LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 281, 25 November 1914, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A letter has been received from the Belgian Vice Consul. Wellington, acknowledging cheque for £lO from the Taranaki Provincial Scottish Society, Stratford, in aid of the Belgian Distress, and expressing on behalf of the Belgian nation his deep appreciation for their generosity and thoughtfulness.

The small body of "Spiritual Scientists" of Stratford are evidently a very energetic community. During the past nine months no less than four speakers have visited the Circle. Next Sunday the fifth missioned Miss L. T. Walton, opens her mission in the Foresters' Hall. Miss Walton has just concluded a very successful .season in the South Island. She is stated to be a lady of great talent, a good speaker, clairvoyant and psychometrist. She remains in btratfiord some time, .and her ■■addresses, are sure to be full of interest to many people.

A correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" says there is an old story to account for the. original use of the name "Thomas Atkins" in the War Office specimen forms. The story is that the Duke of Wellington was asked -by an official to suggest an imaginary name for the purpose, and that after a momenta's thought lie remembered a private soldier whose gallant conduct during a battle of the Peninsular War had come under his personal notice, one Thomas Atkins. Therefore the Duke conferred on him this curious kind of immortality. Wowever that may be, the name is in another way a highly appropriate one. For Atkins means "son of Adam" (of which Atkin or Adkin is a diminutive). It has thus the quality of universality; we are all sons of Aai-.ti. In the various forms of Adkin, Adkins, Atkins, Atkinson, Addison, Ad.'iy, and half-a-dozen others, it is one of the commonest surnames in England. Tile explanation is that six centuries ago, when surnames were still in the rmaking, Adam was second or third favorite as a boys name all .oyer England, but particularly in the North of England. The original form was Adekin, then Adkin, v and finally Atkin. . •