The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-12-27
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

IT d foSe Dy any OIner name WOuiu smell as sweet according to the saying of the immortal Bard of Avon. suppose it will be permissible to say that a quilt by any. other name would be just as warm.
 In spite of shakespeares question. What's in a name?" there is a very great deal in not merely the names of people, but in the nomenclature of things. and so the question of names is not to be handled lightly, but seriously If you doubt this then you have never been the proud father of boy or a girl, for their christening becomes a mat ter of interest not merely to you and your wife, bu ,fo your whole tribe, and to her entire kinnery. and out of a, diff ference in the choice many a family feud has originated.
 have forgotten who gave expression to the idea, but it found lodgment in my mind as a pretty conceit. It was tho saying by one that no girl should ever
 
 given her by the lover she was to wed. am ready to admit that in this climate where belles have been known to plight their troth to more than one at the same time that there is liability of mix-up in names
 Now. children have more imagination f1,an way of personifying things which some times startle their elders. Every little miss gives a pet name to her dolly, just as every boy has loving title for his puppy. The highest honor that comes to man or woman from children is to pets or playthings.
 
 I am aImost sorry that I ever bought that book on quilts, for ever since eI took it home I have been obsessed by them. I think of them on my way down town. I catch myself wondering about them during office hours I can't get rid of them after the days work is over, and I am hanging on to a strap home ward bound. And then when get in bed and pull one up over me dream of them in the night hours.
 
 lover of them has said that the most fascinating features of quilt lore are the great number and wonderful variety of names given to quilt designs A dis tinct individuality is worked into every quilt by it's maker, and this endows it with kind of personality and makes 1t worthy of name, and so while the good housewife sews she ponders over distinctive name for her handiwork.
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 careful census of quilts and their names by an expert has revealed the fact that but few of them have been named in haphazzard way; but that in nearly every instance there was a rea- son or at least a suggestion for it's be- stowal upon them. In most cases the re- lation between name and design being self evident, even to the novice in quilt making.
 To illustrate: The common star pat tern, in which one star is made the cen ter of each block, is invariably known as the "FivePointed Star" It seems that variations have not altered the old fa- miliar star name. This lease is quite different, however, in the tree" pattern, for a change in the trunk has resulted in at least three new names, Pine Tree" Temperance Tree and the Free at Paradise I merely cite these two by way of contrast.
 do not suppose you ever thought about it. I am sure did not until l studied up on the matter, but history, politics, religion, nature, poetry and romance all are stitched into the gayly colored blocks and exert their influence on quilt appel lations. The stirring frontier activities and the great men of history made inn pressions on the housewives minds and they found expression in the names of their quits.
 Here are a few to show what I am driving at: Washington PIumes," Mex ican Rose" and Rose of Dixie" are old quilt names reflecting historical and do- nestle events of importance. It is a sim pier way of perpetuating history and TO- nance than the old Bayeux tapestries show forth, but the root idea is the same. Some of the pioneer names breathe of the stirring wildness and frontier days: Bears Paws" Texas Tears. Rocky Road to California etc
 That the women of earlier days took interest in politics as well as their sisters of today have but to give the following quilt James; "Lincoln's Platform" liar son l.ose." "Whig Rose" Democrat Rose" and Radical Rose" of which arc suggestive of the stirring times had over slavery. Then came Yankee Puzzle" Union Calico and Confederate Rose"
 It is not to be wondered that the Godly women who sat and sewed and stitched wove into their work their religious be- liefs and gave to thei finished products biblical names, such as Garden of Eden" Golden Gates, 'Jacob's Lad der "Josephs Coat" "Solomons Tenn ple," Star of Bethlehem Tree of Par adise" and even Forbidden Fruit" The last was no doubt born while thinking of Mother Eve.
 But I have only time to hint at the sea