FRENCH NAMES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLII, Issue 11630, 4 September 1918, Page 7

FRENCH NAMES.

WHY NOT USE SOME OF THE PRETTIEST? The question of choosing a suitable and pleasing name for a newly is (says the London Daily Mail) one which often proves to be a vexed and a vexing one among young married folks. A certain well-to-do young couple recently greatly concerned themselves oyer this puzzling question of a baby’s name. They did not want anything too “swanky”—nothing like the Marmadukes, Reginalds, and Lionels beloved of middle-class parents affev;“decades ago—and after much casting about for a suiable appellation for their boy they finally in aesperaion fixed upon “John Edward,’’ which certainly is not a choice showing much imaginaion or artisic feeling During the time of the Boer War we remember the “Mafekings”, “Bnilers”. and “Ladysmiths” which were inflicted upon unfortunate youngsters by foolish and unfeeling parents. There has been no revival of this disposition to use war names during the present conflict, but there is one direction in which British parents might make an improvement in giving names to their children; and that is by using French names. Ii would surely be a very graceful compliment to our gallant French Allies if we began to adopt some of the harming and extrem.lv pretty and artistic names they give to their children.

To take some of the names frequently met with in French families together with some of historical and religious significance, there are, for boys, Pierre (Peter) and Jules already fairly well known; Mathieu, Barnahe, Gregoire, Etienne, Sylvesfre, Lucien, Gaston, Aristide, Augoste, Hilaire, Armand, Fernand, Gervaise, Antoine, Raoul, Geolfroi, Ambrosie, Alselme, Leon, Louis, Marcel, and many others of like agreeable sound; while of girls we have Madeleine, Nathalie, Colinette, Melaine, Agatha, Hor tense, Clotilde, Eullie, Irma, Euphraise, Lucile, Jacquiine, JNimon (or Nanettte), Babette (diminutive for Elizabeth), Ursula, Melisse, Sosie, Julienne, Mathilda, Pelagie, Heloise, Celine, Marthe, Yvonne, and heaps of other qually sweet and euphonious to the ear. The idea may therefore be commended to anyone who has to do with the naming of the little ones, »nd young parents of a patriotic and generous turn of mind might do worse than name one or two of their children after those of our brave French Allies and comrades whoso womenfolk and children ;,have in particular made such great and perhaps never to he sufficiently praised or appreciated sacrifices in the common cause.

Uur little Jeanuots, Marcels, Celines, and Jacquelines may thus by their Chistian names help to keep in mind for future generations out mutual pat in the great war and mark our gratitude and appreciation of these charming qualities in language, art, and social life in which the French people have always stood pre-eminent.

TORPEDOING OF SPANISH VESSELS. PUBLIC FEELING STRAINED. Madrid, Sept 1. Semi-official.—The Ministry has prepared a report concerning the torpedoing of the Atasameudi, based on telegraphic details ordered in anticipation of the enforcement of the regulation of August lOtn. The Government has decided that in view of the straoed public feeline strictly to apply the espionage law and prevent the publication of statements calculated to compromise neutrality, also temporarily to suspend guarantees relating to the freedom of the press.