The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-06-19
LONG SPANISH NAMES.
Causes which Have led 20 This SUI
perabundance of Title.

perabundance of Title.
From the New York Mail and Express
Inc Spanish name, terrifying in its
length TO those accustomed to the curt
cognomens Of Eng and and America, is a
gradual growth. The Spanish conquerors
of the new world for the most part had
names no longer than those owned by
average Americans fernando Cortez
francisco Pizarro. Fernando de Soto and
the olher soldiers most intimately asso-
ciated with the early days of America
were sausfied with short names, but as
the reaIity of power departed from Spain
me na'hes and titles Increased in length
left
neu a young knight started out upon
rowing life, he assumed first the name
% Nle pace whence he came, or that OF
ms estate or the nearest large city; when
ne achleved notable exploit he added 10
ms Iormer name that of the place where
the deed of bravery was done and not a
Lt"' aeslrous of commemorative to their
own heroism, had, in addition to their
w S'r5hg OF names of cities or bat
.ieueIus where sney had distinguished
en'SeI yes IN Siege. defense or engage
~ Sf@t men, conscious of their own
slea'He-ss, were sometimes content with
one hame like Gonzalez de Cordova. but
"'tle men imagined that they increased
tneir own Importance and the public estl-
mate OIL the value of their services by,
iengthening their names. and the practice
thus became almost universal
Inc Spanish names were also length
ehed IN another way. Not every Spanish
gentleman had an opportunity to dbstin-
guish himself as a soldier. and so. envy
ing the superiority claimed by his brothers
IN arms the man of peaceful life looked
up ms family history. and added to his
own name those of all the ancestors he
could discover.
In the sixteenth century such became
the craze for names in Spain that even
iaoorers, peddlers and mechanics began to
iehgthen their family designations and
tradespeople WED with the nobility in
pomposity. This would never do. and the
ABUSE received attention during the reign
OF CHARLES V, on account of a COMPLAINT
maze by a duke that a tradesman had
sent him a receipt for money paid. and
had signed this document with a name
longer than his own. Whether attention
was attracted to the incident by the fact
OF Spanish grandee actually paving a
plil or by the arrogance of, the tradesman
N assuming a name fit only for a noble
man cannot be ascertained, but certain 1t
IS that the Emperor issued a proclamation
loroiudlng any person below the rank of
gentleman to have more than two names
ne length OF Spaniard's name is thus
parity attributable to a desire 10 preserve
the memory of his ancestry. partly TO n
Willingness to let the world into the
hHoWiedge OF his own abilities and to con-
Ney 10 strangers with whom he NAV he
come acquainted information concerning
mis- history and exploits. There is. how
ever another consideration which to
people like the Spanish, is of great mo-
meht. In Spain every province every
Guy, every nelghborhood and individual
Is under the special protection of a patron
tTnR Of
IS counted a commendable act in the Span-
ish mother TO bestow upon her children
the names OF as many saints as can CON
Veniently be added to the list already de-
'errpined upon in the case of the new
conner.
A recent traveller in Spain gives an anus
ing account of an experience i'm Madrid
A beggar approached soliciting aims The
traveller became Interested in the man
asked him a number of questions. ana
mus an acquaintance grew up which was
a1terward utilized by the tourist. who
employed the beggar as a guide in walks
IN the vicinity of the city The only name
given by the man was Gonzalvo and IN,
this he was known TO the traveller unfjI
the latter, in moment of curiosity. asked
him IL he had any other name "Certainlv' -
ne replied. My fun name is Senior Jesus
Maria Sancho Isidoro Gonzalvo de Seville .
ana subsequent investigation showed that
the beggar had spoken the truth. for bv
these names he had been christened. an-
they were TO be found upon the baptismaI
register of his parish church in Madrid.
That beggar should be well supplied
with sonorous names may seem a marvel
to nation Of nobodies, but the beeg9r
in all probability came of noble family
of which the only remaining relic was
the name
Length of names does not always give
precedence al the court and In Spanish
social circles, but, as a rule the more
mulutudlnous the names the higher is the
antiquity of the individuals family, and
so, after all, wealth of name carries with
1t social importance. which counts for no
little in the public mind. AS, however. IL
is impossible for Spaniard to use all his
names, he selects one or more by which
he is commonly known and holds the rest
In reserve as a masked battery with which
to attack unsuspecting strangers who NAV
not be aware of his Importance. 1t was
Theodore Hook who, on the promenade Of
an English watering place, walked up TO
very pompous Spanish gentleman strut
ting up and down the pavement. ana.
with hat in hand and every appearance
OF abject humility, said: Il beg your par
don, sir, but are YOU anybody in particu-
lar|" The amazement of the Spaniard al
such an inquiry can easily be imagined.
but the joke would have been on Hook
had the object of his just replied in the
affirmative and proceeded to give the au
thor a sample of has titles.