New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-05-09
What's in a Name.

What's IN a Name.
All the Year Round =
A name is certainly not the least
important factor in mans career.
How much more difficult would it be
for Muggins or Finnigan to gain
acceptance as a poet, however great
his talent, than for Tennyson or
Milton! No matter how great mans
energy, talent or courage may be, an
odd or ridiculous name will be clog
to him through lie, and add
immensely to his difficulties in making
his way upwards. OF what avail a
mans aristoeratic appearance, cor
rect dress, coat of the most fashion,
able cut, and satisfactory balance at
the bank, if his visiting card con-
dems him TO pity Or ridlcule? What
consolation it must be to lady of
fflcted with disagreeable name to
know that she may have an oppor-
tunity OF CHANGING it for better in q
way at once gratifying to her pride
and affections. This privilege OF the
ladies' has been assumed by the Popes
who change their names when they
are chosen as successors to St.
Peter. The introducer OF this PapaI
custom, Sergins H., may well be ex-
cused for the innovation, seeing that
his own name signifies Hog
Melancthon was not above this weak
ness. and he adopted the Greek form
OF his proper name, which signifed
Black EARTH and the learned Eras-
mus made a similar transformation
OF his dutch name, Gerard.
In the time OF Louis XVI, q d1stin.
gulshed writer who was amember of the
Academy, a Councillor OF State and a
friend of Richelieu, had the misfortune
to bear the name of Gueux (Beggar1.
Can we wonder at his adopting the
name of his patrimonial estate and
calling himself Balzac? Many other
instances might be quoted of men of
talent and eminence being dissatisfied
With the names that were borne by
their ancestors
Some people in their anxiety to
compensate .heir children for the vul-
gar or ridiculous family names which
they have inherited, couple with them
what they consider aristocratic or
euphonious Christian names. Hence,
we have such combinations as Gladys
Beatrice Higgs, Constance Aureiia
Smith and Victor Augustus Jones.
One can sympathize with the fact
that many pleasing hours of consul
tat1on and discussion are given
the young mother and her husband in
deciding what name will sound most
mellihuously and assert most fitting
~ with the sterling and attractive
qualities which are SO preceptibly
packed up in that little cherub-their
first born.
The ancients had many superati-
tions as to names, and even elevated
the study to science under the title
of Onomantia.
When the Romans raised an army
or numbered the citizens, they were
always careful that the first name
taken should be an suspicious one.
More than one Emperor owed his. ele-
walton simply to his name. and Caesar,
IN his expedition to Africa, gave
command to obscure Scipio, because
the people believed that the Scipios
were invincible in Africa.
Similar influences weighed with the
French ENJOYS, who went to negotiate
a marriage between one of the Spanish
prlncesses and Louis VIII. They re
lected Urraca, the elder and more
beautiful princess, who was intended
for their royal master, and preferred
her sister, because her name, Blanche,
had a more musical sound.
i A Spanish Ambassad the Court
OF Elizabeth considered his dignity
sighted when the Queen appointed a
wealthy citizen to receive him because
his host bore the very short name OF
John Cuts. He soon found, however.
that If Cuts had short name he had
long purse and right royal way OF
dipping into it for the sake OF uphold
ing the English name for hospitality,