New-York tribune., 1918-12-22
Fashions in Names
Old Styles Run Out and
Authors Must Find New Ones

wickedly enlarged the name to Mr.. Boobv.
If the right name for any character is de-
batable, there are definite associations
which cannot be disregarded, however un-
fair they seem to the phlologist. Stigrins
was once Stigand. noble Norman name.
but it cannot help being ridiculous AMI
disagrecable now.
But taste leaves many names uncertain
in merit, and we declare the kind Of label
We prefer characters to wear, not with snv
idea of persuadng the irritable race of au-
thors, but rather of evoking that difference
of opinion which is the delight of all gos-
sipers from crows to critics. The hest
names are those which seem at first sight
to be neutral, ordinary labels with no ul-
terror meaning, yet tickle the readers in
genuity pleasantly with the thought that
more is meant than meets the eye. Take
the name Scadder, in Martin Chuzzlewitp
Does it not suggest venomous reptile =
creature with hint for those that look
carefully of the scorpion and the adder
Thackeray's Mr.. Honeyman, with his ele-
giant, easy manners is another case in
point, though here the suggestion is more
obvious. There is a gentleman in "Pen-
Dennis Percy Sibwright who has chambers
in. the temple and takes things very COM
fortably. Is he not meant to be half a
sybarite? The Wiloughby Patterne of
Meredith's "Egoist' suggests the common
design china, and hints that this Egoist
is in US all Dr. Pangloss, the optimist of
Noltaire's "Candide," is good, though, per-
haps, too obvious Meredith's editor in
Diana of the Crossways" Mr. Tonans, is
bad, because it does not strike one as A
possible name at all. The epgrammatists
Stukely Culbrett and Colney Durance have
odd names indeed. Is it unkind to suggest
that Meredith named them so, because they
like nothing alive? In place names
Meredith is more convincing. Hillford and
Wrexby strike US, for instance, as excellent
for villages. Clever authors have dis
covered of late that places can be made into
good names for persons, like Mrs. Hum
phry Wards Mr.. Wendover and Mr. Marriott
Watson's Mr.. Rudgwick.
Thus far proper names have been chiefly
considered. The Christian name for the ar
tist in fiction is more difficult matter, be-
ing an intimate personal thing. But fash
ion is more potent here with authors than
deliberate choice. When gardening books
flourished with the glamor of old recipes.
mild firtations and Indifferent Latin. Lamia.
Lavinia Co added a touch of easy learn
/ ing. Elizabeth and its various abbrevia-
tions have had great run of recent years
and, provided you careful, as Sterne
puts it, mot to Nicodemus a man to moth
ing" almost any Christian name is tolerated
among heroes and heroines, villains and
clergymen. The old-fashioned and the new
tangled jostie one another without much
discrimination How much of each NAV
survive and why no one knows. 1t is odd
! for instance, that Jack, still IN full vigor
has lost his old companion jill We know
not why the pretty name of Gillian has
gone out. Thackeray sings:
"Gillians dead. God rest her bier.
How | loved her twenty years syne!"
but the host of later authors have neglected
her. The name might be revived in sc
tion and thus handed to life. which copie,
freely from such sources, but more, ",
fear from the cheap novelette, than from
the serious artist.