Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 8.djvu/102

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��Naines and Nicknames.

��playmates, or after the arrival of the person at mature age, and are often- times ridiculous in the extreme. They are nearly always a source of great mor- tification to those who so unwillingly bear them, who would give almost any- thing to rid themselves of the nuisance \ yet these, once fixed, seldom lose their hold, but must be borne with the best grace possible.

It will not be necessary to cite in- stances of this class, as every one will recall many such that it might be highly improper to mention publicly as being personal or taken to be so. Some are simply indicative of temperament ; some of a peculiarity of manner, or a locality in which they happened to have first seen the light ; and others, perhaps the most unfortunate of all and the most mischievous, are derived from an ill- timed word or act, said or done in a moment of passion or thoughtlessness, which the individual would like to recall at almost any price, but cannot. The saddest of all are those unfortunates, for there are such, to whom their pa- rents, they knew not why, gave such names.

Another class are those given at first as a term of reproach or disgrace, ac- cepted without protest, and afterwards borne as a title of honor. The name " Old Hickory " Avill at once suggest itself as such an instance. Truly fortu- nate is the person who has the tact and is in circumstances to do this, and thus turn the weapons of his enemies against themselves. There are others, again, whose character and position are such that they permit no familiarity, and every name of reproach or ridicule rolls off like shot from the iron shell of the mon- itor. The name of our Washington sug- gests such an individual. Whoever for an instant thought of approaching him with familiarity, or of applying to him a nick-

��name as a term of reproach or ridicule, or even as an expression of good nature.

As will be readily seen, the evil result- ing fiom this custom is wide spread and alarming. It would also seem to be al- most without remedy, since it is the re- sult of irresponsible action, committed by persons who are not fully aware of what they are doing, by those who are indifferent, as to what may follow, or by those who are actuated by malice ; aganist these there is no law except the steady, persistent movement of the thinking public setting its face squarely against the practice, with the passage of time, which usually brings about, we know not always how, the remedy for such evils ; but we are seldom willing to wait for such a cure.

As before intimated parents are some- times guilty of this offence, and thus place upon a child a stigma that wiU follow it through life. A little care on their part will remedy the evil, to that extent, and they surely should be will- ing to do their share in the work. Teachers and those who have the charge of the young are sometimes thoughtless enough to commit the same fault. Should it not be crime? For they have no right to be thus inconsiderate, when a little restraint upon their part will prevent the wi-ong as far as they are concerned. With these two influences setting in the right direction, added to that of the thinking community, a current may very likely be formed that shall obliter- ate wholly the custom and deliver us from its attendant difficulties.

Another practice now quite common, and one which bids fair to create much confusion, is that which permits the wife to take the Christian name of her husband : for instance, Mrs. Mary, wife of John Smith, signs her name Mrs. John Smith, a name which has no legal existence, which she is entitled to use

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