Oddments

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 March 1948, Page 4

Oddments

I referred some time ago to the growing Socialist habit in the House of Commons of asking questions designed mainly to prove the benefits of Socialist rule. There was one such from Mr Emrys Hughes, who asked for the number of persons and farmers bankrupt in Scotland during 1947 compared with the average number between 1919 and 1939. This time at least one member of the Opposition was ready. After the Secretary for Scotland had answered, Mr J. G. Braithwaite rose. “Is not bankruptcy now a State monopoly?” he asked. —“Peterborough” in the Daily Telegraph. sj: $ * * The Tollemache family, who were in the news in Britain recently over the plan ■ to make Ham House a national museum, have long been famous for the profusion and originality of their Christian names. The most noted example was Lytilph Ydwallo Odin Nestor Egbert Lyonel Tocdmag Hugh Erchenwyne Saxon Esa Cromwell Orma Nevill Dysart Plantagenet, the initials of whose first 15 names are self-explan-atory. Another member of the larnily, a parson, was endowend with 10 Christian names and, in different branches, baptismal gifts included Wenefryde, Lyonulph, Fredegunda, Cuthberga, Esyth and Ethelswytha. Parents endeavouring to : av’6id hackneyed names might, however, find best inspiration from the sonorously christened Mabel Hclmingham Ethel Hunting Tower Beatrice Blazonberrie Evangeline Vise De Lou de Orellana Plantagenet Tocdmag Saxon. — The Seeker