John Smith Everywhere

1912

The good old name of John Smith does not suggest in English any great degree of aristocracy, but transferred to other languages it seems to climb the ladder, so to speak.

Thus, in Latin it is Johannes Smithus, the Italian smoothes it off into Giovanni Smithi, the Spaniards render it Juan Smithus, the Dutchman adopts it as Hans Schmidt, the French flatten it out into Jean Smeet and the Russian says Jonloff Smittowski.

When John Smith gets into the tea trade in Canton he becomes Jovan Shimmit; if he clambers about Mount Hecla the Icelanders refer to him as Jahne Smithson; if he trades among the Tuscaroras he becomes Ton Qa Smittla; in Poland he is known as Ivan Schmittiwelski; should be wander among the Welsh mountains they talk of Jihon Schmidd; when he goes to Mexico he is called Jontli Smitti; if of classic turn he lingers among Greek ruins he turns to Ion Smikton, and in Turkey he is utterly disguised as Yoe Seef.