The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-14
Shall She Sign Herself Pollyf

We produce the following question and our
comments upon it, with the thought that 1t
may vitality interest many more persons than
the inquirer:
"t proper for person by name MARY to sign POLLY,
or, In other words, is POLLY proper for MARrf"
To answer this question satisfactorily, we
must first say few words on nicknameS in
general Nicknamcs are given first by rela-
tves or very intimate friends, who like to
shorten or alter the full Christian name,
chiefly as an expression of their affection.
They like to think that person dear to
them Is different to them not only in feeling,
but even in name, from what she is to all the
world.
Used in this sense by a privileged few,
nicknames are very pleasant inventions, but
they often lose their distinctive character
and charm by being employed indiscrim-
inately by so large circle Of indifferent ac-
Quaintances that their true significance can
not really be appreciated. As rule. they
are not pretty in themselves, but only in
their sentiment, which they must inevitably
lose when used so commonly as almost to
become a proper name. Moreover it can
not be gratifying to a young woman's friends
who find satisfaction in the possession Of -er
special friendship, to hear her allow herself
to be saluted by an acquaintance OF no great
degree OF intimacy, with the same fanciful
appelation as can be appropriately used only
by her closest associates.
In moments OF despoCiency there Is q
special virtue in nicknames How great the
consolation is OF recalling lost friend to
ones mind through some peculiar variation
in his name, is well shown in the lament OF
the widow NOLAN on the loss OF her goat
He had gone from her, but she cheered her
heart with the thought that though his name
1t was WILLY, she called him BILLY.
Now with regard to POLLY: there Is no
sweeter nickname than POLLY. 1t possesses
| such a touch Of homely freshness, and such
suggestion OF gentle humor, as to give 1t
greater charm than most other nicknames.
Not even the gay and dashing MApGE some
times the substitute for the stately name Of
MARGARET, can be compared to Polly.
POLLY is beautiful nickname.
| The same rules that apply to the use Of
nicknames in ordinary intercourse, will hold
good for their use in writing. People sign
their names at the end Of letters to enable
their correspondents to know whom the
letter comes from Now, Polly is a con-
ventional form Of nickname for MARY; and
If this young lady, whose name we opinc
to be MARY, is 80 intimately known to her
correspondent that the simple signature of
| POLLY will ut once cause her Identification,
there can be no objection to her signing her.
self POLLY. II she sign herself thus in writ
ing to her sweetheart, provided he be honest
and faithful and knows no other POLLY, SO
that there can be no doubt in his mind as to
whom the letter comes from, 1t will be an af-
fectionate though indirect reiteration Of her
esteem for him, and he will be both fiattered
and pleased. But if she sign herself POLLY
to every one indisciminately, the name will
lose its distinctive character Of sweet in
timacy, and thus become simply n distorted
name, not half so pretty as the true name of
MARY SO to the majcsSsy-et the wCS5 let
her sign herself MARY But to few, cspc.
cially to the man OF her heart, unless he elect
some other title, let her be always PoLLYl