The Washington times., 1902-08-11
Society Men and Women
Rejoice in Odd Sobriquets.
SOME ARE ALMOST SHOCKING
Recipients of Smart Cognomens Don't
Seem to Mind - Probably Wouldn't
Much Matter If They Did-Edward
VII Dubbed Master"

To live gracefully up to q nickname,
or scornfully to live it down, is one of
the prices paid for popularity nova
days by individuals who move in al
most every grade of society. In fact,
it is noticed that these tokens of ia
miliarity are greatly on the increase,
perhaps because of this very intimacy
which they suggest with wellknown
people.
In his particular set, Edward VII is
dubbed The Master" to allude to him,
therefore, as ''Tummy,1 the name now
discarded, would show either that one
had been asleep for some time, or else
that one stood without the charmed cir
Gle. In this country, curiously enough,
Mr.. willie" X. Vanderbilt is called by
his intimates THE Prince" because his
ways are likened to those of the King
in his unrestrained days of being Prince
of Wales.
The Princess Charles of Denmark,
the Kings favorite daughter, by her
family and closest friends is termed
Harry" a. jolly name, and one, it is
said, which particularly delights her
royal ears.
Sonny is the nickname most gen.
borough, earned, however. through no
fault of his, but because of the very
undignified treatment bestowed on him
by his father. The young dukes dex-
terity in lodging footstools and even
Sevres plate was early noticed by So
ciety. At Cambridge this inculcared
habit also did its work. 1t seems most
melancholy, but there he was known
as The Shrinking Shrimp"
The Duke of Portland, owing to his
size, is termed Jumbo" while, for the
same reason, the late Duke of Yelling
ton was called "Spurgeon." In sizable
nicknames. however none could vie
with that of the late Mr.. Cecil Rhodes,
who was called THE Colossus"
Everywhere. it seems, Prince Victor
Duleep Singh, who is very handsome, is
dubbed Tulip which may be in refer
ence to his ruddy coloring. His second
sister however, the one with scientific
proclivities. and who has spent some
time in America studying medicine, is
already alluded TO in England as THE
Doctor" The Duke of Manchester, who
also has considerably stirred American
interest, bears for some obscure reason
the title of kim
Lord Kitchener. with whom even the
thought of familiarity seems incongru-
Gus. knows nevertheless that society has
abbreviated him to TX. of X" while
Lady Curzon, vice empress of India,
formerly Miss Letter. is affectionately
called by her husband "Kinky."
To the Earl of Warwick has clung
the pet name of his boyhood, Brooke,
and one which is rather natural as
through his early days he was Lord
Brooke. Very often in England titles
and names of places give broad scope
for deducting DicknanIes which it well
their bearers, and are seldom offensive.
In America wit is more often sharpened
on personal traits, and. as rule, the
names bestowed are not so pleasant.
Lord Cholmondeley. hereditary great
chamberlain of England, because OF his
second title, Rock Savage. is briefly
called Rock" Lord Londonderry sill
continues to be known as &C. a nick
name which was given him when he was
Lord Castlereagh The Duke of New
castle responds TO ''Linnie," derived
from his second title, Lord Lincoln. 1t
is known, however, that there is a ten
dency spreading TO call him Button, "
in reference to his love of pressing .be
button in photography. The Duke of
Cambridge, who has connections with
various royal parks, is amusingly known
as George Ranger" The most en-
tensive nickname yet earned by a duke
is perhaps that of the Duke of Atholl.
1t is "All Scotland
always to be some quality about a
nickname which makes it clinging. II
will even occasionally descend through
several generations. Lord Yarmouth.
most generally known as THE Bloat-
er, inherited this title from his father.
Lord Hertford. who not only bore il
but earned it when he was a young
man in the Foot Guards. "Nealy," the
pet name of Mr.. Cornelius Vanderbilt.
loses apparently no strength even
though It is in its third generation.
THE Climbers has most persistently
clung TO a New York family with more
forcible than pleasing social ambitions.
Not soon again will there be a nick
name so absurd, in a way, and yet so
catching. as that of the late Mrs.
Paran Stevens. To old and young. even
to herself, she was just ANTI Pirein."
The name OF the late and much lament
ed Mr.. Harry lie Grand Cannon was
the inspiration for his amusing but
much disliked nickname, lie Petit Pop
Gun" But, then, as has been intimated.
good taste has a poor show with wit
when tossed up in the matter of a nick
name. II can hardly be pleasant for
the family Of a well-lsnown general Ia
New York 10 know that his wife.
grandmother to boot. but one fond OF
dancing, is universally dubbed "Giddy
Gussie.' Probably also Mrs. CORVALLIS
West, formerly Lady Randolph, would
prefer less pointed petit nom than
that Of the The Youths Companion"
Mr.. Creighton Webb does not. we may
presume. object to the title. The Eye
opener" as it has been gained through
his penchant for dropping down on sofas
in remote corners and telling rather
risky stories 10 debutantes. >;"ither
should Mr.. William Astor complain that
he is called THE Growler'
The majority OF horsey wom,n in
America have nicknames. Mrs Ker-
nochen, sub rosa be 1t understood. is
designated as Two Year Old" and
which is perhaps one OF the least OBJ
jectionahle OF this class. Life. however.
is too short TO dwell at length on the
innumerable nicknames one now hears
IN society that would have greatly shock
ed the ears of our graudmOthers Mrs