Evening journal., 1902-06-21
BillP arson SCOlumn
Published Now and Then.
Some Names

~ss~S~~s-S-S-Se-se e-se-e-e-es~Se~ss-s-
Some Names
Shakespeare long ago raised the
question OF what's in a name?" and
settled it to his satisfaction by decid-
ing that it didn't amount to much,
save as a form of designation. At
iirst glance one is inclined to agree
with the great writer, but everyday
observation o shows that he was not en-
tirely right. We rarely think OF an
humble tiller OF the soil, for instance,
passing under the name of Reginald
F1tz-Naurice. and on the other hand,
we rarely find name Ike Mrs. John
Smith in the society columns.
II may be objected that one has moth
ing to do with his name, that being
determined before he arrives at the age
.of discretion, while fortune and char
acter are in his own hands. This is
plausible, but not altogether true.
Given certain environment Fitz-
Maurice is abbreviated by clipping the
prefex. and then with a change in
spelling we have the ordinary name of
Morris. While one destined to bear the
name OF Smith. can still suit the name
to the environment, by little change
of spelling, rendering it Smythe Thus
our MacDonald's become Donalds and
our O'Donnells change to Donnell,
while Brown becomes Browne and
Jones. Joynes.
But while the owners of names are
responsible to a degree for the man
ner in which the public comes to desig-
nate them, yet the plain people have
rights, too, and. willy-nilly, a name is
given and accepted, and has to be
borne with whatever grace is pos
sible. Styles change, and strange to say
that in the period when men wore ruf-
fed shirt fronts and lace at the wrists,
they rejoiced in the plainest sort of
names. Look back through American
history. glancing at the names most
often on the public lips, and we have
George Washington, John Adams,
Aaron Burr, Henry Clay, Daniel Web
ster and Abraham Lincoln. Think
what a loss OF simple dignity these
would sustain should we give them mid
die initials, for instance; George H.
Washington, Henry w. Clay, Daniel
F. Webster and Abraham o. Lincoln!
But notice the simplicity, too, of
these given names. There is an ac-
ceptance of the idea that names are
not made at will. but the good old
fashined names were accepted without
protest Suppose for a moment that
there had been desire on the part OF
loving parents to give to these famous
persons names more ornate. for in
stance how would this strike the
ear: Reginald Washington, Augustus
Webster. Harold Clay and Cyril Lin
coin?
The question is whether any one of
these could have achieved distinction
under the latter designation, and the
doubt may be further increased by
them in the middle.
We have not altogether lost the dig
nifty and simplicity of a former day,
however. since those most on the lips
of our people are the names of Viii
liam Mckinley, John Hay and Theo-
dOre Roosevelt. We are fortunate
too. that the uncomprOmising Dutch OF
the latter has not been transformed
like that OF certain branches OF the
family, into something less forceful
1t was a simple process to drop tn,
welt" and substitute a for e, and give
us the name of Roosa or Rosa, some
what common in New York. We ques-
tion much whether a name abbreviated
at both ends like The. Rosa, coult
have ever belonged to president.
But whatever names men may beal
officially, the public has certain rights
and asserts them without questioning
those with whose appellations libertie:
are taken. A nickname may be al
abbreviatiOn for convenience only, bu'
i it frequently carries with it a meaning
Of endearment or of reproach. II
prove this one has only TO observe how
ldifhicult it is for members of families
\ to give each other full names whei
there is a feeling Of love and sympa
thy A parent may insist on father
before the world. but in private dad
gets at his pOcketbook
Let us glance over the local field anG
look for a moment at the manner il
which we speak of those who hav
been prominent before the public. w
used to talk of Dick" Harrington
tom" Bayard and Cove" Salisbury
And who ever heard Of Robert ]. Rey
nolds save in public? 1t was alway
4 Bob Runnels" by those who loved hir
= most.
k It may be a shock to the vanity o
Y certain statesmen of the present da
5, to inform them of the manner in whic
e the plain people use their name
J. Many years ago someone called Jon
(, F. Salisbury, then prominent in Deli
4 ware politics. Barney, and Barney
- has remained to- this day. From
! term of reproach it passed into endea
~ ment. and no faithful follower of Il
former politician would think of cal
ing him by his real name.
: Down in Dover they speak of 'Ro
Kenney and a few years ago one OF Il
most nODular men in Kent was alWa'