assorted comments

[Wilson Gray]

When I was a kid in the 'Forties in Saint Louis, I had a couple of (I
prefer the ancient form) classmates in my segregated elementary school
named "Major." In those days, During The War, the other kids seemed
not to find this strange. In my own opinion, even though I was just a
hick from the sticks, at the time, this was a name *way* cooler than
"Wilson," which should have been "William," at least. It wasn't until
1970 that I met, for the first and only time, another person forenamed
"Wilson."

During the 'Fifties, there was an R&B singer named "General Jones."
Later, during the 'Sixties, there was the much-better-known Major
Lance, whom others here may recall.

-Wilson

On 4/5/07, Margaret Lee <mlee303 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Margaret Lee <mlee303 at YAHOO.COM>
> Subject:      Re: assorted comments
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> The first name of the principal of the school where I taught my first year after college, was Commodore (late 1960's).
>
>   Margaret
>
>   Doug Harris <cats22 at FRONTIERNET.NET> wrote:
>   Also... a parent of one of my wife's kindergarten kids in the Bronx a few
> years ago gave her first born the first name 'Admiral'. Her second born was
> named 'General'. I believe, but can't swear to it, that they were named
> after specific officers. Admirable as was her intent, one has to imagine
> that, in the general school population, both those kids have suffered no end
> of ribbing.
> (the other) doug
> ========================
>
> Don't feel bad, Dr. Gray. I just sent my boss an e-mail saying "here is my
> report, a week early"---and forgot to attach the report.
>
> - Jim Landau
>
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--
All say, "How hard it is that we have to die"---a strange complaint to
come from the mouths of people who have had to live.
-----
                                                      -Sam'l Clemens

Dope wil get you through times of no money better than money will get
you through times of no dope.
-----
                                         -Free-Wheeling Franklin

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