“What's in a Name?”

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 752, 4 May 1933, Page 10

“ What's in a Name?”

Dear Sir, —I read with great interest this evening “Touchstone’s” reply to V.U.C. upon the significance of the name Toe H. May a member of the movement add a rejoinder As an amateur of words I have long enjoyed “ Touchstone’s ” pithy paragraphs. In this instance, however, I must take issue with him about his condemnation of the name “ Toe H.” He correctly derives it and concisely sums up the movement for it is a label. Then comes his pungent criticism. Let this be said. There is a certain homeliness of feature in some faces which is more appealing and attractive than classical beauty. A freckled, snub-nosed, smiling countenance opens the heart of the beholder more than the cold dignity of Vere de Vere. So with names. Jack and Maggie are not euphonious sounds, but they put one at pleasant ease. Dental and gutteral and sibilant rattle and whistle in “ Toe H ” indeed, but its unpretentiousness has the same homely charm. There is an essentially English quality of modesty revealed. A very similar movement on the Continent is known as “ Les Chevaliers de la Paix ” —The Knights of Peace ” a most elegant name, but perhaps a littlC pretentious. Is not “ Touchstone ” himself confirmatory of this view ? A beloved member of the family called “As You Like It,” and related to “As You Will” and “Much Ado About Nothing,” he is evidence of the most essentially English poet’s happiness (literally) in choosing a name. The truth is that the virtue of a name lies in its associations rather than its melodious sound. Probably “ Touchstone ** hivr self, “in old unhappy far-off days, ana battles long ago,” quickened to the homely nick-names of “ Anzac,” “ O Pip,” “ Emma Gee,” “ Toe Emma,” and the like. If these were “babyish,” they at least circulated freely among babies of a somewhat forceful type. “ Toe H ” is the signal of a spirit of carefree gaiety such as flourished among men in times that otherwise were grim indeed. In these days of wry mouths and knitted brows it is a very cheering signal. I like to think, Touc H stone, that U are only a stonfe’s throw from Toe 11. And so, Toujours Toe II. —I am, etc., O W. WILLIAMS.