The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-01
THE NAME OF 1T.


,rrch in n name. 1t is not an unimportant
crection which faces the editor OF a pros
,,act;vo ,,er;oaical when he comes to select
name for it. He feels mucn as ne ala
when naming his first boy. news ana
Gazette and Herald are very like George
and William and Thomas-good old honor
able names, but rather common. Doubties5
his first act is to get hold OF newspaper
a;rectorv and look over the names selected
Inv others: hut, instead of helping him to u
decision. such list is only bewildering in
;ts mnltitude of Names Then probably he
tries tn determine from the character he
means TO give his sheet what name would
be most appropriate. If 1t be the organ OF
some trade or society the sele ction OF
name IS comparatively easy, sin1e one
names already in use are few, ana leave q
wide field for selection. Ii to be devoted
to some political party. 1t IS not usually
necessary to indicate this fact IN the name;
indeed, SO many papers called democrat are
really antl-democratic IN politics, ana SO
many named republican oppose me fepun-
lican party that the names have lost their
force and meaning Then. too, the editor
il alive to the fact that to be success his
paper must first be a newspaper, second.
faithful advocate for the best interests of
the community or trade from which he ex-
poets to draw his support, ana a., politics
must come in a poor third. This rule
does not apply, of course, to spe-
cial organs of parties and organ
izations-The Abolitonist, Women's
Rights Advocate, Farmers Alliance, Prohi-
bitionist. journal of Commerce, etc. appeal
to special classes who do not look to these
papers for general news, nor for the ndvo-.
cacy of any principles but those indicated
by their titles,
If to be a general newspaper, however,
appealing to all sorts and conditions of peo-
pie, the difficulties of selecting name are
Increased. The most popular name of all
is News, but its very commonness IS not
unreasonable objection to increasing the
number. Herald, Courier and Courant were
popular names in the early days of English
newspaperdom. until some genius thought
of 1.-THE swift messenger of the gods, Mer!
curry, when this name became all the rage.
and many of those old sheets still survive.
News Letter recalls the slow methods of
past centuries: Post, Mail, Letter and
Packet bring to mind the more recent
years, when the mails were the swiftest
means of transmitting news; Express and
Messenger became popular when fast ex-
presses brought quicker news; Telegraph,
came IN when electricity was harnessed to
the work of news gathering and later in
ventlons are bringing forth an increasing
number of photographs, Telephones,
CuIOuOVYpeS ana monographs.
Historical events have left their impress
upon newspaper nomenclature. Few Wings
and federallsts now remain; some Jeffer-
sonians still linger: Free-Soiler, Log Cab
in. State. Abotionist, Constitution, Pal
ladium, Liberty Bell, indicator, Defend
er, Confederation, etc.. recall fast
opinion, and most Of them have
we'll nigh gone out of use; Bugle. Bat
tie Cry, Eagle, Flag Trumpet, Reveille,
Call, Stars and Stripes. Advance, Recruit,
Spy. Confederate, Patriot, Loyalst. Union.
Freedom. lrrepressiblc, ETC., bring back
wildly tho nationI agories contemporary
with their birt1; since then the Green
hacker. Nationalist, Reformer, Liberalist,
Granger, Alliance, Socialist, Rag Baby,
Veteran, and countless variety of similar
titles have reflected the various ideas and
opinions OF our restless, inconsistent, ever
changing national thought.
II the puzzled prospective editor means
70 make his paper dispenser of the light
Of intelligence, he can select from Sun,
Star, Moon. Meteor. Comet Constellation,
Planet, Light. Headlight. Beacon. Lantern,
Lamp, Ray. Flame. Crescent, and similar
names more or less common.
If he means his paper to show the way to
wisdom and prosperity, Leader. Pilot. Bea-
con, Guide, Monitor, Signal, Oracle, would
about strike his idea.
II to be picture of passing events,
Times, Reflector, Mirror. Globe. World,
Continent. Echo Press Reporter. Traveller.
Current, Budget. Days Doings, Item, Para
grapher, Siftings, Scribe, Nugget Scribbler,
Incident, Era, Local. Plaindenler, Jottings,
Kaleidoscope, Graphic, offer good list
for selection.
If also to be devoted to discussing the
questions of the day. Advocate, Tribune,
Review, Critic. Exponent, Counsel, Gossip,
Breeze. Expositor, Topic, Sentiment, Idea,
Talk. Tocsin. Agitator, Free Press; are more
or less full of meaning.
If to be watchful of the peoples interest,
Eve, Argus, Optic, Voice. Guardian, Watch
man, Friend. Sentinel Patrol, Protector,
Guard, Standard, Clarion, Mentor. Guest,
VISITOR. offer names appropriate and eu-
phonius.
II simply gathering of facts for present
beneht and future preservation. Chronicle
Gazette, Ledger, Record, Review. Journal,
Register. Cleaner, Spectator, Index, Sheaf
Granary, Repository, ETC., furnish variety
70 supply all tastes
deographlcal location or local history and
resources may supply happy names: Buck
eye, inter-ocean, keystone. Old Dominion
North Star, Mountaineer. Silver State, Pal
metto, North American, Golden Gate. Stal
Of Idaho, Huronite, Capitol. Texan. Wolyer
inc, HaWkeye. Sucker, Light Of Egypt, Ho
Blast. Missouri Valley, Wisconsin. Pelican
Iron Port, ETC.. are but hints of a numerou,
Gloss OF names.
WoAA No"a latu.ai objects furnlSl
names supposed to endow the paper will
the good qualities Of The object chosen
Bee, Fly. Wasp, Eagle, Arrow. Wave, Nut
shell. SERPENT AcCrn~some of them NOR
peculiar than appropriate
some names perpetrate pun, or com
blne name OF town and paper in wa
peculiarly happy; for instance, Toled,
Blade, Rome Citizen, Pine CITY Knot, Oi
City Derrick. tombstone Epitaph, Senec
Chief. Thomas County Cat (now riyaled b
Kitten). etc.
Boomer. Rustler, Pioneer, F:ontie,
Hustlef, oettler, Pre- Emptor. Ranger, etc
sneak eloquently of their nrioi,,
the names mentioned are too prosai,
tne v0tiesG crank can lind something in th
following list TALL in actual nse torslavf I
guit his fancy for Oddly: Boomerang. A,
iom, Spike, Quaver, Notion. Cressat Post,
Card. Laconic. Autograph, Snorter phmni
Tomahawk, Wampum, Grin, Jimnlecnt
and Thingumbob.
The chances are that after tho eilitor.to-f
ms reviewed all these different CLASSES
names, decided that bis paner 10 IN have
0peoiAl mission except to fnrn;sh a oos
business for himself, discovered that Meth
A11e location nor surroundings of his nan
0uGgeot any particularly apnronriatn
striking name, made up lis mind that
dooo not care fOr name to attract a;mr
~ IT. ailliness or oddly, he finally selec
QovogAl names that please his eve ~ e.r
1A1ey, then chooses the one least nsed
fh60octiOn which will furnish his eYchap
Apd gladly drops the whole yeri
xn9l1eR Nth sigh of settled relief. III
pomc6 Wpuld be more successful with q
g name than the one seIaoto,1 - -.