Evening star., 1949-08-29
This and That
Bv Charles E. TraceweU

names as Clarence the buzZard Oswald the
owl, Myrtle the turtle and Blossom the
possum.
To most, these names are just fun. They
like giving names to animals, and thinking
of them by such names. 1t pleases them.
and does the animals no harm.
Such names do not so much humanize
the creatures as objectors think, as give
them personalities in human minds.
Actually, each creature has its own per-
sonality. but 1t is often hard for individuals
to see it.
II overused, or used wrongly, such naming
Is somewhat on the mawkish side.
But If the naming is moderately well done,
it allows the least imaginative to enter into
the life Of an animal.
In this way we have known Of goldfish
having names. even insects, and in each case
the creature was the gamer.
Also. one may believe, were those who
used the names. Such names not only had
highest or lowest, but also had an extra
quality here.
They gave bit of imagination to the
least imaginative.
That is a great deal, in world suffering
increasingly from lack Of imagination,
especially in high places. There seems to be
a reluctance on the part Of many persons
to use imagination. It is not playing SAFE"
But certainly it is very natural. One may
feel that even animals use the same sounds.
in calling to the same animals. and that
these sounds do. indeed, constitute, or at
least almost constitute, names.
name is coexistent with a thing,
especially with living thing.
We all know how impossible it is for many
persons not to use some sort Of name when
talking to another.
II they do not know him very intimately,
some of them-the least imaginative-are
inclined to do the unforgivable by merely
using the last name.
Templeton Jones. man about town, once
said that Of all things he most hated. one
was to be called just Jones.
"'Hello, JONES' he said, "is to me offensive.
I would like to ask such greeter to say
either Hello. Mr.. JONES' or Hello, Tenn
pleton.'"
One Of the most offensive greetings has
nothing to do with names, but Is simply the
misuse of titles.
"Hello, Cap" or Hello, Doc" etc. There
Is long list of them, mostly used by vulgar
fellows toward persons whom they imme-
diately recognize as kindly. They seldom
use such offensive greetings to hard-hearted
persons.
Naming Of animals birds, insects. even
fishes (somehow, to most persons, that seems
the last straw, Is often an inspiration. In
some instances, it requires hard work. Often
an animal names itself. by some action, or
because of some coloration or oddity.
Sometimes it seems impossible to find
good name, one that is fitting. In such cases
it is best to wait. Time has wonderful
way with it, ,not only of working out prob
lens, but at last of suggesting names.
We once had q white goldfish which we
called fiddle.
We have forgotten the reason for this
name, but at any rate it just seemed to fit.
fiddle became an institution in the house.
hold.
She was always clamoring for food.
She would come to the surface and run
her nose along it. With her, this was not
seeking for air, but for food, as there was
no other fish in her tank.
Sometimes one who believes in naming
animals will lament the decline Of the old
favorite dog names, such as Rover, Fido.
Rex, and so on.
Rover certainly was wonderful name
for many roaming animals. And Fido be-
spoke volumes. But each generation seems
to have its own favorite.
In the Civil War days, Tray was favor
ite. One of Stephen Fosters most affecting
songs is about his old dog Tray, ever faith
full. This is song that some sensitive per-
sons refuse to listen to, they find it so
mournful. Another one. even worse to some.
is the song about old dog Shep. There
seems to be dearth Of good songs about
animals. There is fund of gayety, humor
and common sense In the animals, treasure
house Of amusement that Is seldom touched
by our song writer's. They might give us q
rest on the moon, June. love. theme, and
write about some Of the doings Of our good
friends Of the fields and forests, the air
lanes and the waters Of the earth. They
are all worth singing about.