The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-05-21

with due care and
because at the time Of
the formation of the constitution she
was the central state of the Union.
While Pennsylvania has not quite
such an imposing nickname as New
York, her nickname is just as symbolic
as that of Empire State. Today, how
ever, conditions have greatly changed
since the thirteen original states con-
federated. If we were now to group
the forty five states so as to form an
arch, it is self-evident that Pennsyl-
vania would form part of the circle
instead of the keystone. Nevertheless
the name suggests what we once were
and what we are today from territor-
ial standpoint.
"Gopher State" is the highly elevat-.
ing nickname which hangs to Mime
sofa like burr to cows tail. It is as
incongruous as the name which is af-
fixed to Wisconsin; and, unfortunately,
she is known and referred to with pride
as the Badger State" Both of them
are as Inappropriate as it is possible to
make them. Neither of these names
represent animals which are distinct
features Of the states which bear their
names. They suggest little or nothing
and they might just as we'll have Sc
lected "Mud" and "Water" as represent
ative names. Personally have moth
ing against the little gopher or badger
as animals. The thirteen stripped 60
pher is beautiful animal, but COM
merciaily he is not worth sou. He
has good especially
among the farmers-for being an ex-
pert at finding corn that has been plant
ed by the grangers. No doubt if Min
nesota was to choose another name, she
would not select that of q pest upon
whom thousands of dollars are spent
annually in efforts to exterminate.
New Hampshire and Maine both
have unusually good names-names
which are standing monument to
their sound common sense. The form
or is known as the "Granite State" and
the latter as the "Pine-Tree State"
New Hampshire owes its nickname to
the fact that she owns the best and
most widely known granite quarries in
the country, while Maine is called the
"Pine-Tree State" because of the ex-
cellence of her forests which are in
great demand by ship builders along
the New England seacosst. Her tim
ber, which is exceedingly tall and SYM
metrical, is admirably suited for masts
famous among ship builders.
'Sucker State" is the name to which
Illinois answers in the roll-call. 1t is
Outlandish and excessively slangy
and rather vulgar. 1t is hardly the
proper name to call great state like
Illinois which has within her borders
such wide-a-wake and enterprising
city as Chicago, the pride Of the West.
This Bowery phrase is susceptible to
double construction, and is as insult
ing and as exacerbating as the name of
"HOOsier State"
[ could quote many more states
which have some first-class nicknames,
and still others which are practically
meaningless. Those which I have
mentioned show to what extremes these
nicknames run. It also proves that
good names are more plentiful than
the cheap, slangy class which are such
a conspicuous factor in the nicknaming
of states. AS have exhibited few of
the more stately names as cOmmendable
examples to those states that are en-
numbered with mere shadows, it is low
in order to make few sugges ms
along the line of improvement Id
which, perhaps, will be more in CO. J.
nance with twentieth century ides
As they now stand they are decidedly
in need of reform, as many of them are
just as applicable to one state as they
are to another and others could be ex-
changed with profit
As to Minnesota, for instance, /
would toss the little gopher to the cat
and adopt the nickname of Mineral
State" This is more striking name
and one which her limitless deposits of
iron ore would eminently qualify her to
assume. Wisconsin also has nick
name sorely in need of revision. The
"Hemlock State" would be more sug-
gestive and would be happy substi-
tute for her present one. In fact most
anything would be preferable to the
one which she now uses with much
pride and elatiOn.
However great the need of changing
many of these nicknames, no change is
possible unless popular opinion
demands it. Even if changes were
made it would require several gen.
erations to firmly establish the new
/ names S.