The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-02
WHATS IN A NAME7n

That sweet girl, Matte Maquillar of Thir-
teenth street northwest came home TO Wash
ington in mild ocstacy of happiness. She
was engaged 80 she haf-sbyly, half-proudly an
nounced to her mother and girl friends, to an
Observation-Disclosures young man, whom she
had met while on visit with her aunt to Ca
pom Springs in West Virginia. She was proud,
because 1t was the first capture of her bow and
spear. 1t was the first time that a really eli
gible young manor any man, in fact-had
succumbed TO her maidenly charms to the ex-
tent Of proposing marriage to her. She was
true enough woman TO appreciate that this was
the highest compliment that q man can pay to
Is woman, aud her self-esteem recevalAea de-
lightful incense from the proposal. 1t came to
her as the first business promotion came to her
brother-a demonstration that she was a sue
cess in her way just as his sd vancement satisfied
him that he was success in his. Then, too,
tho successful suitor, while not the brilliant
match of her earlier romantic dreams, was a
substantial fellow, fairly good looking doing
toIorably well in his business, an agreeable
escort, good teams player, and reason
ably accomplished in the little arts that all
women value. The other girls at Capon
Springs had been rather extravagant in
their praise of him, probably because of the
melancholy scarcity of really desirable young
men at that watering-place, and her self
esteem was still farther exalted because she
had been able to carry him OF from all of them
To one feature of her girlish romanticism
Matte had remained steadfast-s was do
termined that the elected one should have "a
nice name" She often vowed that no matter
how good u man was, or how much no loved
her, she could never DO brought to marry him
If he had one of those drsadfully plebeian
names, such rs Smith, Brown, Jones' Robinson,
etc.
Fancy, my dear" she would say to her
friends, 'having to wear such name all the
days OF ones life. An ugly dress is a thing of
only one season; you have only to endure it for
few months; but an ugly name lasts as long
us you do, and you have to be buried with it,"
The name of her accepted-Herman Died
rich-pleased her fancy. 1t was not common,
and when pronounced in the true German way
Che was of German descent) sounded quite
musical.
She talked enthusiastically to her mother
and her girl-confdants of Herman's mahy good
qualities, made the most TO herself of his best
points, ignored things that did not suit her,
and tried to persuade herself that she was
wildly in love with him. She said over " Her
man Dicdrich" hundred times day, with a
moduation calculated to give it the most effect,
and called herself" Matte Diedrich," and Mrs.
Herman Dledrch," to see how it would sound
The effect was agreeable. In due time Mr.
Diedrlch came on To Washington to visit his be-
trothed. She happened to be out when he called
in the afternoon, and his card fell into the
hands of her t0rmenting younger brother, who
had special talent for making things awk-
ward for her. Whea she entered the house on
her return he saluted her with:
40. Sis, there was young fellow here to sec
you-a fellow with the funniest name you ever
heard Of Here is his card"
And the boy spelled out: Herman died
rich" Now amt that u daisy of a name2"
you provoking boy" said Matte, with rcd