The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1891-07-23

sold them as sound vessels. Roman
pottery merchants thus imposed upon
were taught to look, when they made
their purchase for the wax that con-
cealed the flaws of imperfect workman
ship, hence when they discovered a
perfectly sound vessel they said it was
sine cerd, without waX-hence VIC have
the word sincere, signifying primarily
without flaws.
The Woodward was the keeper OF
warden of the forest, while Woodruff
was the master of the wood.
The name Shepherd scarcely needs
explanation, and is closely allied to
Steward. They both belonged to that
class of laborers which looked after the
stock Of the old Saxon and Norman
landlords. Steward was originally
written Sti,aveard, and meant "warden
of the sites, or cattle pens" The re-
ligious denomination which have the
honor to represent has we'll nigh mo-
nopolized the word. Ste yards are no
longer keepers of the stock pens, though
they may think that they have sorie
hard stock to deal with when the time
comes to collect qua1terdge, but are now
the financial board of a great church.
They ought, therefore, as a body not
only to "be men Of solid piety," but
they ought to demonstrate their Sound
judgment" by abounding in the graces
of liberality and thanksgiving, for the
church has rescued them from very
menial office. But that name in
it's ancient as we'll as modern signifca-
ton. carries with it the idea of very
great responsibility. The old Saxon
Sti-Deard was responsible for the stock
committed to his keeping. And so
God has honored this name above all
others, and, in one sense, he has made
it of universal application, so that all
men are stewards of the talents he has
committed to their keeping.
But it ought to be source of pride
to every Englishman and American
that so many people bear names which
are derived from the professional trades.
One of the most interesting features of
name study is the fact that a large per-
centage of our ancestors made their
names by diligence and perseverance
in some honorable vocation. Even tic
wild savage recognizes those traits OF
character and attainments which dis
tinguish the possessor from the less ac-
complished; and ne is wont to confer
on the brave, the cunning and the
wise such titles as are expressive of
their attainments. We have many
striking illustrations of this truth in
the history of the Indian tribes that
once inhabited our beautiful Southland.
So the plucky Saxon dame, who
dared at that early period of English
history when surnames were made, to
enter the arena of professional trades
and compete for custom, placed her
bread tables by the thoroughfares and
exhibited the fruit of the oven-tempt-
ing barley loaves, kneaded by her
hand and baked under her supervision,
and thus won not only living but
name for all of her ofspring-bakester,
a female baker, hence we have the
name Baxter.
The great Webster, whose eloquence,
logic and astute craftsmanship won
him a name second to none in the an
nails of America; the learned Webster
whose photographic labors yet abides
as the standard of English-speaking
people, and the lesser Websters whose
names have not been placed upon the
roll of honor and of fame, may all trace
their origin to some gentle and humble
Saxon dame who piled the shuttle,
day by day, thus winning an honest
living and a surname for her progeny.
The thunp of the loom was their piano
and the ham Of the distaff their organ.
Their vocation ranked among the finer
arts of that day and had been consld-
cred an accomplishment second to
none from time immemorial. The
science Of music was left in the hands
of strolling harpers and clowns and the
websters were useful as we'll as orna-
mental; and while it may be said OF
these two accomplishments that the
first has verify become the last, we
should never forget that poets, as far
back as history leads US, have sung OF
distaffs and looms as the choicest SYM
bols of princely women. Thus Homer
describes the present Of Alexandra to
Helen
alexandra, consort of high command,
A golden distaff gave to Helens hand;
And that rich vase, with living sculpture
wrought,
Which. heaped with wool, the beautious
Philo brought
The silken fleece, impurpled for the loom,
Recalled the hyacinth in vernal bloom"
So also Theocritus, when he gives
a present to his friends bride, couples
it with verse;
30 distaff! friend to warp and woof,
Minerals GIT in mans behoof,
Whom careful housewives still retain,
And gather to their household gain,
Thee, ivory distaf, provide,
4 present for his blooming bride,
With her thou wilt sweet toll partake.
And aid her various vesters to make"
And even Augustus himself, at the
height of human splendor, wore robe
which was made for him by Livia, his
wife.
There was an old practice in the
woman GhOIl0