492 
RURAL HOURS. 
Thorpe, is a village ; Newtliorpe, Valleythorpe, Hillthorpe, are 
examples. 
Hay, is a hedge, and would suit a small hamlet where hedges 
are found. 
Haw and Haugh, mean small meadows. 
Cott, or Cote, applies to cottages, and would suit many hamlets. 
By, as a termination, means a dwelling-place ; ly or high, a 
field. Croft, a small enclosure. 
Now would not most of these, and others like them, answer 
much better than the constant repetition of ville or town ? Let 
us suppose a small village to spring up in a new country ; one of 
its most prominent inhabitants, bearing the name of Antoninus 
Smith, has shown much interest in the place, and contributed in 
various ways to its advancement. His neighbors are well aware 
of the fact, and wish to express tlieir sense of his merits by nam- 
ing the httle place after him. Some, accordingly, propose An- 
toninusville, others prefer Smithville ; one admires Smithopolis, 
another Antoninustown. They are soon agreed, however, for 
names are among the very few subjects which it is not thought 
necessary to submit to discussion in this wordy land of ours. A 
post is put up at the first crossing in the highway — " To Smith- 
ville, 2 miles." Now would not Smithstead, or Smithbury, have 
answered much better, showing that something may be done with 
the most unpromising name without tacking a ville to it ? 
Then, again : if there be several places of the same name in 
one neighborhood, as frequently happens, they are distinguished 
by East, West, North and South ; as for example : Scienceville, 
East Scienceville, West Scienceville, Scienceville Centre. Now, 
it happens that a fine grove of oaks stands on a point quite near 
