Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-19
CHANGING ONES NAME.
What the Law Says Of the Right To
DO So.

"nat the Law Says Of the Right 10
From the Detroit Evening News.
A little personal controversy concerning a
mans right to change his name without iudi-
cial or legislative permission, led the Ne,es to
run sewer through several legal minds and
drain off their opinions on the subject They
were pretty unanimous. 1t seems to be con-
coded that if fellow isn't satisfied with his
name he can quietly shed 1t and pick out one
that does suit. II he commits, or is accused of.
crime and is jagged this fact will tell against
MN, an alias being regarded by judges and po-
i1cemen as a sure indication of hardened crimi-
naty, but if he lives half way decent and sue
eeeds in keeping out of jail he can squeeze
through with nothing worse than a little curious
gossip. People will wonder what he or his an
cestots, did to be ashamed Of, and will probably
invent some pleasant fictions in explanation but
we all have to be lied about more or less and
have to stand that. It's telling the truth about
man that hurts him.
There are exceptions of course but as rule
man Is ashamed of his name when he discards
lt. Some names are so grOtesque as to subject
their owners to ridicule all through life The
man with funny name is crushed from the
time his paymates mock him at school until the
chronic punster goad him to madness In old age
He may he very nice young man indeed, but
suppose he edges up for an introduction to the
fair young thing whose charms have been max
ing him lie awake nights "Permit me to pre-
sent Mr.. BObbletwitter," saysthe mutual friend,
and then the girl smokers and the young man
feels the perspiration break out all over him.
and he wants to crawl off In corner somewhere
and die. He might just as well pull out Of the
race for that girls affections Another chap,
with cream caramel name like E. Clarence
Carruthers, even if he had red hair and only six
dollars week. would take the pole and dis
tance him in the first heat. It's all very well to
quote, "a rose by any other name" and that
sort of stereOtyped rubbish, but girl Is mighty
particular on this point. She has to write out
the candidates name, with Mrs" In front of it
about 500 times before she can make up her
mind that It's good enough for her.
thousands OF people go through life with
names that are constant sources of annoyance
and modification, and many others discard or
modify them Just on that account. All sorts Of
motives inspire change. citizen of Troy
Changed his name from Paddy Ryan because it
was the same as that of vanquished pugilist.
III his name had been Sullivan he would prOba-
Oily have chung to it and tried to make out that
the Boston slugger was his own cousin. The
little changes affected by different mode of
Brown, the soap-boiler, rolls up fortune and
his name Is good enough for him. But his
daughters, who are esthetic and his sons, who
stay out all night buying wine at 81 quart,
arlstOcratic and on goes the final Sc"
Theatrical people change their names more
than any other class, but generally for good
reason. stage name must be euphOnious and
taking and look well in type. Sometimes the
change is made i'm Difference to relatives who
are opposed to the theater. Very often it is
made for no earthly reason except that the
Hedging actor or actress labors under the deu-
sion that the nom du theatre must be something
particularly high-sounding. About nine out of
every ten young women seeking the stage want
to adopt name so extravagant as to be ridcu-
lous. The sensible people of the profession
retain their own names when they will serve
the purpose. Mccullough, Barrett, Jefferson
and Mary Anderson are prominent examples.
Those who are compelled to change find 1t
necessary to make the change permanent. 1t is
awkward and confusing to be Mr.. Stubs In prfI
waite life and Mr.. FortesQue professionally. 1t
Is almost impossible to make the distinction,
and the stage name is the one that sticks. A
popular melo-dramatic actors real name was
Henry Alexander Bill Early in life he was a
newspaper man, and wrote some sketches over
the signature of 'Harry Meredith" Upon
adopting the stage he assumed the latter name
and for years he has been known by no other.
fayorite comedian was christened John
OBrien, but made up his mind that John T.
Raymond would look better on three-sheet
poster. Still he never quite went back on the
family name until pretty Courtney Barnes took
solemn oath she would never marry an
OBrien, and made him get an order from
court legalzing the change beyond all question.
There are two ways Of changing ones name
provided by law. One is by special act OF the
legislature and the other by order OF court
There is q Michigan statute which says that
probate court shall have power to change
name on written application, when sufficient
reason is given and there is showing that the
change Is not sought with fraudulent or evil
design. In such case there must be newspa-
per publication Of the application for three
weeks. Probate Judge Durfee says, however,
that he doesn't know of any reason why a man
can't assume any name he pleases it the change
is not made for the purpose of hiding identity.
The most of the applications made in this court
are to change the names of minors whose prop
erty interests are involved. Other lawyers say
that change of name is purely matter of per-
sOnal inclination, but that to avoid any possible
dispute that may arise in establishing relation
ship or the right Of real estate, it is better to be
on the safe side and observe legal fOrmalities.
II, like the sinister seaman in a Gilbert and
Sullivan opera, you feel that your ''name is agin
you" it is always in order to appropriate an
other, but observe the same care that you would
in stealing an umbrella from church vesti-
bule, and while you are about it pick out good
one.