearts OF the best OF men
and women. IL is easier 10 keep out
evil than to put il out
II the surname is common, the Chris
tian name should be peculiar. Almost
any prefix is pardonable TO "Smith.
John Smith has no individuality left,
but Godolphin Smith really reads aris-
tocratically. James Brown Is no one,
but Soquard Brown and Ignatius Brown
are lifted out of the crowd. Some peo-
pic get out of this difficulty by iterating
the name so as to compel respect.
Thus, Jones Jones, of Jones Hall, has
moral swagger about IL that would be
sure TO carry IL through,
II Is often great advantage TO have
very odd name, little difficult 10 re-
member at first, but which when once
learned bites itself into thememory. Fol
instance, there was Jamsetjee Jeejee'
bhoy; we have to make a hurdle-racC
over il, but once in the mind II is never
forgot
Remember in giving names that the
children when grown up may be IN sit
uations where they will have frequently
10 sign their initials, and do not give
names that might in this situation pro
woke contemptuous remark. For in
stance, David Oliver Green, the initials
make dog" Clara Ann Thompson
the initials spell "cat." Neither shoulC
name be given whose initial taken II
conjunction with the surname suggest
q foolish idea, as Mr.. T. Cox, or Mrs
I. Potts.
Ifthe child Is a boy. II may be equal.
uncomfortable for him TO have a lonl
string Of names, Suppose that in adul