What They Mean-Famous People That Bore the Name-The Name in History, Literature, Etc.
By Henry W. Fischer
VIOLA
[Welland Telegraph, 16 February 1912]
Girls called Viola should be proud of that distinction to see either of the pet terms, for Viola is the most universal of names, both in modern times and in antiquity. It is taken, of course, from the flower, which is viola even in Sanscrit, the oldest and most primitive of languages. However, this flower is so small and retiring as to become synonymous with modesty.
According to Greek legend, the Viola is “the fair daughter of Ajax’s blood,” having sprung from the earth as the hero’s life-fluid “poured forth to a purple flood.” Violets were very numerous in ancient Hellas, and even today Athena is known as the Violet Crowned City, as Paris is the “City of Lilies,” only the flower referred to in the Paris title is a pun on the word Louis, pronounced Lye in patois and Lys is French for Lili.
Both here and in England Yolante is not unfrequently adopted by Violas of a romantic turn of mind, but the name rarely figures in the birth registers, which shows that the girl was re-christened by herself or others as she grew up to be a fair representative of the ambitious title, for Yolante is a title rather than a name, the first syllable being evidently a contraction of Viola, and the last standing for “land,” which the old Saxons spelled with a “t.”
Naturally the violet is the emblem of Violas of every description. The name’s signification is “Love of Truth,” and its sentiment innocence.
Viola is a lovely character in “As You Like It,” the tender and compassionate counterpart of the gay Rosalind. Another interesting Viola figures in Fletcher’s “Coxcomb.”
“Islanthe,” was the fifth opera in the writing in which Gilbert collaborated with Sir Arthur Sullivan. Violetta is the principal soprano role of Verdi’s opera “Traviata.”
La Violetta was a famous dancer of Austrian birth, but Gallic genius, who delighted London, and became the wife of Garrick. Her real name was Eva Marie Veigel.
What They Mean-Famous People That Bore the Name-The Name in History, Literature, Etc.
By Henry W. Fischer
JUDITH
[Welland Telegraph, 9 January 1912]
Judith, correctly spelled Jehudith, is probably the ferrenting of Judah, but some authorities declare it is a racial name, Judith meaning “Jewess.” The “scarlet lily” is Judith’s emblem and “love of country” her sentiment.
Judith, consort of Louis the Pious, led a turbulent existence, was repeatedly imprisoned., but died in 1843 in the full possession of her power and renown.
Like the above, Judith of Bavaria, was a woman of great beauty and wide learning.
The stepmother of Alfred the Great was a German princess by the name of Judith, and it was she who imbued the King with her love of learning. Judith, wife of Waltheof, was a niece of William the Conqueror and was called Jugge for short.
The Irish have adopted Jugge and turned it into Judy.
What They Mean-Famous People That Bore the Name-The Name in History, Literature, Etc.
By Henry W. Fischer
[Welland Telegraph, 17 May 1912]
ETHEL AND GERALDINE
Girls named Ethel must be very careful not to gossip or indulge in slang, lest they belie their name which stands for more or less than “noble speech.” The original name had such encumbrances as “dred,” and “thryth,” and “trud” tacked on to it, but happily they got lost in the course of centuries, the only survivor being St. Etheldreda, with the French very properly contracted: St. Audry, in English Awdry.
In olden times the name day of St. Awdry was celebrated in England by fairs at which sharpers got rid of all sorts of showy trifles, hence the contemptuous term, “tawdry.”
There are not many synonyms for Ethel to choose from, lest one goes back to the earliest English equivalents, Albert, female Alberta. This, by the way, has nothing to do with Berta. Ethels that want a very swell name might adopt the French “Auberta, (pronounced Obert), Aubertine or Albrette.
The old English Awdry is Addy for short.
Ethel’s emblem is the sunflower, its sentiment, lofty thoughts.
Ethel Barrymore is one of the fair celebrities to whom the name was given.
Geraldine figures in the Italian and Spanish calendars as Giralda. The German form is Gerhardine, (pronounced every letter).
The male English form Jarett has no equivalent for women, and Geraldines not content with their beautiful name must choose between Dina and Gerilla, which latter is derived from the old German Guirhilda. But that doesn’t mean that Hilda and Geradine are the same.
When William the Conqueror landed in England, a great many Norman barons named Gerold or Gerald were serving under his flag. They introduced the name in Ireland, hence the plentiful Fitzgeralds, that is the son of Gerald.
“Geraldine” was the nick name of the Fitzgeralds of Kildare, but applied to the boys only.
When one of the Earls of Kildare had a daughter born to him, his clan styled her “Lady Geraldine,” though her real name was Elizabeth. She libes in literature as “Fair Geraldine,” of the Earl of Surrey’s songs and sonnets. She was afterwards Lady Brown and still later Countess of Lincoln.
It’s a long stretch from the middle of the 16th to the first decade of the 20th century, but that much time elapsed before another Geraldine became famous-Geraldine Farrar, the soprano.
Geraldine should be popular with girls for it means, “this fair” according to some authorities. In French it stands for “firm spear.”
Sweet scented tussilage is the emblem and the sentiment promises “justice shall be done to thee.”
What They Mean-Famous People That Bore the Name-The Name in History, Literature, Etc.
By Henry W. Fischer
[Welland Telegraph, 31 May 1912]
CHRISTINA
The first English Christina of which the records tell was the Abbess of Romsey, celebrated in ancient Norman lore, and a kinswoman of Atheling. Romsey is one of the oldest towns of Hampshire, and the abbey a Norman foundation. The name means Christ’s messenger, Iris is its emblem, “heaven messenger” its sentiment.
In the north of England, particularly Yorkshire and Cornwall, Christabel has been popular since olden days. This is clearly a contraction Christy (short for Christine) and Bella (fair) and the literal translation would read Fair Christine. English pet names for Christine are Chrissie and Xina.
“Christabelle” was the daughter of a “bonny Irish King” and in love with Cauline in the old ballad. The poem “Christabel,” though it remained a fragment, made Coleridge famous.
Christine de Pisan was a French poetess of the 15th Century and one of the first women to write poetry for a a living.
The most famous of them was the daughter of Gustavus Adolphus, the warrior King of Sweden. She assumed the government when a girl of eighteen, and astonished not only the Scandinavian countries but all Europe by her statecraft, wisdom and energy.
Christina of Spain was the fourth Queen of Ferdinand VII, the mother of Queen Isabel, who was driven from Spain in 1870, and the great-grandmother of the present King Alfonso. Because her several children were girls, her weak husband re-established the law of the old Castle, permitting women to rule. This caused the several Carlist wars.
Maria Christina was regent of Spain for her son, the present King, during the late American was with that country.
What They Mean-Famous People That Bore the Name-The Name in History, Literature, Etc.
By Henry W. Fischer
[Welland Telegraph, 9 February 1912]
REBECCA
Rebecca, also spelled Rebekah, means a troth, binding engagement, not reconciliation, as some writers say.
The first Rebecca “was very fair to look upon,” like the flower, her emblem the “Star of Bethlehem,” and probably on account of the original Rebecca’s comeliness the name was adopted in all languages.
In America the full name is not very often heard, the abbreviation, “Becky,” hallowed by literature, and the contraction Reba taking its place.
Becky Sharp, in “Vanity Fair,” was Thackeray’s most original conception of a female character, the very impersonation of talent, worldliness and tact. If the suffragettes lack the prototype of a “managing woman” let them start a “Becky Sharp League.”
Scott’s “Ivanhoe” introduces to us a medical “Rebecca,” the original Rebecca of whom was an American spinster, Rebecca Grats of Philadelphia. She was born in 1781, and preserved her singular beauty until long beyond middle life. Benevolence and devotion to the Jewish faith were her chief characteristics, and Washington Irving was proud to call her friend.
Irving asuggested the character of Rebecca to Scott, and when “Ivanhoe” was finished the latter wrote to the American poet: “Does the Rebecca I have pictured compare well with the pattern given?” Rebecca Grats died in 1869.
[Welland Telegraph, 9 February 1912]
There was only one eye-witness from Welland to the terrible tragedy at Niagara Falls on Sunday, when the ice bridge broke up, carrying three people to their death. Richard Spencer saw the ice bridge break up and witnessed the desperate efforts to have the three people who were caught on the great ice floes.
What They Mean-Famous People That Bore the Name-The Name in History, Literature, Etc.
By Henry W. Fischer
HELEN
[Welland Telegraph, 5 April 1912]
The girl named Helen must have a hard time living up to her name, which means radiantly beautiful.
The fact that there are so few perfect beauties in the world may account for it that many girls christened Helen are called by the less ambitious appellations of Nellie or Nell. The most famous of the Nells, Nell Gwynne, the gay enslaver of Charles II, was remarkable for beauty and a nimble mind, but even then the names of Helen and Eleanor seem to have been cinfounded. One of the early biographies of Nell calls her Eleanor and Nell’s testament is styled in official language “the last request of Mrs. Ellen Gwynn.”
With the signification of Helen as radiantly beautiful the emblem allotted to the name, ranunculus, ill tallies.
This is a flower one gathers in the meadows as plain buttercups or kingcups. Helen’s motto is “Full of charm.”
Helen of Troy was a daughter of Jupiter and Leda. She caused the war of Troy by running away from her husband Menelaos, king of Sparta with Paris, a prince as beautiful as herself.
Helen of Troy is to this day esteemed the goddess of navigation, and certain meteoric flames occasionally seen on the masts of ships are called “Helen’s Fire.” If the flame is single, foul weather is at hand; if two or more flames appear, weather conditions will improve.
The Empress Helena was the mother of Constantine the Great, and the rediscovery of the cross is imputed to her. Some records have it that she was a native of Treves, others that she was an English woman,
In Shakespeare’s “All’s Well That Ends Well,” Helen or Helena typifies a woman lovely in person, at once patient and hopeful, strong in feeling and sustained through trials by her enduring and heroic faith.
Edgar Allen Poe worshipped at the feet of two Helens, Helena Stannard, the love of his passionate boyhood, and Mrs. Helen Whitman.
[Welland Tribune 1912]
Which was First the Hen or the Egg?
FENWICK FAIR
Is first in everything
Don’t forget the date
Fenwick, October 8 and 9, 1912
A time of your life
Five good speed contests
Large fruit and stock exhibit
Band of 91st Regiment Canadian Highlander Hamilton.
Guessing contest for ladies from towns and cities.
KILLED
Formerly of Crowland
[People’s Press, 28 May 1912]
Mr. Robert Sibbett, a Crowland boy, met with a terrible accident while working in the carbon works at Niagara Falls, N.Y., on Tuesday last, being caught on some shafting and whirled around, breaking his limbs and crushing in his ribs, causing his death on Friday evening.
Mr. Sibbett was 44 years of age. He leaves to mourn their loss, a wife (nee Miss Jessie MacIntosh) and two daughters, also three brothers and four sisters. The brothers are John, Thomas and William of Willoughby; the sisters, Mrs. Walmsley of Willoughby, Mrs. Simpson of Port Robinson, Mrs. Edgar Holditch and Mrs John Misener of Crowland.
What They Mean-Famous People That Bore the Name-The Name in History, Literature, Etc.
By Henry W. Fischer
AGNES
[Welland Telegraph, 16 January 1912]
Agnes should cultivate a gentle and retiring disposition, lest she belies her name, which, literally translated means “lamb.”
As in ancient Rome the lamb was consecrated to sacred purposes, it is not surprising that the name was applied to the gentle girl famed in the history of the church as one of the early Christian martyrs, “Agnes, the representative , the triumph of Innocence.” The Church of St. Agnes in the Eternal City stands on the very spot where the lamb-like creature is said to have suffered.
St. Agnes’ name day is Jan. 20, and on its eve a girl is supposed to see the face of her future husband through certain forms of divination, as told in Keats’ poem, “The Eve of St. Agnes.”
The white violet is Agnes’ emblem: modesty her sentiment.
Agnes de Poitou was the Empress of Henry III of Germany and mother of Henry IV.
By his marriage with Agnes of Meran, King Philip Augustus of France brought down the papal interdict upon his land and subjects and was forced to take back his first wife, Ingeborg, whom he had divorced.
Agnes, Countess of Orlamunda, killed her two children in a mistaken idea that her lover demanded this sacrifice. She was a relative of the Hohenzollerns, and, according to the legend, haunts them as the “White Lady of the Berlin Schloss.”
Queen Agnes of Hungary was the daughter of the murdered German Emperor Albrecht I. She took bloody revenge on the murderers of her sire.
Nor was the royal favorite Ines more fortunate. The beloved of Pedro of Castro, she was murdered by Alphonse of Portugal because Castro had secretly married her.
There is a suggestive Agnes in Moliere’s “School of Women,” on which “The Country Wife” by Wycherley is founded. The Agnes of Lille’s play, “Fatal Curiosity,” is as unfortunate as many of the royal women bearing the name.
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