The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1906-04-27
NAMING CHILDREN.

number Of the EARN Journal"
One of the first duties OF parents is
10 give child a proper name proper
in every sense of the word. A name
that will be womanly and dignifed
for the girl child when she reaches
woman's estate; and one that will be
manly and sensible for the boy when
he grows to manhood. 1t is all very
well to bestow fancful, romantic or
ridiculous names upon babies; but in
the natural order, of things, babies
grow up into men and women, and
must take their places in the world,
and the parents who handicap a child
10y badly chosen name cannot be
censured too severely.
Such names as John, Charles, Hen
ry, James,. William, &C., are good old
standbys for boys, and if you, wish to
call the boy Jack, Charlie, Willie,
Harry, &C., at home, there is no rea-
son in the world why you should not
do SO; but let him be known officially
as Charles, William, John, &c. Enter
him so at school, and teach him from
the first 10 sign his name so to all
notes, letters and papers.
When young man writes and asks
me how he can work through college,
| know that he will get far more en-
couragement from the, dean if he signs
himself William Smith, than if he
signs his letters Willie Smith. The
same rule holds good when sending in
an application for position.
Give your boy distinctive name.
Any city directory will give you
string of John Smiths of appalling
length; SO, if bis surname be Smith,
and you desire to call him John, add
a middle name (and use it) that will
make this particular John Smith
stand out amongst the others. John
Stanley Smith mas a dignifed sound
that carries some weight, and there
are many family names that may be
used to good effect, both as first and
middle names. Consider well the COM
bination before you decide on name,
as in this land Of mixed nationalities
there are some curious results, especi-
ally when the namss are distinctive.
| have in mind a Scotch mother who
gave her boys the names of her native
land, which were woeful misfts with
the surname which they got from
their German father. Again, high
sounding names, such as Earl of LIE
Roy, are entirely out of place with
surname like Cluggins, yet I know Of
Combinations just as bad; nor do such
names fit all walks of life.
AS for your daughters, Pearl,
Blanche, Lilly, &C., may seem just
right for the baby girl; but how do
such names suit woman of forty Or
fifty, especially if her lot in life has
not been an easy one, and she is weigh
ed down with cares? By all means let
her have sensible, womanly name,
and call her by it, for it is her birth
right. If her name is Mary, do not
call her Name, and if it be Margaret,
| beg of you do not call her Maggie.
Let Elizabeth be Elizabeth; Beth or
Bess if you like in the home, but not
Liz. As for Katharine, Kate will do
if a short name be absolutely necessary,
bn' avoid Cad or Caddy. And as for
W..nelmlna, let her be called by the
full name; no one ought to call a girl
Willie.
Avoid the Edies, Dollies, Flossies,
ard other diminutives. Sign your
self by your full name-diminutives
have gone out of style, and pet names
are only for the family circle, and those
nearest and dearest, not for the out
side and business world. If you call
your daughter LOWE, don't allow 9th
ers to do SO; and teach her it is not a
name to be signed to business letters
or letters to strangers. Above all
things, don't make up fanciful name
for your daughter; the chances are
that it will be ridiculous, and a source
of annoyance to her all her life. Oh
serve the same rules as to combination
with the last name that are mentioned
for boys. Consider we'll before you
name your children. You owe them
good name as much as you owe them
healthy bodies, sound minds, wise and
tender care.
Mrs. Moffat-Well, Martha, how is
your husband now?
Martha-Po'ly, miss, poly. He's
got that explanatory rheumatism.