Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-11-10
NAMES IN JERSEY.
SOME OF THE TOWNS THAT MAY ss
 FOUND IN EVERY ATLAS.

the man with the woodbine whiskers twining gently about his face, "but for picturesqueness of nomenclature New Jersey takes the gold medal.
 You're from Jersey, sir, I suppose, !" said the man who had just come in from the smoking car.
 II am, sir. and I'm proud of it. como in on this train every day to bust. ness in the city, and in my leisure mo ments I make study of the geography of my native state. I may say, sir-I think I may say win coIifidence-that few men are so well informed as l upon this interesting subject of New Jersey's geographical nomenclature You ob. serve, sir, that I say New Jersey, not Jersey. which is an undignifled behead- ing of noble title. '
 Possibly it is because I'm New Yorker, said the man across the aisle, but I have always thought New York to De pretty strong on interesting names. 1"
 "A great error, sir, " declared he of the whiskers "A very great error. Your names are mainly corrupted In- dian titles or direct cribs from ancient tlays-Ithaea, Marathon, Utica, Homer. Virgil, Syracuse. Sempronius, Morayia, Reme Cato, Palmyra and q score et others. You have borrowed the glories that should have been buried with Greece and Rome. Our titles, sir, are dug up from the soil and replete with meaning. Let me cite some. "
 Here he pulled small notebook from his pocket, and the other man. with regretful politeness. said he would bs glad to learn something on the subject
 Consider, sir, " continued the Jersey. ite, "the appropriateness of such names as Ragtown, Breakfast Point. Camp Claw, Polifiy, Kadix, pluckemin. Pock. town, TiilietuGelum and Suooasuna. ''
 "Some of them sound familiar, :" said the New Yorker "bnt are all of those real names?''
 Every one of 'em Gn the map, sir, ,; replied the other warmly. 'I'll give you Sl00 for any one ot those that isn't d real place. and they fairly reek of the soil Now. heres , another batch- Bone Hill. Wiekatunk. Bamber. Ateo, Wollyfeld, Blue Anchor, Blazing Star, Hockamick, Jahokeyyiile, 0ney's Hat, Kalarama, Flyat, Fliokeryille. Zings- em, Wakeako and Batsto. "
 They sound as if they were taken from jabberwoeky. remarked the New Yorker. tThey'r utter nonsense.
 Taken straight from the country side, " ayerred the geographer. .-.'They may not b. y strong on sense. Those names ci z erely as instances of pure beauty of sound. If you re looking for meaning, l can give that to you. For instance, there are Barley Sheaf and Wheat Sheaft poetieally suggestive of the agricultural riches of our beautiful state. Our domestic animals are com memorated in such fitting titles as Goesetown, Hensfuot, Hogtov1n, Mon- keytown, Horseneck and Peaeoektown, while for other animals there are Skunk town. Pole Tavern. which used to be Polecat Tavern; Postertown If a poster ain wild animal I don know what is), Snake Hill, Turtletown, Frogtown, and l don't know but what Batsto ought to come in there. The frogs get another show at Manunka Chunk, which is the name they gave it them selyes, singing of nights out in the swamps
 Now, for the temperance folk there are blazing signs of warning in such names as Whisky Lane, Gin Point, Jug town and Bnm Tavern. There used to be all innkeeper in the latter place, by the way, who sued the authorities once year for maintaining such q title and always compromised for cents, with which he bought himself a drink and was well satisfied. One year the authori. ties started in to fight the case and tho innk8eper ill disgust quit the business and Bum Tavern simultaneously 4 place with suggestive title is Naugh- right, which got its name from a large farm owners sign, nailed on q tree at the roadside, No right of way here. They got calling him Old No Right. and when the villago sprung up they called 1t after him. but a man who had spelling reform the wrong way made it as it now stands. Speaking of spelling, there g one village you can spell either Packhack. Paequanac, Pequanae or Pequannock, but yon can't pronounce 1t as the natives do, no matter which way you choose.
 There arc some names more sug- gestiye than beautiful-Scrabble Serapetown, Slabtown, Samptown and Solitude, for instance. Some belle their names, like Recklesstown, which is as peaceful as a graveyard and in the same general line of business, keeping its inhabitants buried far from the cares of this busy world Then there's Round. about, which is a plain four corners crossing, and Small Lots. with nothing but wide stretches of countryside. As for Pellettyille. I've heard that there isn't drug store there, but l can t swear as to that, not having been there for many years.
 Look here, " put in the New York CT. T believe you're the man who writes the suburban stories in the comic papers and you're praotieing names on me. :"
 You do me great injusticep' cried the geographer. Every name has its local habitation, and you can find them all an the aliases Next you'll be cayil- ing at such well known places as Snufftown, Ringoes, Rustic, Abseoon. Hackle Barney, Soho, Baehyille, Rural Place, Sodom, Blue Ball, Allamuohy,