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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 81, 6 April 1871, Page 2

" Smith, Jones, Browu, and Robinson/ &c, &c— The Times in reviewing Kelly's Post office Directory for 1871, thus speaks of our schoolday familiars : — We mentioned in our notice of last year's edition of this book that it comprised no less than 2,364 pages, exclusive of the advertisements, which may be said to form the "padding," or "lighter literature," of this gigantic volumn. The total of pages this year has increased to 2,385. We also recorded the fact that the " Smiths " mustered no less than 1,600 strong in the Commercial Directory and in the Court department ; and we gave similar information respecting those less numerous but I still very formidable clans which rejoice in the names of "Jones," "Brown," "Robinson," &c. It may be of interest to those who are acquainted — and who of us is not acquainted ? — with a Smith, or a Smyth, to learn that their numbers are still undimiuished, in spite of scarlet-fever and small-pox, and that the "Jones, Brown, and Eobinson " family were never better represented than at present. In fact, if the Oriental prayer has not been realised in their case, "May your shadow never grow less "—a point which we cannot ascertain — at all events it is a satisfaction to know that they each continue to increase and. multiply. As the clan Campbell just now are before the world, it may be well to add that the nominal kinsmen in London who " bless the Duke of; Argyll " a3 their head and chief, fill a column in the Commercial department, and

nearly as much in the Court Directory, and put in a goodly appearauco also among many of the trades. A.s a proof of the Co3mopolitiin churacter of our metropolitan population am!, by consequence, of Messrs. Kelly's Directory, we may he pardoned for mentioning that the letter Z., which is almost exclusively made up or 1 German and Polish nara^s, occupies uearly a column and a half in the department of commerce, and apparently outnumbers the total of Hibernians who rejoice in the prefix of " O" — Uie O,Brien;>, O' Connells, O'Dowds, ond O'Neills.