It Semyss so Silly !

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12621, 4 December 1926, Page 11

It Semyss so Silly !

a * | Name Traps for the Uqwary §

IF you were invited to dine with Lord Blyth, the peer whose house was recently burned clowu, how would you address him? If you spoke his name to rhyme with “Hythe,” “sheath,” “pitch,” or “writhe,” vou would be wrong, says an English writer. It is pronounced Bly, and belongs to that large group of surnames whoso spellings differ so amazingly from their pronunciations. Most people know that the verbal form of Cliolmondeley is Chumley. A story is told of how Horatio Bottomlev once called at the home of Lord Cholwondelcy, and, in asking the butler if bis master was in, pronounced tho name as it is spelt. The butler said, loftily, “You mean Lord Chumley, sir?” “Ah, yes,” replied Bottomlcy. “Tell his lordship that Mr Bomley would like to speak to him.” SURPRISED THE SERGEANT During the war a very aristocratic young man named Bayswaler joined the Army as a private. On parade he wore a monocle, and a furious sergeant yelled, “Private Bayswntcr, take off that window-pane!” In an injured voice the private replied, “Bassiter, sergeant, Bassiter—not Bayswater 1” An American woman who was being conducted round the country residence of Lord Beauchamp had heard that his name was pronounced Bcecham, and said, “Say, but ho must have made a real pile out of them pills!” It is impossible to say in many cases why some names are given such queer forms in speech. "Why, for example, does Marjnvibanks become Marchhanks? And how many cricket en. tiiusiasts refer to Mr Lcvc&on-G-ower bv bis proper stylo, which is LowsonGoror The surname of the “gloomy Dean” gives trouble to ninnv people. It is neither Tnje nor Tngy, but sinndv Ing: similarly Svnge, tho name of the

famous Irish playwright, should bo spoken to rhyme with “ring.”

Among peers anomalies in names are common, lilari Wemyss is called \Vcoins; Lord \stwytk is known as Ustwith; Lord Bertie of Thaiue bears them ail —ho is called Burty of Tame I Lord Boiingbroko and JSt. John would seem to have a straightforward name, but you would be committing a faux pas it you did not address lnm as BuL lingbroko and Binjun. Lord Moray and Lord Brougham also have names that look innocent enough; yet they are both trails for the unwary. The former is pronounced Murry and the latter Broom. ivnollys, Bethune, and Pole-Carew-are three more teasers, and, unless ono knew, it would bo impossible to guess their spoken forms, .which arc Nowls, Bccton, and Pool-Cairy. FORGOT TO SAY PARWARDENI In a recent examination paper, children under sixteen were asked to write the phonetic forms of the names (Jolquhoun, Meagher, and Belvoir. If the same.test had been set for adults, how many would have.written Colioon, IMarr, and Beaver, which were the correct answers? And what would vou make of Crcspigny, Buccleuch, and Bandysf* If spelt as they are pronounced tho first would be Oreppiny, tho second Buckloo, and the last Sands 1 Place names furnish further examples. Glnmis and Hawarden Caotloe are known as Glalims and Harden respectively. The latter has been used in the following limerick with good effect: —. A bashful young man of Hawarden Fell in love with demure Dolly Varwarden ; He encircled her waist. Ho withdrew in somo haste When she swore and forgot to say Parwnrdon !