The Penn's Grove record., 1888-07-14
WARMERS SAFE CURE.
NAMING THE BABY.
The Scientific and Literary Principles
Iuvolycd E~lucidated.

Writer'S spend much time and
thought in selecting a name for a play
or novel, for they know that success is
largely dependent on it. Parents, how
ever, are strangely careless and unsclen-
ti6c in giving names to children. In
the Harvard and Yale catalogues of
last year ] find but two or three really
good combinations. Usually, when a
new conner arrives, some old family
name is taken; or, II the parents ex-
ercise an original choice, they are too
much excited to be guided by any
sound euphOnic principles. They for
get that not only from the social point
of view 1t is very advantageous to have
ones name remembered, but that from
the business point of view notoriety is
capital, and must be obtained by per-
sistent and ingenious advertising.
Nor is the saving Of time and money
on the part of the knocker at the gate
of notoriety the only thing to be con-
sidered, for, from the altruistic point
of view, the lessening of the effort Of
recollection on the part OF the world is
far more important. The economy or
the public stock of energy wasted In
innumerable unconscious efforts to re-
member a name without any corners
for the memory to grasp, but persist
emily thrust before 1t, would result in
an increase Of available mental force
applicable to settling the question OF
future probation, or TO raising the
ethical standard, or to reforming the
tariff, or to disposing Of the surplus.
The importance of the subject leads
me to suggest one or two of the chief
fundamental principles of the science of
naming children. The system is SIM
pie, and any provident parent a cas-
lily master and apply it.
az Avoid odd, or eccentric, or poe
tic combinations, and be guided by
euphonic quality only. 1t is true that
an odd name may be remembered, but
the association with it will not be
pleasing, The idea Of oddly or affec-
ton may attach to the shadowy per-
sonally built up in the mind Of the pub
lie. Under this rule ~hyphenated
names, especially hyphenated Christian
names, like Floyd-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
n principles.
70. The best form Of name is a dactyl
and a spondee, like Jeremy Taylor"
Every one has heard Of the ''Shakes-
peare of divines." and has a dim idea
Of an agreeable personality attached to
the NAME. Had his name been Charles
Taylor 1t Is far within bounds to say
that his reputation would be about one
third of what 1t is now.
(3.) II the surname is not one that
can be treated according to the above
rule, 1t should be fitted with a given
name, such as to bring the combina-
ton as nearly as possible to the above
length and cadence, as Sidney Dobell,
Ellery Vane. Henry Ward Beecher,
Dante Rossetti, Theodore Watts and
the like; or, otherwise, to two long syl-
tables, like Mark Twain or Bret Harte.
The subdivisions of this branch Of the
subject are too numerous to be given,
but all rest on principle No. 2. The
phonlc value of the surname Is, under
Jul custom, the controlling element in
practically applying the science of
names.
The great value of names beginning
with Mac or y is evident. because they
so readily combine with the ordinary
Christian names. Any one would be
favorably disposed to Arthur OConnor,
for instance. A boy pervades our
quiet neighborhood simply because
his name Is Johnny MACY horter. He
is not in any respect a remarkable boy,
but his name forces him into promi-
nence by its phonic value. There are
some ten or twelve boys who are COM
rades, but he and another dactyl-
spondee boy, Emory Watson, are the
only mes ever spoken Of. No doubt
there are others who do as much mis-
chief and make more noise. but these
two reap all the fame.