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accident render it attractive; morality cannot improve it, matrimony changes it with only the half of creation; and worst of all, death, which frees us from all other things of earth, frees us not from it. It hangs upon a man's footsteps, like a double shadow, preceding him wherever he goes, following him wherever he has gone. It dogs him through innumerable aliases, and clings to him in spite of the decisions of courts and legislatures. And even when his spirit has passed away, all that in large letters is carved upon his tombstone, all that remains to tell the great majority of mankind that he ever had a real existence, is his name. It is a friend or an enemy, that sticketh closer than a brother, for living he cannot escape it, and dead, it continues to endure, the only lasting proof that he has once been.

Originally, names consisted of but one word, which itself often expressed, as in the Iliad, the predominance of some personal quality. But as every people increased in number, the grand object for which they were used, the distinguishing an individual from those of his own race, family or country, rendered their further multiplication necessary. This gradual change can be traced in the history of almost every civilized nation. Instead of the simple designation of the person, like Romulus or Remus, the Roman of the latter days of the Republic had begun to carry around with him a bundle of nomens, cognomens, praenomens and adnomens. The individuality of the man himself was almost lost in such an assemblage of words as Cornelius Scipio Africanus Aemilianus Minor or Marcus Porcius Cato Censorinus Sapiens. This same tendency also appears in the history of the European nations, particularly those of the Teutonic race. Instead of the plain Otto, Ludwig or Friedrich of the early Dukes of Germany, we have now the sounding title of some petty landgrave, the length of whose name is in an exact inverse. ratio to the extent of his possessions. Instead of the Alfred or Ethelred of our Saxon ancestors, we can now boast of more than one such a collection of appellations, as is owned by Mr. G. P. R. James, who, as the poet very truly remarks,

"Got at the font his highest claims

To be reckoned a man of letters."

It is a singular fact that many of the most beautiful of our Christian names are neglected almost altogether, or certainly are very rarely used. We content ourselves with miserable Hebrew desig

nation, while some of the finest of the Saxon and Norman appear scarcely anywhere, save in print. No one, who has not examined the subject, can have any idea of the large number of fine-sounding appellations belonging to our language, of the very existence of which he is probably ignorant. A thorough reform is needed in this particular. As Wesley did not believe the devil should have all the good tunes, so we are most decidedly averse to the novels having all the good names.

It might be a matter for discussion, whether a man's destiny is at all affected by his name. Whether it be true or not, it certainly cannot be doubted that our feelings towards any one, of whom we are entirely ignorant, are strangely influenced in his favor or disfavor, according as his name falls pleasantly or harshly upon the ear. It is hard to link the idea of greatness to an ill-sounding appellation. Nor is this a mere vulgar prejudice; at least it is not a prejudice peculiar to vulgar minds, since many of the most gifted intellects have been under its influence. "Don't Nicodemus him into nothing," was the very quaint but suggestive remark of Elia in a letter to one of his friends, who had just been blessed with an addition to his family. Metastasio called one of his operas Il Re Pastor. "The chief incident," he says, "is the restitution of Sidon to the lawful heir; a prince, with such a hypochondriac name, that he would have disgraced the title-page of any piece. Who would have been able to hear an opera entitled L'Abdolonimo?" Byron also expressed this universal feeling in his English Bards and Scotch. Reviewers, when he spake in the following manner of a Bristol bookseller, who had published an epic with "lines forty thousand, cantos twenty-five;"

"Oh! Amos Cottle !-Phoebus! what a name
To fill the speaking trump of future fame!"

Willis, also, in a tale of his College life, implies his opinion in a remark in regard to one of his classmates. "If Job had rejoiced in a more euphonious name," he says, "I should have bought a criticism in some review, and started him fairly as a poet. But 'Job Smith!''Poems by Job Smith !'-It would never do! If he wrote like a seraph, and printed the book at his own expense, illustrated and illuminated, and half a crown to each person that would take one away, the critics would damn him all the same! Really one's father and mother have a great deal to answer for!"

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Novels are also a good test of the universality of this feeling. Call it a silly prejudice or what you will, yet no one likes by any means so well the hero or heroine, who possesses a name, which his taste at once pronounces inelegant. Something is felt to be wanting in such a case to the sentiment of satisfaction, which otherwise we would have experienced. For it is opposed to those ideas of beauty and fitness, which are as universal as the race, and which instinctively seek in all facts and real events, and demand in all ideal conceptions as near an approach to perfection as possible.

And in this connection, it certainly does seem singular, to say the least, that in any list of great men, especially in any list of great poets, there are so few names, which are not beautiful. The English reader will at once recall to mind Spenser, Shakespeare, Shirley, Massinger, Congreve, Campbell, Coleridge, Shelley, Byron, Tennyson and a vast number of others. Yet it is to be remembered that this is a rule which cannot be made universal. It cannot be forgotten that the greatest of England's philosophers was Bacon, and the most genial of her essayists was Lamb. It cannot be forgotten that in the list of Scotland's literary men, Hogg occupies no obscure position. It cannot be forgotten that the most polished and perfect of American poets was dignified by Punch with the title of the Protracted Fellow. There is surely in these cases no greater anomaly, than to see in the name of a man, now universally admitted to be at the head of modern English novel writers, one of the most vulgar exclamations to be found in our language.

As another class is soon to leave us forever, we will lay down for the benefit of aspirants for the silver cup, three rules, which are the combined result of the practical experience of others, tested and confirmed by our own observation. We commence with one, now happily as well-known as an adage, and for the violation of which heavy penalties should be imposed.

I. Never name your child after yourself. It defeats the very object for which a name is given, that of distinguishing those of the same family from each other. Moreover a Jr. attached to a name is always a ridiculous and ungraceful appendage.

II. Never be seduced into giving your child a Hebrew name. From the action of this rule, it is perhaps just to except a single one, which belongs to females; but in general terms it may be said, that of all names these are the most ungraceful and inelegant, and should be banished by the present generation from good society.

III. Never name your child after a celebrated man. It involves a very questionable compliment to the individual supposed to be honored, and moreover is apt to suggest unfavorable comparisons.

T. R. L.

Noctes Valenses.

No. II.

THE STUDENT IN THE TENT.

SCENE-NORTH MIDDLE.

ACT I.

SCENE I.—Fourth floor—Hall and Stairway overflowing with Students-One of the Juniors is elected Major-General, and one of the Seniors, Brigadier.

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MAJ-GEN.-Comrades, Allies and Veterans of 1854: The regulations under which we are to act are laws enacted by our fore-fathers, at a time when, as now, the Indians seemed entering into a general combination to extirpate the English." (Reads from the the New Haven Records.) "Att a general court, April 3d. 1644, it is ordered, that every male from 16 yeares olde to '60, within this jurisdiction, be furnished forthwith with a gun, a sword, a pound of powder, four pounds of pistol bullets, or twenty-four bullets fitted for every gun, and so continue from time to time."

"It is ordered, that the fourth part of the trayned band shall come to public worship at the beating of the second drum, with their arms. complete."

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'It is ordered, the night shall be divided into three watches. In case of danger the sentinell shall fyre one gun."

The first watch will be set at 9 o'clock, when let every man be "armed and equipped as the law directs." (Conticuerunt omnes.) CHIEF OF THE ENGINEERS.-The quarters assigned to the several regiments are: To the 58th, 59th, and 60th, the lower floors; the fourth will be occupied by the volunteers as a reserve. (Deafening jeers.)

Exeunt.

ACT II.

SCENE I.-First floor-Tools and Timber for Barricading. Manent Engineers-Enter Generals.

MAJ-GEN.-Aye, make them strong, that they to all the legions leagued, yield not. These walls ere now have stood the test against the "thunder-threat" of cannon.

CHIEF OF ENGINEERS.-(Interrupting) Thunder-threat? A cannon spiked wakes not the lightning's voice.

BRIG-GEN.-But make them strong; lest these old doors, each wrenched from its each several hinge, may open to the enemy.

CHIEF.-Deep is driven every bolt, and moveless every bar; so, sooner this time-tested pile shall fall than these old iron-covered doors give way.

Exeunt.

SCENE II.-Second floor-Study-table. Landis Solus-Enter Colonel of the 59th.

COL.-Landis, have you heard the last advices?

LAN-Yes, from my "Division Officer," who suggested I'd better "study up."

COL.-No, but from the scouts. The rumors coïncide; all center in the certainty of attack to-night! And history tells an era just beyond the " memory of men now living," that is to the enemy an example, and to us a warning of certain war.

LAN.-Fortunam Priami cantabo et nobile bellum. montes et nascitur ridiculus mus !"

"Parturiunt

COL. You know the order and the hour. Let the "Invincible Foot" be in line.

LAN. (Soliloquizing.) Confound this hub-bub!

Exit. Confound this

Arrian, confusion worse, confounded! No furlough on the morrow! The Prof. considers the taking of Tyre more important than the destruction of North Middle.

Enter Hallet.

HAL." A horse! a horse!! My kingdom for a horse ! ! !"
LAN. A Colt?

HAL.-No. (Displaying two.) I have a pair; but a pony; or my morning's recitation will be decidedly tacit.

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