The Republican journal., 1885-12-03
Colon.
HIS ANCESTORS AND RELATIONS.


The first member of the ancient Colon family
we thought must have been the granddaughter
of Madame Eve. 1t is, however, an error for
we are informed on good authority that she
was of Adamic origin, while In searching the
archives, we find that the Colon family Is of
Greek extraction Aristophanes, the mighty
Aexandrian grammarian, makes the first men
tion of him, as one of his friends, who was
often Of great use to him. The first Colon was
such friend of Aristophanes, he was thrown
much in the society Of such famous writers as
Plato and Eurpides. From allowing himself to
be so much In the company of his witty poetic
comrade Aristophanes, we judge that Colon,
the 1st, wa. inclined to be rather giddy in his
younger days. We read that his friend was
hatedby the venerable Socrates and that he too
came in for fair share of dislike, and was only
saved from total annihilaton by Socrates regard
for Colon. Athenian faith. We believe the
Greek Colon .pelt his name with a X.
We next hear of the Colon family as situated
at Cape Colonne, now known as Cape Nan.
They were quite near Naples and often went
in to that city, and on Sundays usually made a
trip to Mount Vesuvius Three of this family
must have dedicated the temple to June Lacinia
found at the Cape Coonne. 1t was at that
Cape and Of that family that Hannibal took
fond farewell when he left Italy In the prime
Of hi. life, 202 B. c.
An interval of several centuries occurs be-
fore we again hear of any of the Colon family
as noted In history. OF course we know that 1t
was one of Nenice's famous families and has
always enjoyed the reputation of being one Of
Italys noblest wealthiest. most warlike names.
To be sure they now spell it Colanna, after
the modern style of adding letter or to ones
name. Wa. 1t not one of our American girls
who lately married prince Of the house of
Colon? To leave modern times and return to
the fifteenth century we hear of the Colon
family as domesticated at Venice. The head
of the family Is daily seen at the house of Aldus
Manutius, the first of celebrated printers.
Manutius had remarkable petchant for any
thing Greek, something like our Americans
with their Ang He heard that the
Colon family were prImtively from Greece
and he immedia ely became attached to pater
Colon and between them they made match
between Manutus' adopted daughter Miss
Comma and one Of the young Colon's After
wards that branch of the family went by the
surname of Semi Colon.
In Venice Colon was associated with Erasmus
aud from that day 10 this we find his descend
ants friendly toward printers. The Latins said
that the name Colon meant "part of a poem"
We have noticed that CCon's have taken prin-
cipal part in the poetry Cf all nations.
The French have family of Colon's who
are mostly planters or farmers once in a while
you hear of one as an inhapitant of Colony.
In both France and Germany, the Colon family
seem to have fallen from their high estate.
The Sema family spelt their names thus, Kohrn.
and we believe In some parts of the country it
signified cabbage, q homely, domestic vegetable.
We assume the fact that the Colon (or kohlen)
family must have been partial to Sauer-kraut,
hence the reason of so many cabbage heads In
the German family of kohlen. One member
of this family went to the woodland district of
Germany, fell in love with and married char
coal woman, hence the .ignification is some
times given to their name Of charcoal. Some
members must have revived the glory of the
house for Goethe and Schiller both were ac-
quainted with Colon, and he had many warm
friends among the literary people of the Ger
man Court.
At one time a branch of the family was much
interested in medicine, his Investigations prov
ed so valuable, that the medical profession hon
ored him by naming one OF the intestinal canals
for him. Hi. name must have borne similar
significance IN the lower countries of Europe,
because the word colon or collie seems to have
been intimately connected with the house of
Colon. In the days before the downfall of
Rome, the Colon family were noted for being
first among the wine-drnkers and carousers of
that city. hence for the family or some specially
merry Colon was the old-fashioned wine-strain-
er named Cohm.
In England. there We're diverse opinions con-
corning the merits of the Colons. The writers
from the Elizabeth era until the era OF the
latest poet laureate and that school of esthettcs
headed by Oscar Wilde, of which Algernon
Swinburne was an admrer, have quarreled
about the Colon.. wasting both words and
printers ink.
Here in America one Of the descendants has
named post township, in the western part of
st. Joseph's Co., Michigan, Colon. The Colon
family of The L. S. A. is numerous. We never
have seen any merry little Colons, perhaps they
do not believe in bringing children before the
public notice. Colons have long been useful In
keeping apart members and clauses of senten-
ces and thus to become medators they must
have conciiating effect.
One now seldom sees colon In the company
OF the great men of this age and of this coun-
try. They seem to have fallen In di.repute.
Nearly every one has grudge against the Col
on family. The printer, and perhaps the editor
who is his own compositor, are the only citizens
that stand up for the rights of the Colon. The
preference seems 10 be shown in every case for
his half-brother the favorite Mr.. Semi Colon or
for the fashionable Mr.. Full-Period.
This neglect Of the Colons is no doubt due to
the fact that like other men, the Coons have
sown their wild oats and in their old age have
assumed a betitting dignity, which Is both SOL
emn and formal. Now solemnity and formal
fly do not go well with the merry-making face
Of enterprisng young America, hence the Col
on's are not now nominated to fill any vacant
public offices.
Possibly, II the French planter Colon, or the
German cabbage kohen, should emigrate to
this country, they would meet with pleasant
reception. Surely the poetica-temperament-
sort-of-a Colon has gone out of fashion. An
elaborate article In the Medical Journal goes to
show that the professional Colon still attracts
daily attention In medical circles.
LOUISE WHEELER.
Judge o. G.. Hall, Of Rockland, while In
London presented letter of introduction to
Sir Edward Reed, NJ. F., and says of an inter-