The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1893-11-05

Naming baby is, in my opinion,
more important matter than we really
make of it The poor little helpless
thing has no voice or choice in the
matter, but must take whatever we
see fit to give him. Just think, too, a
name is something that lasts through
life and will be forever on cur tongues
and dinned in our ears. Surely we
ought to give thought and care to it's
selection. Of course what is musical
20 the ears of one might not be to an
other, but little discrimination and
common sense will show to as good
advantage in the selection of a name
ps In any other place you could possi-
bly, use it
Often a name really becomes pleas
ant to US by reason of the affection
and respect we bear towards the one
90 whom it belongs; but it will hardly
follow that If we call child any
name it will grow sweet with us 1
know d man, says writer in the Phil
m1e1p phiA Times, who carried the name
Ioilieo FER through life, and that with
: @1gn1tY; but used to look at him and
think what hard time he must have
had when boy, and l divided my
pity. between him and another poor
fellow whose name was Jehosaphat.
Two names are better than one, that
Is more musical. if they are we'll put
together, and if they look well when
written in full. This is especially
true for one in public life, or if the
surname is very common one Give
your son a name that you would like
to see written in full if he becomes a
noted divine or senator
Above all things, don't give a poor
little helpless baby name that will
be a modification and perhaps an
almost insufferable burden to him all
his life, for the sake of naming him
for his grandfather, or some kind,
well-meaning uncle. who agrees to
buy suit of clothes for him in return
for the ''honor." Honor to whom,
pray? What respect would it show to
the departed or elder members of the
family to give their names to your
baby? 1t surely does not foster re-
spect in the mind of the child
Instead of handing a name down
In family from father to SON, one of
q name in a family is enough Who
has not heard big Joe" and Little
Joe," 'Old Dave Harker" and young
Dave Harker?' If you feel a great
and perhaps pardonable pride in the
parents Or grandparents name, re-
member that the children of noted
men seldom are as great as their
fathers. Sometimes, indeed, they are
quite the reverse, and in that case you
. not only do not add to the sons capa-
bilities or character but may bring
reproach to the honored name Even
should he excel, let him have the
credit of doing SO on his merits. mot
because of his fathers name Then,
too how awkward in business or let
ter writing to always be adding the
Sr. or Jr. to distinguish them.
l lost a sister, years ago, whose
name was pretty and would bear re-
peating, but mother would never al
low the name to be given to another
In the family. To mother the name
is as much part OF sister as her face
was and to hear it used for another
would destroy its Individuality and
seem almost like sacrilege.
Another point in choosing a name to
get one that cannot be nicknaped. or.
at least, one that will nickname well:
not like the colored woman who
named her boy Sapolio and called him
Sap for short and her girl CYNTHIA
and called her Sin. For a second
name nothing can be nicer than for
one child in the family to bear his
mothers maiden name provided il is
. comfortable" one. A name can he
given for a second name that Won
think very pretty, but which is too
long or hard to speak for common use.
If you give name that ends in a. bv
all means pronounce 1t properly.
Don't call Alva Alvy, nor Julia Julie.
II the surname is a very common
one, like Smith, Jones, or Brown. Sc
lect some name that is not likely to
be duplicated n this case. too.
names may be given with an unusual
combination of initials They impart
more Individuality in later years. But
don't go to the other extreme Don,t
give name so fantastic or romantic
as to emphasize by force of contrast
the prosaic common surname. Fan
astic names are all very well ON the
program of a comic opera, but thev
are rather undignifed in real life.
Vhas u not theatrical worlA and one