Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-04-15

Origin Was Affixed by BUNDLES.
Tid Bits.
1t often happens that one of the
greatest domestic perplexities is that
of selecting name for the newly
arrived little cherub over whom the
entire household is rejoicing. II none
has already taken the fancy Of the de-
lighted parents, the lists in the die.
tionary and elsewhere are anxiously
studied, and in SO cases out of 100 one
of the appelations from there is, after
much discussion, decided upon.
In some instances, however, the
parents take the bold and daring
course of inventing a name for the
occasion, or venture upon some unusual
combination which, whatever else may
be said about it, has claims TO origi-
nality. The remarkable ilustra tious
OF this inventiveness which are given
below may at first sight tax the
readers credulity. but as thsy are ey.
\ tracted from the records at Somerset
House, their authenticity may easily
be proved. Most of them, it should be
suid, have been registered within thu
last 10 or 20 years.
One of the most curious classes is
that in which the surname has eyi.
IDENTIFY suggested the Christian name,
and parents have thoughtlessly con
demned their offspring TO life long
ridicule for the sake of indulgence in
what no doubt they took to be witt,
cism.
1t is even more difficult to under
stand the feelings that could prompt
the giving of names which, to say the
Ian sV..l, "a A..
affection and welcome. We can but
hope that the bearers of these names
found come means Of dispensing with
them in ordinary life, although there
must have been times when they would
) obtrude them selves oisagreeably.
Among other instances we observe
Troublesome John Sims. Not Wanted
James. Shady Scarrott. Nettle Accle-
ton, Muff Elliott, 0dious Heaton, Evil
Thrift, Vile Board, Tempest Booth,
Stormy Petrol Hodgson, Judas Iscariot
Burton. Ananias Culling, Capernaum
Stubbins Tone wonders whether the last
three may not be mistakes on the part
OF Ignorant parents who had some
vague idea that these names were
Scripture names and therefore NJ ust
be right. Peculiar Stringer, Crocodile
Gordon and Forsaken Dimmock. Pos
sibly some of these poor little mites
were foundlings, upon whom the Bum.
bles OF the time INDUCED their clumsy
wit by affixing to the wretched infants
the stigma of their origin.
1t is pieasanter to turn in another
direction and note the extensive
though often, also, peculiar-use that
Is made of the names of flowers and
plants for the prenomens of girls. We
are familiar enough with Rose, Daisy,
Violet, Pansy, Lily and such like pretty
appeliations. but here are combinations
which disclose unwonted horticultural
enthusiasm.
What delightful fragrance there is
about the name of Rose Greengrass
Glover Smith. and no doubt Violet
SnoWurop Crockett grew up very
modest little maid We can easily
+ bslieye that the parents of Rose Sham.
rock Anthistle were unionists of the
true kind, and humorous withal. Miss
Morris would scarcely be inclined to
y lind fault with her name of Phoebe
Forget me-not; but what about Thistle
Neyer.no more Goldsmith? Who does
not hope that her parents found her
true to the first of these names; they
would only have been rightly served.
ALTERATION as we'll as love of flowers
had doubtless something to do with the
name that was selected for Lily Lo-
bella Danes, and when We come TO
Anemone Lilly Rose Violet Montgomery,
Ivy Violet Primrose mckinley, Snow
drop Violet Pansy Gray and Ivy Yer
bena Mignonette Slocomhe, we must
recognize quite unusual over for floral
appellatives. Rose Thorn, Rose Budd,
kcse Garden, Rose Bows, Rosy Bios.
som, are pretty and appropriate enough
but, on the other hand, we should not
wonder II Miss Prim Rose, however her
occurrences in infancy might justify
the name, turned out bit of coquette
in later years.
We meet, in this Garden of Girls, "
with many flowers not often seen in
names. For instance, We have GlaGi.
olus Azalea Clark, Verbena Scarlett,
Isabella Chrysanthemum league,
Dahiia Keeping, Bluebel Elliott,
Clematis Moody. Moss Rose Strange,
Mignonette Jessie Relf, Jessamine
Knight, Lily Auratum Yate, Pony
Woodbine, Pansy Blossom Hopkins aud
Mayblo Smith.
Primrose Proud seems something o.
a mlsnomer, since nobody associates
PRIDE with primroses, except, perhap!
In the modern political sense; and VT
do not remember TO have seen ANYTHING
about Rose Bloom Ferns in any treats,
on the rryptogania, although We know
there is such thing as red moss. Hay
Field calls up delicious associations
though whether it designates a boy O
girl We have not tine faintest idea.
The Puritan custom OF giving uuRip
and often absurd names to children
suggestive of moral or religious quail
ties, or theological dogmas, has NOT, i
would seem, yet passed away, although
II is confined within more sober limits
When, however, we see Live
well Woollerson, Redemption Burton
Righteous Williams, Fear Not Sharp
Conscience Watkins. Gracious Abra
ham, Grateful Christian, Livewel
Broadhead, Pious Ellaway, Providenc,
Found Bliss, Comfort Cornfield, lilo
sauna Boden, Purify auckland, Sab
bath Stout, Temperance Sober Lane
Paradise Goode and Mercy Hop
Charity Bastien, We are apt to thinl
that the Roundheads must have man,
direct descendants.
In this category We find Ten peranc
Greedy, which would appear to lie al
attempt to provide an antidote in tn
Christian name for the bane OF til
surname. Comfort Went sound
ominous, as though recording tn
fact that there remained DO peace il
tine house after the advent of the new
baby. which was probably true.
But if the names hitherto mentioned