The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1890-09-13

Tie Decline Of Susan. Mary. Jane. Sarah.
Catherine, and All the old Fayorites.

athcrine, and All the Old Eayorites.
The roll Of honor i'm the public school
affords us an excellent opportunity TO
study the present fashion in girls names.
says the New Orleans Times Democrat.
The names Of cur mothers and grand
mothers, largely Biblical aud universally
in use at the beginning of the century,
arc out of favor to-day.
In nearly thousand names there Is no
Nancy Extremely popular in the last
century,, and but n single Martha and
Maria Jane has gone almost ont of use,
there being but two recorded, and.
strange to say, both OF French parent
age. but number Of Jennies and jean
nettes survive. There is one Emily and
one Charlotte. no Catherine. but two
Hates, and innumcrable katies, which
seems 10 be the latest form that Gather
inc has taken--Catherne. Kate, Katie.
Sarah. very popular 80 years ago. has
practically disappeared IN favor OF Sallie
and Sadie. Caroline is also out OF fash
ion, superseded by Carrie aud Lena. SUI
san does not boast single representa-
tive, but thereare anumle of Susics; and
Elizabeth has retired from service in fa-
vor Of Lizzie. There are but three Mar
garets, but plenty Of Marsueritcs and
some Margarottas Ellen Is dead as
name. but Nellie is still quite popular.
Mary has been thought the most fire.
quent female name, being both euphoni-
Gus and pleasantly and honorahly asso-
ciated. Ii is said that one-third of tho
women and girls Of France are Msries.
II is different in New Orleans, where tho
number of Marys is very small and grow
ing smaller every day. There arc num-
berof Mollies and Mamies, and not "a few
Marics; indeed, at one time it looked as
if all the Anglo-Saxon Marys would DO
gallicised into Marie, but 50 many be-
came converted that IL rather overdid
the business and Marie became as COM
mon as Mary. which may account for
the number of girls of French or creole
parentage who bear the English form of
the name MARY.
Shakespeare's names are coming in as
fashionable, even az this day. There
were more Violas on the roll Of honor
Of the public school than James, Hates,
Emilys Ellens, Nancys, Margarets, Caro-
lines, Marthas, Marias, Susans, and
Sarahs together. Tho name is fashion
able just now, but wc are afraid its
popularity will not last long, for our
colorcd citizens have taken hold of it,
and have doomed il to the Same fate rs
Violet and Pinkie. Stella Is q good
second. and Mable, Ethel, Alma, Daisy,
Luella. Lorretto, Edna, and Rita, fol-
low as i'm most favor just Mt present.
Any one of them will discount Susan,
Sarah, or Jane many times over, aud
even lead Mary
Ruby, quite in favor 10 years ago, is
getting rather antiquated. The fanciful
names of the last century, as Amanda
and Malvina, are also going out Hazel,
which came in with Hazel Kirk some
dozen years ago, did not stick and Is
not increasing. Birdie has been
laughed out and is less common than 10
years ago. indeed. number Of Brides
have converted it into BERTHE. Gladys is
apparently forcing its way TO the front,
and promises 70 be well received. Pearl,
Pcarlie, and Perle are also coming in,
and nearly every form of Rose will do
but Rose ITSELF for there are Rosellas,
Rosettas, Roseias, and Rosamonds.
Shakespeare, as we have said, il
prime fayorite for female names. His
Viola leads thom all in New Orleans, and
even Ophelia is quito common among
tho girls. Notwithstanding that lady's un-
happy fate; but apparently no mother
has had the courage 20 name her daugh-
ter Desdemonia. The opera has given
us Aida, Norma, and Camen--which
seem 10 have crept in Of late-all rather
Inappropriate names, taking the lives OF
these ladies into consideration. Long
fellows Priscilla has but single repre-
sentative on the roll. Sccassia recalls
tho late war; but how is il that Secassia
is attending the public schools Of this
late day2
But Of pure fancy names, picked mp
here and there from novels or poems, or
possibly thought out there Is no end.
Ii will be seen that IL any one can sug
gest good name for n girl there are
dozens Of mothers prepared 10 adopt IL
at once III the present tendency con-
tinuos, Sarah and Susan will become SO
rare i'm another generation that they will
sound sweet To us again and bo honored
by our grandchildren as they were by
our grandfathcrs. We fell IL necessary
TO warn godmothers that tho Viola,
Stella, and Daisy racket IL being over
worked.