The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-03-12
Changing Ones Name.

We get the information that there was
heated debate on Saturday around the
numerous synagogues OF the city and In
the Jewish quarters over Judge PRToR's
decision denying the application OF two
jewish merchants for permission to Amer
icanize" their nsme-to legalize the abbrevi-
alton OF the surname Of RosINsKY TO RosR.
We are assured that the Jews who have
been angered by the Judges denial are
greatly outnumbered by those who favor IL,
because Of the reason given by the appli-
cants for seeking the change. which reason
IL taken by them to be . slur upon Jews.
The applicants said In their petition to
the court:
-Ths nans RosixuEr IL too long. and It's Terminates
10 Objectionable We cannot obtain the credit We ether
wise weud In cur business II the name were Amsrt
osnissd-"
This seems to imply that the mercantile
credit OF the members OF firm bearing q
name which might be regarded as indioat-
ing their Jewish origin. is less than 1t would
be IL they bore name which did not
convey that impression. It seems to imply
that the financial reputation OF jewish
merchants is greatly inferior to that Of
other merchants; that they are less faithful
than other men to their obligations. less
honorable In their business transactions.
less likely to adhere to the terms Of con-
tract or an engagement. This. as we are
assured. Is tho view Of the case that Is taken
by very many members Of the Jewish COM
munity OF New York. q community which
now constitutes fully one-sixth OF the city's
population, and still larger proportion Of
It's trading element. They are angry that
the repute OF their community has been
discredited by men who belong to 1t; and
they proudly point to the names Of many
OF our Jewish citizens who have high REQ
ord In the business world. The people who
take the other side Of the argument main
tain that Judge PBYoB's decision was op-
pressive. In that it denied to the applicants
a privilege which has been granted to many
hundreds Of other Jews in New York merely
because 1t was desired by them. and
without assigning any other reason for
asking 1t than their personal desire. or
that the paternal name was difficult OF pro-
nunciatlon by their American fellow men.
1t will be observed that the dispute between
the two parties relates wholly to the cause
given by Messrs. RosINsKY for seeking
change Of the respectable name which they
inherited from their ancestors.
In denying tho petition the Judge wrote
these words upon the papers submitted to
him In the case:
-rhs say reason given for the application 10 shat
the petitioner patsrnai bstrays their race and
discrsdits them with the community"
1t seems to US that the decision rendered
by the Judge was justifiable for the reason
given. and that his language. instead OF
being regarded as casting any obloquy
upon our jewish community. ought rather
to be regarded as favorable to 1t. He re-
fused to allow that the petitioners paternal
name could discredit them. or that their
race could be q cause OF discredit. In the
American community.
It Is on this account. as We are prepared
to believe. that the action OF the Court has
received the unqualified approval OF the
great body OF the intelligent and reasonable
Jewish people In New York.