The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-13
FRON OTHER PENS
FRENCH NAMES.

Every year about this season French
men awaken to the consciousness that
they are a bureaucracy-rfdden nation,
and bill is introduced In parliament
for the revival Of some Right Of Man
or other Last winter it was a meas
ure, in behalf Of the Partisan cafe wait
ers, making it a misdemeaner In any
man to compel an employe to shave his
beard. At the present moment there
are two bills before the chamber en-
bodying amendments to the law of 1903,
which established official lists of Chris
tan names from which French citizens
are compelled to select appellat1ves
for their new born children. The crisis
for the situation in Paris is something
of crisis-was precipitated by proud
father who presented himself at the
registry office and announced the birth
of a daughter whom he wished to call
Henriette. He was told that the name
was not included in the official list, and
was therefore presumptively prescribed.
The fond parent might have chosen such
names as Colamondre, Eustadiole, or
Golindache. or, if the child had been a
boy he might have had the pick of
Abedecalas, Asclepiodote, Barsonuphe,
or Monalasche; but with holiness in
the face of official authority most I'M
usual in F'renchman, he insisted that
his child was a girl, and that he wished
to call her Henriette Whence the par
liamentary agitation. The defenders of
the present law argue that its provis-
ions, which limit the choice of names
to those contained in the different re-
ligious calendars and to those of per.
sonages of ancient history, are quite
broad enough. Thus, the law prevents
the inscriptions of silly dininutives
which may happen to be the mode of
the moment. For instance the law
sanctions Yvette, but forbids Yvonne.
Else F'renchwomen might come in the
course of time to be called Yvonnette,
Yvonnettine, and even Yvonnettinette.
New York Evening Post.
PREFERS LOAVES AND FISHES.
1t is doubtful. however, whether
Gov. Johnson will make any more Sc
rious attempt for the presidential
nomination than he thinks valuable
for advertising purposes. He is the
hope of Minnesota democracy. which
wants him for its gubernatoria1 can
didate. For it would far rather have
loaves and fishes under the dome of
the new capitol than stomachs full of
nothing more substantial than long
distance sniff of the White House
Minnesota Democrats need johnson in
their business here. He is the only one
with whom they can even hope to win
and they have no great confidence that
even he viii again be able to turn that
trick. For they know it Is presidential
year and that his large majority of
two years ago was the result more
largely of the failure of the Republic
can candidate to poll Republican votes
than of the gain in the Democratic
vote In fact. with everything in his
favor Johnsons vote in the off year
increased only 10000 over his vote
in a Roosevelt presidential year. His
followers know that with all the old
Republican differences practically for
gotten and become past history any
clean, able, and reliable Republican
is almost certain to win, even against
Johnson with all his personality and
prestige.-St. Paul Pioneer-Press.
A REFILLABLE BOTTLE
Large rewards are offered by Ken
lucky dlstillers for bottle that cannot
be rehlled. After January 1 a bottle
that can be refllled will be priceless in
Georgia.-Louisville Courier-Journal.
BOOSTING THE MARKET.
The scheme to Boost the stock mar
ket by use of dynamite may prove pop
ular IN Rome, but it is bit too siren
uous IN peace-loving country like
America--Louisville Post.