The Dickinson press., 1895-01-26
SIGNS.

Peculiar Names Given In AulA
Reekie to Ordinary Occupations.
United States Consul Robert j. Nc
Bride, at Edinburgh, Scotland, form
erly of Neillsville, writes to the Colby
'Phonograph," under date Of Novem.
Der 30:
ut was said Of Charles Dickens,
the great English novelist, that he
employed more different characters in
his works than any other writer, con-
t-emporaneous with or before him. 1t
Is related of him that he would walk
the streets of London to note all the
business signs. and selected names
from them to use in his works such as
struck him as being odd, and I have
no doubt that the name in many cases.
had much to do with the events that
were afterwards accorded to the fic-
titious personagcs in his writings. In
like manner l have enjoyed walking
through the streets of EdiG9burgh to
take note of the occupations of the
people Of this great city. The sigh
boards seem so odd to on American.
l reproduce to you a few Of the many
occupations and enlployments that ap-
pear over the doors of the business
houses, viz: 'Poulterer,' glider 'haber
dasher,' 'ishmonger.' 'ironmongcr,'
draper Chimney stalk and spire re-
pairers,' slater van builders as
phalters,' left off wardrobe Dealers
mercer general textile merchant
'cow-feeders,' '%gcographer to the
Queen green grocer 'lapidaries,'
manure merchants paper %stainers,'
medical rubbers,' optical limelight
.lanternist,'. 'breeches Makers baby
linen warehouse quarry asters,'
SINNERS 'stablers,' 'zincographers.'
1--WE all know, of course, what a
'ha%berdasher' ia, and the ironmonger
and fishmonger L comparatively
easy, but many of the other occupa-
tions are preplcxing. l felt some cu-
riosity to learn about medical rub6ers.
thinking, in my innocence, that they
were species Of foot covering for tho
medical fraternity. On investigation
l learned that they were what we
would call in America massage attend
ants. l have not yet gone into the
mysteries Of SINNERS. We have quite
Il few in Wisconsin, but they do not
have the frankness to put the signs
over the door, l assume the COW feeder
feeds cows, but l really do not know.
l supposed, Of course. l knew what a
stable was. but on examination of the
business directory, under the head Of
stablers, l was shocked to see this
reference-'Scc Postmasters.' 1t fash
cd through my mind in a moment
that my friend Paulus. ut Marshfield,
and your own Joel j.. were stablers,
without their knowledge and consent
but on turning to the head Of 'postmas-
ters,' in the directory. l was gratified
to find that it simply meant n who
rented post chaises and other vehl-
cles, which we would term in Wiscon-
sin IL livery stable keeper. On some
of these occupations l have drawn the
line. l do not know. nor do l desire
to investigate into the mysteries Of
the manure merchant the optical
limelight lanternist, the g%eographers
to the Queen o the photographers.
"These names that seem so delic-
iOusly queer to us. are of course. SIM
ply commonplace to the people here.
A S%cotchman going to the United
States. wo"'' "'.u., in kind, the read
ing of our business sign boards, and
would. doubtless find Il fund of amuse-
ment In so doing.
"You also meet with peculiar names.
Thus one of the largest diaries in the
city is called "Otygs' Dairy" The
name crates q trifie larsnniiy on the
ear, when you recall the old lines,
in our country, of: