Wichita eagle., 1888-08-01
SOFTENED BY A PREEIx.

Since these conditions are so obvious and
80 easy Of fulfllment, and since the choice Of
names is SO wide, the prevalence and per-
sistence of harsh, awkward names must be O.
constant source of wonder and disgust Even
when the surname is commonplace, as in the
case Of the noble army of Smiths" and
Browns" or even hopelessly uncouth, as in
'Potts" or "Hogg," it can be softened and
TRANSPORTED by happy prefix, just as ingen-
ious decorators beautify bare walls and un-
lovely articles of furniture. Thus Sydney
Smith" and Goodwin Smith" and Ballard
Smith are good names at least in this, that
the "Sm1th" part is overshadowed and, as it
were, eliminated by the prefixes, which are so
uncommon rhat they engross the attention
But many parents are SO stupid about this
that one would think they were hardly older
than their babies 1t is Incredible that any
Christian should be baptized Judas Iscar-
lot" but read the other day that one Of
Roscoe Conkllngs ancestors rejoiced in the
name "AnaniaS" What could have possessed
the parents OF that unfortunate individual to
name him after the TYPICAL liar of all timel
As well might they have called him "Apol-
lyon" or ''BeelZebub."
Again, the matter Of initials comes in for
consideration as Il feature Of minor, but still
appreciable, Importance. No matter how
smooth or high sounding ones name may be.
it will dull the edge Of his self satisfaction il
the initials spell some offensive word. Tho
composer of ''Pinafore' has very pretty
name Arthur Seymour Suilivann-but he
always drops the second of the three words.
and very brief Investigation will show the
reason why.
EUPK0NIoUS AND WELL BALANCED.
BY all means let the children have eupho-
NOUS, well balanced names. II the surname
be short and abrupt, the baptisrnal names
should be pOllysyllabic and flowing, and vice
versa A true esar and u just sense Of proper
ton Will insure q wise decision in every case
Keeping in mind the i've conditions already
mentioned, one will find on further and more
critical examination Of the subject, that the
best possible triple combinations, rhythmi-
cally. are either a. a long monosyllabie fol-
lowed by trochee tor spondee1 and dactyl,
or % dactyl, followed by trochee tor spon-
dec and long monosyllable In other words,
if the surname be monosyiable, il is well
for the first name to be of three syilables, and
the second name of two syilables; but if the
surname be dactyl it is best led up to by a
monosyllabic first name and a dissyllabic
second name or the second combination
"O!iver Wendell Holmes" is a splendid ex-
ample, coinciding with all the requisite con-
dit,ons, while excellent specimens Of the first
combustion are found in Ralph Waldo
Emerson" and John Greenleaf Whittier
which may be considered practically perfect
names, satisfying the demands of proportion
and rhythm, containing an agreeable variety
Of vowel sounds, and being sufficiently smooth
In pronunciation, while not deficient in
strength. which should pertain to every
masculine appellation.
Trochaic surnaInes, which are the most
numerous of all, are not So easily balanced as
the foregoing Three trocbees in line is
frequent combination, and nos q bad one. by
any means. Thus, Edmund Clarence Sted
man" is very good name, viewed from all
points; but rhythmically Frank Demrster
Sherman" and George William Curtis" may
seem little more satisfactory Certain com
binations are conspicuousiy awkward, as, for
example, the three successive rnonosyllables
already alluded 20, in the case Of "John Paul
Jones'" dactyl followed by An iambus, az
Frederic Eugene and dactyl followed by
a monosyIab and troshee, as "Theodors
Dwight Wooisey" 1t will be found desirabls
as a general thing, by the way, to select q
word Of two syilables for the middle name
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