WHAT'S IN A NAME.

NZ Truth, Issue 533, 4 September 1915, Page 10

WHAT'S IN A NAME.

Perhaps the most peculiar name m the profession Is Jack Cannot, the comedian of Rickards's Tlvoli Follies* Company, recently m New Zealand. When visiting Palmerston North the other day a local bookseller asked Mr. Cannot how his name was pronounced. "Jack," said the comedian, "with the emphasis on the 'ph' as In cow." "No, Mr. Cannot," said the bookseller, "I'm quite serious; how do you pronounce your surname ?" "Ah, now you're serious, I'll tell you straight dinkum," replied Jack, "My surname is really a French name of very ancient lineage. You see, my ancestors went over with William the Conqueror, you know, enlisted to escape then\ creditors like a lot of hard lads are doing now. Just as he was ab&ut to embark m the war canoe, down rushed the tailor, the grocer, the milkman and the manlcuVlst. shouting out at the top of their voices 'Ho cannut pay — he cannot pay!' William, who was having a snifter m the stern sheets, turns round and says 'Cannot — who cannot?' They pointed at my ancester. 'Cannot you pay?' asked Bill. 'K'no!' answered the old 'un, short, just like that. 'That's all right, my boy, 1 says Willie, 'Get ye hence, ye scurvy knaves!' said he to the creditors, and, turning to the original Cannot he said, addressing his army, 'Know ye all that from this forward this man be known to ye all as 'K'no. the Knight of the K'nutsl' But it Is {generally pronounced 'Can't'!"