New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

NAMES: AND THEIR MEANING. a book for IL, the
curious. BY Leopold Wagner. 12mo, PIP. 33O'
G. P. Putnain's sons
This Is curious. and in many respects, useful
book. The author has devoted himself to explaining
The meaning of names. and il requires more than
n superficial examination of his work to show how
wide Is the field to be occupied. and what multitude
of words commonly used habitualy employed
without any comprehension OF their original meaning
Mr.. Wagner divides his subject Systematically, IN
curing into the meaning OF the names OF the countries
OF the world the months and days of the week. creeds
scots and denominations. tavern signs, royal sur
names, national nicknames names of birds, religious
orders paper and printing political nicknames. names
OF flowers the Bible wines literary soubrquets' 'hS
counties Of England and Wales carriages, dances pig
ments and dyes London districts and suouros oatcs,
notable days and festivals, textiles enbrddcres anu
lace. literary pseudonyms, counterfeit presen'neh'S'
london inns and gardens. soubrquets and ncknameS'
the Inns of Court, London churches ana buiiohSs'
class names and ncknames, malt liquors. diamonds ana
precious stones naval and military souofiques'
money spirits Bondon streets and squares. III VIII
be seen from this list OF subjects that the
n, the ahor have been carried far and WIDE and that
very gr-at amount OF labor has been expended upon
the book which is thus adapted TO the uses OF work
Of reference Some OF the information conveyed Is
likely to be new to most educated people ana all OF IL Is
M. =, condensed form The one defect is an
ahsonce ~ authorities in doubtful cases. though TO
have given them might have EXTENDED thc size Oh
the book nconvenlently and so far as our exainna-
zion has gone Mr.. Wagner has been very carefu' ana
Is seldom wrong In his delfvations.
few examples Of his method may be found m
tcresting The chapters tavern signs supplies many
curious corruptions For instance: In the midland
counties there is no sign so common as The Bear
and Ragged Staff which was the cogniSanoe OF the
Earl of Warwick the King Maker. Similarly The
Bears Head was the cognzance OF The Gordons
rhe Black Bull that of the house OF Glare; and Ihe
Talbot, that of the house of Shrewsbury. Another
he mewlth sign Is 'The Chequers.' which COM
nr,sed the arms Of the Earl Of Fitzwarren, who In
tho time of the Pantanets held the right of granting
the winners their licenses. Later In our history the
same cognizance was adopted by the Stuar's'" Here
ar, some more curious bits: "Where the innkeeper
was not bound by any ties Of gratitude or regard 10
the ground landlord he evnced his loyalty 10
the reigning monarch by adopting a portion OF the
rovaJ arms As examples OF this class. The White
swan, was the badge OF Edward III and OF Henry Nv
sThc White Swan and Antelope OF Henry v me
White Heart and The SUM- both OF klcharu IL
sThe White Lion Of Edward Nv as Earl OF March,
and The Three Suns OF Edward Nv rs hiis vi
england: sThe Eagle of Queen Mary; THE Blue
BOAR, ~ Richard III The Red Dragon that OF Henry
VII chosen for his standard after the battle OF
noswortt Field and 'The Greyhound his original
badge as King" Perhaps everybody does not know the
meaning OF those tavern signs which on ther laoo
only proesoue fantastic Chief among these
are .Tne Cat and Fiddle a perversion OF eaton
10 Fldele in honor of Cation the faithful Governor OF
Calais. sTbe Rag o. Nails OF The Bacchanals,' IN
rcference To Pan and the Satyrs THE Goat ana
Compasses, of the Puritan motto, God Encompass
re-, Tho Iron Devil OF The Hrondelle or swallow
vine Ruu and Month and The Bull and GAZE
~ the sBoulogne Mouth and The Boulogne CATE III
commitment to Henry VIII. who effected the siege OF
Bouloghe and its harbor in 1914 The Lion ana Key
a
the sign of THE Lion. and situated by the wafer sde
IN order TO distinguish it from other Lions III INC
same mort: THE Cat and Wheel OF the catherine
Wheel the instrument OF ST. GATHERINGS martyroon'
vrbc FuIIv Rufian' Of sThe Bellerophon the vessel
nm hoard of which Napoleon surrendered his sword TO
Contain Maitland after his defeat at Waterloo and
vrhe Blue Pig a mere modification Of The Blue
Roar, 'The Pig and Whistle Is a very old sign,
tbe terfh whistle being corruption OF 'wassali
and .spig' the old English for q bowl or cup surely
there could be more fitting sign for tavern than
that which suggested the drinking of healths"
Mr. Wagner has brought together mass OF equally
curious information in most OF the other departments
Of his book The calculation Of old sobrquets ana
nIcknomes will be found particularly fruitful and
there is no subject treated which does not offer some
enlightenment. Sometimes given meaning may
appear questionable, but Mr.. Wagner has usually
taken pains 10 verify his definitions, and as rne,
he IS Trustworthy. Altogether his book is service
able one and must take its place among the works
OF reference which professional writers lawyers clergy
men. and many others. feel frequent need for.
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