Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-10-22
INFLUENTIAL NAMES.
THERE ARE SOME THAT BRING GOOD
LUCK; OTHERS, THE REVERSE.

How . Man Lost Fortune and Took m
Unsatisfactory Wife - Why Napoleon
Chose . Certain Messenger The Good
Luck of Trottermarsh.
It does not seem feasible at first thought
that person name could have anything
material to do with his success In life,
much less that it could occasionally prove
to be the pivot upon which the loss or gain
Of solid wealth is made to hinge, yet de-
spite the abstract truth that the sound OF
ones name cannot actually make or mar
ones destiny it undoubtedly often has
curious influence upon ones career, either
for good or for otherwise.
Speaking generally, 1t must be admitted
that most Of us are apt, without at all
knowing why, to mentally attach sort OF
dignity or Importance to the possessor Of
fine sounding surname, and vice versa, and
1t Is equally true that very odd, uncom-
mon names, by catching on the memory
and coming most readily to the tongue,
sometimes bring their owners slices OF
good fortune that they would never other
wise have enjoyed. So 1t is no exaggeration
to soy that many a person owes his posi-
"lucky" name, and that, on the other
hand, others suffer from the reverse case.
So many instances Of this keep cropping
up that the question Is placed beyond
doubt.
Perhaps it is rare indeed that the mere
sound of q name has been made to stand
between person and what to all intents
and purposes might be regarded as for
gular]y hard case OF q gentleman with
whom the writer had slight acqunint-
ance some years ago, and the circumstances
were peculiar to degree.
He (the gentleman in question: had been
led to expect a very handsome legacy from
rich old spinster relative, and on the
strength OF the doctors report that her
days were numbered, proposed to take 9
wife and set up In business. The aged rela-
tive died, the bequest was even more sub
stantial than he had anticipated; nothing
WAS amiss except the one eccentric condi-
ton that, upon taking over the money, he
was also to take over the deceased family
name and perpetuate 1t.
This seemed simple matter enough,
but It eventually robbed him of his legacy
and marred all his prospects. The name in
question CHANGED to be one that, II not
downright Objectionable from the point of
view of euphony, would jar on ears poetical
ard set up an inevitable litter, and the
prospective bride declared at once that she
would sooner remain single than be known
by 1t. Finally the worried lcgatee gave up
his money and chose the wife instead. The
ironical humor of the sitIl ton lay chiefly
In the fact that, as he subsequently discoy-
cred, lac had won yiraRo rs we'll AS lost
u small fortune.
The fact that there may be marked
luck In name was perhaps never moro
strikingly e4emplifled than by the follow
Ing historical incident: 1t was shortly be-
fore the awful flight Of the French legions
before Moscow when 1t became rumored In
camp that Napoleon required some daring
spirit to execute q delicate enterprise which,
although dangerous, was certain to prove
very profitable If successful,
Anticipation was keen and breathless
while the great man scanned long list OF
those Of his officers who had volunteered to
undertake the risk. He could not decide,
but curious name on tho list caught his
attention meanwhile, and whim seized
him, as he subsequently owned.
who Is this man? Bring him 10 me-"
he ordered, and the owner Of the name was
brought, stared at for time and dispatch
ed haphazard on the errand. He was sue
cessful and on his return Napoleon pro-
noted him and handed him most valu-
able ring from his own finger, remarking,
"Your name, sir, should certainly prove
your fortune"
Most people must ut some time or other
have come into contact with persons whose
names have seemed perpetually to bring
them into prominence when there WAS no
question Of personal or mental superiority.
Such cases make one think that Whiting
ton, for instance, owed some Of his success
to his catchy name and to the fact that
the bells could appear to jangle 1t.
On the Same footing with the present
writer at school years ago was youth re-
joicing in the uncommon appellation Of
TrOttermarsh. True, the posSessor was
the recipient of considerable chaff from his
fellows, but the laugh WAS notoriously on
the other side when, as frequently happen
ed, the headmaster required one of the
scholars to perform for him private tasks
and errands which we're always we'll re-
warded. The latter was absentminded, and
nine times out Of ten Trotternarsh was
the only name he could remember on the
spur of the moment. The especial piece Of
luck in this instance was that the curious
ly named one, being in this way frequent.
ly brought into contact with the masters
pretty daughter, eventually oontrived to
win her for his wife, and no doubt has been
much the gamer by the transaction
Names make good deal Of difference
nowadays. Some thin skinned persons, 1t
is we'll known, suffer great misery through
out life because Of the fact that their names
IRE apt, when pronounced in public, to set
up an involuntary giggle In love affairs
especially Is 1t often shown how much may
hang upon name Many man has set
about his wooing confidently enough, but
the romantic element gives place to the
ludicrous at once when he owns to possess
ing name that is the reverse of poetical
1t Is not at all improbable that he may
hear, ooh, could never go through life
with name of that Descriptions
A we'll sounding name on a we'll polish
ed brass plate has good deal to do with
the success Of medical practitioner, say
in "a rising neighborhood, where the doctor
and his patients are newcomers and the
choice Of the former by the latter Is much
of a lottery. "John Brown, NJ. d., " looks
poor, but let the name be "Golightly
Brown, Physician and Surgeon" and pub
lie confidence Is at once secured. The same
may be said of authors, where title page
is in question, on which such a name as
Thomas Trot would rather scare people
away. But ladies in carriages might be
expected to crowd about Nudes on the
announcement Of n new novel by Rumple
Stilt5kin. ---Loadon Spectator.