NAMES AND NATUKES

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12975, 30 November 1907, Page 7

NAMES AND NATUKES

What's in a namo? Everything, says M. de Rochetal, who has invented onomatology. His peculiarity (says the Paris correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph") is that he pays no attention to the history or etymology of surnames, as any ordinary scholar without originality might do, but considers only Christian names. Ho has been at work on these for twenty years. The results of his researches are positive, though he does not explain by what scientific process he reached them. He merely lays down the law. All Marys are weak, melancholy, and unlucky; Peters arc strong and constant; Paula are active, lively, and eloquent, but impulsive; Georges, 'like the dragonslayer," whom the onomatologist seems to have known w«ll, are all big, fine men, and usually think a good deal of themselves; Louis are exceedingly sensitive and irritable, but active and intelligent; Leons are gentle and warm-hearted, and would be superior men if they had stronger characters; Henry is the ideal name, and Henrys have deep, passionate hearts, and wonderful energy, but are a trifle irritable; Johns are strong, passionate, full of go, and well armed for the battle of life, but they are not always easy to got on with. Is this a dig at John Bull? Among women other than Marys, Helens are, as a rule, like Helen of Troy, but fickle: Susans are not much moro to be relied upon; Juliets are constant in love or hatred; while Louisas are nico girls, but without force of character, and "want looking after" ; Elizabeths are dreamy and quiet natures, and are often unhappy; Marthas are goodhearted, but pugnacious as foes; and as for Alices, beware of them, for they are dangeroiislv passionate, and "have a reprehensible love of independence." They are also subject- to fite of depression— perhaps when not allowed to have their own way.