The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-09-17
NAMES OF GIRLS.
Mr., pana Pleads With the Girls to Write
Their Names In Full.

Fifty-two young women were gradu-
ated from the Training Department of
the Normal College recently, and PA
from the college proper recently. This
is the college which specifically pre-
parcs its students to be teachers, and
it is therefore professional school at
tended by young women who are get
ting ready for the serious work of
making their living.
But when we read the names of a
large part of these graduates we find
that they are appellations which sug-
gest rather gay and giddy view of life
and its responsibilities. They are not
the names of mature and serious wom-
en-, but of the pets and playthings of
the nursery. We can not associate
with them the dignity and the conse-
quence of teachers occupied with
graver matters than dolls and curl pa
pers, and with stern duties rather than
with the case and pleasures of exist
ence. They do not befit young women
who are starting out to prepare them
selves for an eXhausting profession,
and are no longer rocked in cradles or
guarded from the cares and hardships
of the world doting domestic affection.
Twelve of the class of tifty-two in
the training department, and about
fifty of the PA graduates of the college
sign themselves with mere pet names
ending in lie, as if they had no other,
and from manifest preference for the
nursery diminutives. Among these
are Bessie, Jennie, Nellie, Carrie,
Birdie, Mamie, and Fannie, no real
names at all, but only appellations
coined by the familiarity and tender
ness of privileged relatives and init
mates. What BRIDES baptismal name
is we can not guess, but the true names
! of the other are Elizabeth, Jane, Helen,
Caroline, Mafy, Adeline, and Frances,
all feminine designations of dis
tinguished history, noble, dignified
and euphonious.
But these girls look upon them as
too homely, too old-fashioned. They
think a name ending in lie much pref
| tier and more engaging; and so it may
be in it's proper place and as an eX-
preston of affection from those who
are entitled by kinship or long and
close acquaintance to use it in address
ing young woman. But, all the
same, it is pet name and nothing
else. 1t is no more the real name of
a woman than Johnnie or Bob, Sam or
Jim are the true names of men.
Yet the girls still insist on using such
diminutives as if they were their for
NAL appellations; and sometimes they
carry them through life, printing them
on their cards and signing them to
formal documents, taking them to the
marriage altar, and giving them for
newspaper publication. They think it
nice to do this. and yet in truth it is
vulgar and detracts from the estima-
ton in which women of character,
ability, and dignity should be held.
They keep their bearers forever in the
nursery.
Why, oh why, will so many lovely,
stately, splendid, self-respecting girls
persist in the petty and incongruouS
practices? Alas, alas! we have tried il
vain to make them do otherwise. They
insist on compelling us to publish then
as if they were little tots in pinafores
How fine are these names of other ot
the graduates: Ethel, Edith, Florence
Alice, Katharine, Charlotte, Mabel,
Harriet, Winifred, and Gertrude; and
how much better they befit young
womenhood then Ettie Florrie, Edie
Allie, Kittie, Hattie, Winnie and Ger
tie.
But this is department of reform
upon which we enter with little hope
of winning distinction by overcoming
feminine opposition and improving
feminine taste. The girls think the.
are beyond the need of such instruc
ton, and we have not the hardihood tt
chide them as they deserve. Besides
whatever their names, does not thei
loveliness remain the same, irresitibl
and beyond comparison?-N. Y. San