Evening journal., 1905-09-15
sMIIR FAMILY IS PROLIFIC
It Is Family Name Ir Every coun-
try and Age.

Sitting ln the readng-room at The
Library of Congress, with dictionaries,
histories and other books around Him
Twas stately gentleman who gave ID
reporter his card. which read. John
Smith, New York"
suppose YOU are familiar With the
name he said 1T is d family name.
lln America e is spelled Smith; i'm
England some spell it Smith. n
France il is Smyte; ion Germany
Schmidt; In Russia Smitta; Ina Dom
mark Smed; in Iceland. Smidhr IN
Japan. smitaza; ion China. Slnit He-.
Il IS as old as the world. and when
Adam the first man, chose a second
lnama for his chldren's sake 1t IS
stated that ne selected the paronymic
fof smith. There were two Smiths
aboard the Ark-a blacksmith. OF tine
sons OF Ham. and Smithy. the foteer.
who was first cousin to the Anvils
and the Bellows family. In America
'one of the Smiths made "a chestnut
itfee famous. IL was spreading
chestnut tree. and the Smith was SO
Well known that everybody I'm the
town called him the village Snithy
land he did one-day stands beneath
lthe tree.
"rhe name IS infectious. II spreads
The Century Dictionary tells how the
Scots spelled IL Smith and used it ass
ia synonym for Infection In early
England the Smiths were catching
They pervaded an trades and profess
sions ln addition To blacksmiihs
There were whitesmiths and gold
lsmiths and silVersmiths and copper
smiths They were handy men. for
their name came TO mean artincer. and
especially a worker with the hammer
and I'm metal, and then as one who
made or effected anything. Finally.
Sir Walter Raleigh spoke of smith
icraft which showed how crafty the
smiths were, even I'm Queen Eliza
lbeth's time. They broke up into
small families. aud from this break
ling up the Smiths tell that the Eng
iish language got the word smither-
Teens. meaning fragments or broken
pieces. They say also. in addition to-
Adam smith of Eden there was "a
second Adam Smith. who lived in
Scotland about 1890 and was the
greatest economist of his day.
These and many more facts or nc-
tons the Smiths have put into pickle
for posterity. 1t has been known for
some years that the Smiths have or
ganzed down around New York and
New Jersey Once year they held
la Smithereen. which is collection Of
Ian the family fragments of Smiths in
lone grand picnic in the historic parks
lof Deepsink. near Hackeusack In New
Jersey. Big Smiths and little Smiths
flock 70 the Smithereen.
"The Smiths are spreading again.
Their organization is becoming ma
ltional They have started paper
icalled the Smith. out in Detroit Now
lthey offer cash prize for the picture
land biography Of the Oldest living
lSmith. The Smiths OF Washington
lhave been asked to join in the hunt
for the oldest living High honors afo
Ito come TO him.
The Smiths OF the nation announce
that there are over 7123.000 Smiths
lin this country. The oldest living
lSmith is. therefore apt 10 have the
lhonors of patriarch awaiting him
1.-THE oldest De Smythe is not eligible
ito compete FOR the distinction Of beina
the oldest SMITH The modern Me-
lthuselah to whom this proud title zoe,
lmust spell his name smith one wo.
Imam smith in New jersey has arrang.
ed to name a pie after him. If she
Twill name it John Smith the pie viii
be Johnsmithpie. f the Oldest Smith
lis a woman, and her name chanced Ia
be Mamie, the pie will be named Ma
.miesmithpie This viii not mean it is
lmince pie. If any Smiths name was
used the pie would be called Smithpie
"A Smith in Omaha has offered to
name cat after the oldest living
smith. which will be called Joseph's
land which is apt to lead tongue tied
Smiths calling it Josephat If Iii
Smith is oldest it will be called III
hat A Smith i'm Philadelphia will
name a make of boots after the oldest
living Smith. If John Smith is the
oldest the boots may be called famil-
/. iarly bootiack by the Smiths"
John Smith Of New York was bus
lily engaged in looking up Smiths in
the directories and his task appeared
lendlesa. He may retire yet-Wash-
lngton Star.
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