Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-04-26

frat spriug visitors. Ranging through
the QUIET forest aisles until our baskets
are filed with the scented blossoms. we
go back home happier and better for the
thrill OF one day, a little different from
the others.
SOMETHING ABOUT NAMES.
"Weu, Nanny" / overheard the other
evening, and what did they name the
new baby?"
Name her arter her four grandmas,"
the old woman replied. Sarah Margaret
Barbara Ellzabeth-two names arter
Mis- Mary's folks, an de odders arter
Mars Williams ma an grandma"
"And is she a healthy baby?" asked my
friend.
"No'm," said Nanny, "she puny I
tell Mis- May, she got name enough ter
kill her"
Names are far more interesting study
than most OF people would suppose. par
ticularly in rural districts.
A lady came up from Richmond last
summer 20 board in this neighborhood,
and hired a small negro girl, living near,
| TO help her nurse her baby. The colored
girl was about 10 years old. neat and
tidy In appearance.
81 think you will do" said the lady,
| looking her over. What is your nameY'
Caroline Maria Buckley Bowe john
son, man." was the surprising answer.
| "And-aud-what do they call your
! asked Mrs. W. smothering back a
laugh.
"Dey jes' calls me Betsey. man." the
girl said; which was another name al
/ together.
/ Comical things on record are the names
often found In country-school register.
4 Three-fourths of the rising generation are
a e.. In
cording 10 the changes on a circuit, and
quito often the given name is Preacher.
I Very many children are really named
Lawyer and Doctor. representing the only
! professionals ever known in the family.
/ Back OF Alton, near the mountains. lives
family named Glass. A young teacher.
calling the children up on the opening day
Of her school. was surprised at the num-
Der OF Glasses.
/ "Why. how many are your" she ques-
toned.
ewes a whole set" grinned the eldest.
''Jes' six. An my names Creek Jim"
J little change. indicative OF the altered
attitude Of thought toward woman-and
I perhaps OF womGns growing sense OF her
own importance-may be noticed In girls
names, especially In modern school cata-
| logues. Pet names have vanished. Good
| form DEGREES that these tender cognomens
| shall be heard only in the home circle,
and not used in society The middle initial
has been obsolete for some time. In other
names than those known-or unknown-to
the literary world. Instead OF this is the
enphonious double, as Katherine Eliza
beth. or whatever else II be-the baptismai
legacy being written in full.
| There are still Nellies and Dollies and
Pearlies around the hearthstone, no
| doubt. but Helen and Dorothy and Mar
| guerite stand without In stately grace.
| The Mary Susans. and Maria Louisss, and
| Samantha AIMS OF an older generation
are also relegated to the backwoods. In
! their places we find the quaint Ruth, the
| dainty Gladys. and prim Penelope. or
Camilla and Isabel. sweet and musical
Sometimes daughter. as well as a
son, bears a family name for her Chris
tan name-as Landon, or Douglas, or
| Sldney-and wears 1t with a royal dis
! tinction. The mania for giving a large
| number OF Christian names TO one indi-
| yidual, Is. of course more prevalent in
foreign countries. and the higher the
title the longer the name.
| GENESIS OF DOUBLE NAMES
| II was not until the eleventh and
| twelfth centuries that persons were
| known by two names. In America very
few people had three names before ITO.
Marriage nomenclature Is involved In
much obscurity. The practice OF the
wife assuming the husbands namo at
| marriage originated from the Romans,
| Julia and Octavia. married to Pompey
| and Cicero. were called Julia OF Pompey,
and Octavia Of Cicero. In later times,
| IN Europe. married women signed their
names the same way. emitting the of
| This custom may probably have origi-
| mated from the scriptural teaching TIA,