The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-30
POPULAR EPITHETs.
Names That Have stuck to Well
Known People.
From the Chicago Times-Herald.


From the Chicago Times-Herald.
During the recent visit Of Lord Charles
Beresford to Chicago he was introduced to
the members of the board of trade as
Fighting Charlie, the name his sailors
gave him In appreciation of his warlike
qualities, and the democracy of this sub
title drew the peer into closer and more
cordial relations with the people than his
most conciliatory and effective speech
could have done.
1t reminded them. too, of children of our
own soil Fighting joe Hooker and 9TH
ers who have endeared the epithet in adj
vance of the coming of our genial guest.
The English phrase was SO distinctively
American that il readily takes its place as
a INK i'm the alliance, and proves that the
brotherhood of man is a cosmopolitan as
ISOLATION We may hold Lord Beresford at
arms length in respectful admiration but
we take Fighting Charlie TO our hearts.
The minimizing of great name is a
test of endearment Washington remains
alone on the nights of fame in nomencla-
ture, possibly because he was the first to
wear the dignity of the highest office in
the land, or, more than likely, because he
lived in an aristocradc era, and playful
ness had not yet entered into politics. But
his prototype, Lincoln, serene, august, go
ing into history shoulder TO shoulder with
Washington, is dear to our memories as
"Old Abe" When that loyal phrase is
qualified it is with the epithet honest
prefiXed 1t is not that we lack respect for
him, but where there is love there IS lib
erty, and we bring him down from the pc
destal OF fame 10 the Tevel of our hearts
with the homely diminutives.
The pages of political campaign history
are luminous with names beside which
the baptismal cognOmen of the subject
grew dim and commonplace. "Tippecanoe
and Tyler too" gave luster TO the presi-
| Dental record of two heads of the nation,
but Harrison wore the glory of the name
to coujure with. "Old Hickory does not
need the name of jackson appended 10 let
the American people know who he was,
anw more than Wellington needs his name
| In translation of the Iron Duke" The
Little Corporal follows Napoleon l like
the shadow of his better self and was
| it not one in succession 10 the throne OF
| France who was called Prince Plon- Plon
| Royalty has frequently been called on
to wear the merry foolscap of comic
name, and this fact was most noticeable
when a prince of the royal succession of
England was tenderly alluded to in a
fearful obituary as Prince Cuffs and Col
| lars" Not an unkind thought prompted
the bestowal of the name, but the within
of an extravaganza size IN these articles
led 10 its alliterative repetition until /,
became a delightful substitute for the
real one. Nothing IS more agreeable 10
the populace than 10 give a man of emin-
ence a nickname by reclamation. Ii
makes him one OF them. and they do not
hesitate to invade the divinity that is
! popularity supposed 10 hedge a king II they
can fasten their fayori.e epilhot so il will
| stick.
IL has been asserted that the custom OF
| giving diminutive names, or those which
terseiy or humorously express qualities
| characteristic OF individuals iacks dignity
But does g.? Has 81 not instead core.
| laNye value which enhances the import.
anco Of Us subjects2 Who would cavl
az the friendly freedom OF the world-hon.
| orcd phrase "rhc Grand Old Man" ol
need 10 be- told that il stands FOR the NAM
| Of Giadff0neH SuopF0ull names are sl
/ very vel Va iheir places, but tho nick,
| name or pei uamo won hy the taior IA
! goat deeds b. q diploma msry man rhoul
ho proud 10 win. TEDDY" Roosevelt ~ \
higser man ihan enc Governor of Nsn
! york