The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-01-05

Picturesque Nomenclature That Il Orig |
inaI and Fresh From the SOFIA Native |
Jerseymsn's Explanations Of soms Of |
the AppeiIstions.
"Other states may be bigger and |
richer and turn in heavier vote," said |
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, suppose"
said the man who had just come In
from the smoking car.
"I am, sir, and I'm proud Of H.
come In on this train every day TO bust
ness in the city, and in my leisure mo-
ments make a study Of the geography
Of my native state. may say. sir--I
think I may say with conference.-the
few men are 80 we'll informed as upon
this interesting subject Of New Jerseys
geographical nomenclature You OBJ
serve, sir, that l say New Jersey, not
Jersey, which is an undignified bel,oad-
ing Of noble title.
Possibly II is because I'm New
Yorker" said the man across the aisle,
"but have always thought New York
to be pretty strong ON interesting
names.
"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
davs-Ithaca. Marathon, Utica, Homer.
Virgil, Syracuse. Sempronius, Moravia.
Rome, Cato Palmyra and score OF
others You have borrowed the glories
that should have been buried with
Greece ard 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 be
glad TO learn something on the subject
Consider. sir. " continued the Jersey
ite. "the appropriateness Of such names
as Ragtown. Breakfast Point, Camp
Gaw. Polifiy. Radix. Pluckemin. Pock-
town. Tillietudelum and Succasuna.
Some Of them sound familiar, said
the New Yorker, but are all Of those
real namesY'
Every one of EN- OH the map, sir, u
replied the other warmly "Tll give
you 800 for any one of these that ism I
real place and they fairly reek Of
the soil Now. here's another batch
Bone Hill, Wickatunk. Bamber. Atco
Wollyfield, Blue Anchor, Blazing Star
Hookamick, Jahokeyville, Oney's Hat
Kalarama. Flyat, Flickerville. Zings
EN-. Wakeako and Batsto. "
'They sound as if they were takei
from Jabbor'vocky, remarked the New
Yorker They're utter nonsense.
"Taken straight from the country
side. averred the geographer "The!
may not be very strtng on sense Thos
names cite merely as instances of pur
} beaury of sound II you're looking 70
meaning. can give that to you. Fo
instance, there are Barley Sheaf ant
Wheat Sheaf, POLITICALLY suggestive o
the agricultural riches Of our beautifr.
state Our domestic animals are com
memorated in such fitting titles a
Goosetowu, Hensfoot, Hogtown, Mon
kcytown, Horseneck and Peacocktown
, wtIile for other animals there are Skunk
, town, Pole Tavern, which used to
+, Polecat Tavern; Postertown tif a poste
). ain Z n wild animal / don't know wha
isl, Snake Hill, Turtletown, Frogtowi
and don't know but what Batst
ought to come in there The frogs e
another show at Manunka Chunk
. which is the name they gave it them
0 selves, singing Of nights out in th
swamps
= Now, for the temperance folk ther
, are blazing signs of warning in sue
names as Whisky Lane, Gin Point, jug
town and Bum Tavern There used I
be an innkeeper in the latter place, b
the way. who sued the authorities ono
year for maintaining such title an
i always compromised for cents, wit
: which he bought himself drink an
: was we'll satisfied One year the authori
4 ties started in to fight the case and tn
p innkeeper in disgust quit the busines
;. and Bum Tavern simultaneously !
place with a suggestive title is Naugh
:, right, which got its name from larg
l farm owners sign, nailed ON tree q
the roadside, No right of way here
They got calling him Old No Right
and when the village sprung up the,
called it after him, but a man who ha,
spelling reform the wrong way made
as 10 now stands. Speaking Of spelling
, there's one village you can spell eithe
Packnack, Pacquanac. Pequanac O
r Pequannock, but you can't pronounc
G 1t as the natives do. no matter whicl
) way you choose.
I There are some names more sug
: gestive than beautiful-Scrabblet
Scrapetown. Shutdown. Samptown an,
Solitude. for instance. Some belle thei
names, like Recklesstown. which is q
peaceful az a graveyard and in tn,
same general line Of business, keeping
5 its inhabitants buried far from the care
: of this busy world. Then there's Round
. about, which is plain four corner
srossing, and Small Lots. with nothin,
but wide stretches of countryside. Al
. for Pellettville. I've heard that ther,