The following etymological guesses are not so good, but they are worthy of registration. One boy described a blackguard as one who has been a shoeblack, '' while another thought he was a man dressed in black.'' Polite'' is said to be derived from Pole, '' owing to the affability of the Polish race. Heathen'' means covered with heath''; but this explanation is commonplace when compared with the brilliant guess--Heathen, from Latin haethum, ' faith, and en, ' not.''