Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 81, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1901 — WHAT’S IN A NAME? [ARTICLE]

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

HE was a blue-eyed, fair-skinned V2\ and undeniably red-haired little fez/ girl, who ran furiously home from the country school house on the afternoon of the 3d of July, not quite thirty .years ago. Her face showed the mingling of Scotch and English characteristics. Just now it was angry and tearful •besides. ‘‘Why can’t they let me alone? Why did mother give me such a name?” "That was the sum of her vpxed thoughts. Well, it was funny. One could not exactly blame the boys for laughing when at roll call every morning they heard the ms me ‘‘lndependence Day.” If the red blood surged back to her ears once, it had a hundred times as she answered, “Pres■ant.” That roll call was her greatest trial. Her mother always called her “Pen” and -t» casual listeners that might mean Penelope. The girls often said “Indie,” for it was in the days when tl)e i e’s had it all to themselves and she sidid not mind Chat so much, but boys era merciless, and to hear them giggle and, .whisper, “Regular Fourth of July, isn’t she?” was an almost daily martyrdom; while there would ait If Us Thompson, the tteacher, with •psctaclos on her nose and mer short sight Intent on the list of names, Checking them