Love it Francois! -----Original Message----- From: south-africa-eastern-cape-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:south-africa-eastern-cape-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Francois Greeff Sent: 10 November 2012 03:31 AM To: south-africa-eastern-cape@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [ZA-EC] Surnames - Poem from The South African Commercial Advertiser Jan 1824 poem by James Smith – Men once were surnamed from their shape or estate (You all may from History worm it); There was LEWIS the BULKY and HENRY the GREAT,. JOHN LACKLAND, and PETER the HERMIT. But now, when the door-plates of Misters and Dames Are read, each so constantly varies >From the owner’s trade, figure, and calling, Surnames Seem given by the rule of contraries. Mr BOX, though provoked, never doubles his fist, Mr BURNS, in his grate, has no fuel; Mr PLAYFAIR won’t catch me at hazard or whist, Mr COWARD was winged in a duel. Mr WISE is a dunce, Mr KING is a whig, Mr COFFIN's uncommonly sprightly. And huge Mr LITTLE broke down in a gig, While driving fat Mrs GOLIGHTLY. Mrs DRINKWATER’s apt to indulge in a dram, Mrs ANGEL’s an absolute fury, And meek Mr LYON let fierce Mr LAMB Tweak his nose in the lobby of Drury. At Bath, where the feeble go more than the stout, (A conduct well worthy of Nero), Over poor Mr LIGHTFOOT, confined with gout, Mr HEAVISIDE danced a Bolero. Miss JOY, wretched maid, when she chose Mr LOVE, Found nothing but sorrow await her: She now holds in wedlock, as true as a dove, That fondest of mates, Mr HAYTER. Mr OLDCASTLE dwells in a modern built hut Miss SAGE is of madcaps the archest; Of all the queer bachelors Cupid e’er cut, Old Mr YOUNGHUSBAND’s the starchest. Mr CHILD, in a passion, knock’d down Mr ROCK, Mr STONE like an aspen leaf shivers; Miss POOLE used to dance, but she stands like a stock Ever since she became Mrs RIVERS; Mr SWIFT hobbles onward, no mortal knows how, He moves as though cords had entwin’d him; Mr METCALFE ran off, upon meeting a cow, With pale Mr TURNBULL behind him. Mr BARKER’s as mute as a fish in the sea, Mr MILES never moves on a journey; Mr GOTOBED sits up till half after three, Mr MAKEPEACE was bred an attorney. Mr GARDENER can’t tell a flower from a root, Mr WILDE with timidity draws back, Mr RYDER performs all his journeys on foot, Mr FOOTE all his journeys on horseback. Mr PENNY, whose father was rolling wealth, Kick’d down all his fortune his dad won, Large Mr LE FEVER’s the picture of health, Mr GOODENOUGH is but a bad one. Mr CRUICKSHANK stept into three thousand a year, By shewing his leg to an heiress – Now I hope you’ll acknowledge I’ve made it quite clear That surnames ever go by contraries. Kind Regards, Francois _____________ Francois Greeff, 36 Aston Road, London, SW20 8BE, United Kingdom Phone: 020 8123 4224. Mobile 079 6372 2345. Skype: Greefffrancois Greeff Family Web Site: www.Greeff.info -----Original Message----- From: Nikki [mailto:alnic@polka.co.za] Sent: 09 November 2012 16:53 To: south-africa-eastern-cape@rootsweb.com Subject: [ZA-EC] Surnames - Poem from The South African Commercial Advertiser Jan 1824 Not sure if this has been posted before but thought it might amuse for the weekend! Originally appeared in The South African Commercial Advertiser Wed Jan 14 1824. Surnames Men once were surnamed from their shape or estate, ( You all may from History- worm it) There was Lewis the Bulky, and Henry the Great, John Lackland and Peter the Hermit. But now, when the door-plates of Misters and Dames, Are read, each so constantly varies, From the owner’s trade, figure and calling,Surnames Seem given by the rule of contraries. Mr. Box, though provoked, never doubles his fist, Mr.Burns in his grate has no fuel, Mr Playfair you won’t catch at hazard or whist, Mr Coward was wing’d in a duel. Mr Wise is a dunce, Mr King is a Whig, Mr. Coffin’s uncommonly sprightly And huge Mr. Little broke down in a gig, While driving fat Mrs Golightly Mrs Drinkwater’s apt to indulge in a dram, Mrs Angel’s an absolute fury And meek Mr. Lyon let fierce Mr. Lamb, Tweak his nose in the lobby of Drury, At Bath where the feeble go more than the stout, (A conduct well worthy of Nero) Over poor Mr. Lightfoot confined with the gout, Mr Heaviside danced a bolero. Miss Joy, wretched maid, when she chose Mr Love, Found nothing but sorrow await her - She now holds in wedlock, as true as a dove, That fondest of mates, Mr Hayter. Mr Oldcastle dwells in a modern-built hut, Miss Sage is of madcaps the archest; Of all the queer bachelors Cupid e’er cut, Old Mr. Younghusbands the starchest. Mr Child in a passion, knocked down Mr Rock, Mr. Stone like an aspen leaf shivers, Miss Poole used to dance, but she stands like a stock, Ever since she became Mrs. Rivers. Mr Swift hobbles onward, no mortal knows how, He moves as though cords had entwined him, Mr. Metcalfe ran off, upon meeting a cow, With pale Mr. Turnbull behind him. Mr Barker’s as mute as a fish in the sea, Mr. Miles never moves on a journey; Mr. Gotobed sits up till half after three; Mr Makepiece was bred an attorney. Mr. Gardener can’t tell a flower from a root, Mr. Wild with timidity draws back, Mr Ryder performs all his journeys on foot Mr Foote all his journeys on horseback. Mr. Penny whose father was rolling in wealth, Kick’d down all his fortune his dad won, Large Mr. Le Fever’s the picture of health, Mr Goodenough is but a bad one. Mr Cruickshank stept into three thousand a year By showing his leg to an heiress- Now I hope you’ll acknowledge, I’ve made it quite clear That surnames ever go by contraries. Kind regards Nikki Sedgefield No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.930 / Virus Database: 2441.1.1/5384 - Release Date: 11/09/12 09:34:00 ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOUTH-AFRICA-EASTERN-CAPE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOUTH-AFRICA-EASTERN-CAPE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message