14
PARTISAN REVIEW
The look pleased Harry, who grinned.
In his courtship of Rebecca he
used many tricks.
To cover up Harry's remark, which no one else had heeded, Rebecca
said, "At last we have a yellow in the house."
"A yellow? A president 1" exclaimed the midwife who now began
her labors of flattery to earn the collection that would be made for her at
the Brith.
"Ah, my friends, I have delivered hundreds of children in my
days. Everyone here Imows my reputation, and no pregnant woman in
this neighborhood feels satisfied unless she cim arrange to have me at her
confinement.
And I tell you of all the hundreds of infants I have de-
livered, I have not seen a handsomer and more intelligent looking child.
I tell you my friends, the Hymans are fortunate people; for that child is
a phenomenon.
I can say so right now. He has a brilliant future before
him; look at him anybody and deny it; a president.
I'm telling you, the
first little Jew in the White House and God be my witness to it."
"A toast to the president," said one of the guests, and gulped from
the whiskey bottle.
"And what will his name be?" asked another. "A president should
have something out of the ordinary, a fine sounding name, no common
Izzys and Sammys and Bens, and Moes and Joes.
So, tell me, what's
going to be his name?"
"The name will be Torra," whispered Rebecca.
The day of the
formal name giving was not yet come, but all the family intimates knew
that it was the turn of Tobias, among the dead ancestors, to have his name
renewed.
"Torra, Tovia," screamed out one of the guests. "'Vhy, its the per-
fect name! Who could want a better one. In English you make it, Teddy,
like Teddy Roosevelt.
The room became a bedlam of congratulations.
What could be
more inspiringly apt than Teddy's name for the child born when the great
Teddy was parading nearby, at the head of his Rough Riders come home
from conniving an empire in Cuba.
"But why only Teddy?" someone insisted, "In rich America, we even
prosper in names. Who is contented with only one nowadays? So why
not let him have two.
He should have the full name, Teddy Roosevelt
Hyman.
That's a name to be proud! That's a name that means busi-
ness."
The amendment was cheered.
The acclamations filled the house.
Mr. Hyman was almost delirious with joy and pride. Such a name! It
would be a charm! And as it was certain that Teddy Roosevelt would be
a president, why not his little namesake, born on the day of his triumph?
