NAMING HOUSES

Evening Star, Issue 20128, 19 March 1929, Page 11

NAMING HOUSES

Names of houses have always possessed a peculiar lascination lor me (writes “ Euphonia,” in the Melbourne ‘Age’). In the pursuit of my hobby 1 observe that quite a lot of people have a propensity lor making up names by spelling the word hack-wards. Here arc a lew examples noticed mi suburban villas —Rekhnv. Now why. i ask, should tho estimable name of Walker he distorted into ‘Roklaw”? Then again, another house rejoices in the name of RetsoL If Ihe wish ol the occupants was to perpetuate their name, why not call the place Fosterville or something similar instead of mutilating Ihe word hopelessly? However, “ Chacun a son gout.”

We arc all familiar with the name Emoh lino: I wonder how many scores of houses have this appellation? Surely there are plenty of euphonious names to choose from without adopting such a difficult proposition as this 1 . Nevertheless, it undoubtedly has one advantage over Rekhnv and lictsof in that it will he suitable for every occupier of the house no matter how olten it changes hands. “ Amron,” inscribed on a new brass plate, arrests my attenlion. Some historical character perhaps, or a Roman general. No, I cannot recall any celebrity of that name, I try it backwards, and the riddle is solved—Norma. Here again is an example of inventive genius, but what is wrong with Norma? Another brass plate hears the name “Snikral”; I pause in my walk to .study it. From what country does that word emanate? Russia? .Persia.? Germany? No. J had almost given it up when my old penchant for suspecting names to he spelt backwards comes to my aid, “Larkins”! Yes, certainly, some facetious person must have invented such a name, but surely this is beyond a joke! However, there's no accounting for tastes. Live and lot live is my mottohut iSnikral 1 Houses named alter members of the family are more popular oven than those spelt backwards. Sometimes two names arc combined, and the result is grotesque. Old places which have outlived the character of their names may he seen in some of the older streets. A small cottage is called “ The Oaks.” the old vestige of a tree being a stunted elm. Yet another is named “The Pines,” hut these have evidently long since disappeared, for a solitary peach tree alone remains to toll the tale.

While some names are obviously inappropriate others arc only too suggestive, such as a house with a flight of dilapidated steps loading up to the verandah being named ‘‘-The Falls,” and one cannot but deplore the thoughtlessness of a retired dentist in naming his place “The Gums.” No doubt.it was through the gums lie acquired the wherewithal to build lii.s home, but why recall painful episodes of the past because he has chosen to plant it with native trees? Jt seems to be tempting Fate to name a house “ Sans Souci ” or “ Wywurri,” , yet these are prime favourites. However, the people who occupy the houses are the ones to be satisfied, having named them to suit their own ideas, and not those of the critical passer-by. With this reflection I enter my humble abode, which as vet is onlv No. 16.