The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-05
THE SCIENCE OF NAMES.
Parents May Give Their Children Names
Worth Money.

Writers spend much time and
thought in selecting a name for Il play
or novel, for they know that success
largely depends Oh it. Parents, how
ever, are strangely careless and unset
entitic in giving names to children. In
the Harvard and Yale catalogues of last
year I find but two or three really good
combinations. Usually, when Il new
conner arrives, some old family name is
taken; or, if the parents exercise an
original choirn, they are too much eN-
clted to be guided by any sound
euphonic principles. They forget that
not only from the social point of view
it is very advantageous to have ones
name remembered, but that from the
business point of view notoriety Is cap
ital, and must he obtained by persist
ent and ingenious advertising. But If
a certain amount Of notOricty could be
obtained for John Smith by an eNpcnd-
iture of time money and ingenuity
represented by L, and spread over a
period of three years, it is ate to say
that the same amount could be OBJ
tanned for Hans Arrowsmitl by in
eighteen months. Nor is the saving OF
time and money on the part OF the
knockcr at the gate of notoriety tn"
only thing to be considered, for, from
the altruistic point of view, the lessen
ing of the effort Of recollection on the
part Of the world is farm important.
The economy Of the public stock Of en-
ergy wasted in innumerable uncon-
scious efforts to remember Il name
without any corners for the memory to
grasp, but persistently thrust before it,
would result in an increase Of available
mental force applicable to settling the
question Of future probation, or to rails
ing the ethical standard, or TO rcform-
ing the tariff, or to disposing of the
surplus. The Importance Of the sub
ject leads me to suggest one or two Of
the chief fundamental principles Of the
science of naming children. The sys-
TEN is simple, and any provident pa
rent can easily master and apply it.
~ Avoid odd, or eccentric, poetic
combinations, and be guided by
euphonic quality only. 1t is true that
an old name may be remembered, but
the associations with it will not be
pleasing. The oddity or affection may
attach to the shadowy personality built
up in the mind Of the public. Under
this rule, hyphenated names, especially
hyphenated Christian names, like
F1oyd-Jones Robinson, are to be
avoided Writing the first given name
with an initial and the second in full is
also evidently opposed to correct scien-
tific principles.
(2) The best form of name is Il dactyl
and spondee, like "Jeremy Taylor"
Every one has heard Of the 'Shakes-
peare of divines," and has dim idea
of an agreeable personality attached
to the name. Had his name been Charles
Taylor, it is far within bounds to say
that his reputation would be about one
third Of what it is now.
(3) If the surname is not one that can
be treated according to the above rule,
it should be fitted with given name,
such as to bring the combination as
nearly rs possible to the above length
and cadence, as, Sidney Dobell, Ellery
Vanc, Henry Ward Bcechcr. Dante
Rossetti, Theodore Watts, and the like;
or, otherwise, to two long syllabies like
Mark Twain or Bret Harte. The sub
divisions of this branch of the subject
are too numerous to be given, but all
rest on principle 10. ,. The phonic
value Of the surname IS, under our GUS
tom the controlling element in practic-
ally applying the science Of names.
The great value Of names beginning
with Mac orc is evident, because they
so readily combine with the ordinary
Christian names. Any one would be
favorably disposed to Arthur O'Connor,
for instance. y boy pervadcs our quiet
neighborhood simply because his name
is Johnny MacWhortcr. He is not in
any respect q remarkable boy, but his
name forces him into prominence by its
phonic value. There are some ten or
twelve boys who are comrades, but he
and another dactyl-spondce boy, En-
cry Watson, are the only ones ever
spoken of. No doubt there are others
| who do as much mischief and make
more noise, but these two rcai, all the
| fame.
The nictnames given by children
| and baseball players will he found to
cOlllolIl lhStlS SN'9SlN W lilS u uS pm
ciples of the art.
| have formed names for my three
boys in accordance with these rules,
which will give the youngsters-ifthey
ever appear-a start in life equivalent
to a cash capital of ut least fifteen
thousand dollars. Astheir appcllations
will prol ably constitute their entire
patrimony, 1 cannot be expected to
mention them Until they are securely
attached to the inchoate personalities.
I have indicated the outlines of the
method, so that any young parent can,
with little thought, construct as many
names as he is likely to need.
Ex-Governor Alger, Of Michigan has
a son six years of age. When the news
of Harrison's nomination reached De