Smyrna times., 1895-05-01
The Significance of Names.

q loss of lustre under some harshly
sounding name. In the language of
flowers those that have vowel ending
names, creep almost uncOnsciously into
our affections and hold first place
largely by their fitly chosen titles. The
harsh cOnsonant sounding designations
hardly if ever make any Roadway when
the sound alone is repelling. One of
the best illustrations of the vowel
sounds was in the efforts of the author
of the world famous song, Way down
upon the Suwanee River" made before
he hit upon the name of the river that
has thrilled the hearts of more bearers,
perhaps, than any other song extant.
The loneliness of the old folks in |
their cabin on the Suwanee river ap- |
peals to that vague dread that all of us |
have, when the iron of separation takes
away loved ones either by death or alb
sence. For long time the author of
the pathetic could find no suitable
river name for his rhyme. Day after
day he would con over the rivers of the
South for some name giving the true
expression. One day while in the Office
of friend he stated his perplexity and
asked his aid in a selection.
Would" said the friends, pearl
river do ?" mo, that had been thought
Of" Then came the Cooper, Ashley
and Pedee rivers of South Carolina.
NO." said the respondent author,
"None of these will do, their sound is
too harsb." "Well then how would
the Miami of Ohio suit?" Better
somewhat than the others, but the
location is too far North" said the
author; land were it not for that, the
most suitable name I could get of rivers
would be the Juhiata in Pennsylvania"
Just the then pOstman came in and
left the mail, aud while his friend
looked over his letters The poet sat un.
decided. One Of the letters having
being read was tossed carelessly on the
table showing just the heading,
"Suwanee River, Fla, May"
For a moment the author violated a
breach of etiquette by daring to glance
at his friends letter, and the next in
slant he jumped up seized the letter
and dancing around the room ex-
claimed: Now we have it-Suwanee
River-that is the name l have been
searching for, for months said the de-
lighted author, and the world knows
the rest"
Indeed the name is fitly chosen. I
remember during my stay in Florida a
few years ago, of locating this obscure
little river now immortalized in song.
1t sweeps along silently through the
dense vegetation that hedges in its
banks until it contributes its mite OF
waters to the mighty volume of the
Cult of Mexico on the west coast oi
Florida about midway down the State.
The utter loneines of Florida's river
scenery can only be felt when seen,
Above the bright consl citations radiant
in the jewelled armament, while the
soft Southern winds sigh mOurnfully
through the wild woodlands and
thoughts of home and friends creep on
apace until for sheer comfort one seeks
the companionship of his fellows tC
break the lonely spell.
The vowel sound of Payne's Home
Sweet Home" made the song what il
is; and DR.. Dunn English's ben Bolt
will stand until the Coliseum falls, and
when the Coliseum falls-the world.
Stenography may and does divide
the human utterance labial, cultural
nasal and tongue formative sou nds
but all that is best in production owes
its success to culminative vowel notes
Under this heading comes the name
of our victorious yachts, which for 4
years have held their own against al
corners to secure the possession of
trophy that stands to-day the admira
ton of the world, for the stubbornes
with which it has been held in al
these years on this side of the water,
Having of late been placed in a po
sition to Judge Of relative merits, al
forced to admit that the struggle nez
j. fall off Sandy Hook will carry withit
surprise to many who have been az
sl customed to look for victory as usua
do not like the trucking to ideas tha
emanating on the other side, have bee
heretofore beaten time and again B
what may be called distinotivel
American yachts.
The currents and customs OF the!
waters do not take kindly to dee
draught yachts, and what is more, "
know 1t.
1t is doubtful If better boat exis
to-day than the Brittania, and no MOI
fitting conclusion could be brougl
about than that the Prince of Wal
should bear back to England and lay
the feet Of his mother, the cup tn
passed from her hands inlthe long ag
to the winning America. Let US Sc
that was on the 18th of October 1861,
have been going over the names
the Cup Defenders lately, and conneC
ing them with the colonial portion
our history, find that the name of d
new yacht now building "Defende
exhausts the history, or to speak Il
hopeful, is the last.
Here Is a synopsis: II will be motto
that It includes the names of all
successful yachts including those
last years build. The yachts are ita
cised.
= america, at the time the Magaou
landed the Puritan Pilgrims upon
shores of New England was an aim
unexplored wilderness, requiring
on these earlier C0Ionia-I path-fnders to
cautious and VigiIaat in resisting
native Indians. Still they held on a
i. prospered to such an extent that ei