'Twas Ever Thus...

On April 7th 1892, the London Standard featured a letter, from a son of a rector, remarking on some of the unusual names of babies baptised in his father's parish. 

 

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD    SIR, — In a country parish, of which my father was rector some twenty-five years ago, there was a child who rejoiced in the name of "Venus." I heard that when she was baptised the officiating clergyman remonstrated with the parents, on the grounds that Venus was not a Christian name, but that of a heathen goddess. He was somewhat nonplussed, however, when reminded that the squire's wife was named Diana!      In the same village two sisters (twins) were called Tryphena and Tryphosa, and Scriptural names had a decided preference — fully half the population were possessed of them. But in these times the taste for "Ethel," "Percy," and the like, has penetrated even to that remote quarter.       The village schoolmistress of a generation back, who had the honour of increasing the family of Smith by sixteen, determined that all her children should have the initials "S.S." Perhaps, when she took this resolution she hardly imagined she would have fifteen girls and one boy to provide names for. However, she managed to carry out her idea successfully. I cannot at this moment recall all the "S's," but her eldest was Sarah and the youngest Sabina.   I am, Sir, your obedient servant, G. M. T.      April 6.                                          The Standard                                  (London), April 7, 1892

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The next day, a response to the letter was published:
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD    SIR, — Referring to the letter of "G. M. T." in The Standard of to-day, in which he instances Venus as a Christian name, I may say that in a Devonshire village church, some years ago, a male infant was presented for baptism, the sponsors naming it "Vanus." The clergyman protested that Venus was a heathen lady of doubtful reputation, and he refused to baptise the baby with such a name.     "How could you think of such a name?" he asked. "Well, zur, us wants to carn (call) him after his grand-vather, and hers a called Vanus." Subsequent investigation showed that the old man's name was Sylvanus, but all his life he had never been called anything but Vanus.   I am, Sir, your obedient servant, J. E. C.      London, April 7.                                          The Standard                                  (London), April 8, 1892

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And, speaking of repeated initials, this letter (published 2 days later) offers a the common conundrum: what happens when the letters run sparse of options?

 

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD    SIR, — My Curate had to baptise twin sons of the surname Otway: the first was called "'Orace 'Oratio," and the other "'Oratio 'Orace." I knew a family whose surname began with H., and all the fourteen children were to have three initial H.'s — so they included a "Hagatha" and a "Horizontal." I am, Sir, your obedient servant, W.J.S      April 8.                                          The Standard                                  (London), April 9, 1892

 

Horace Horatio and Horatio Horace were featured in the Finds from 1856 post. I have yet to find the sibset with a Horizontal and Hagatha (presumably middle) names, but I will keep my eyes peeled.