The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-15
SOME PEN S.1M ES.
The Ono That Is Hest Known and the Reasons
for Choosing IL ana others.

From the Hartford Cpurunt.
The term nom de plume is not good French
and there is u pretty general determination to
regard it as not good English. either, and todrup
it for the more sensible and simple expression
pen name" Many reasons may exist why an
author may not wish TO sign his own name 10
his first attempt at ronQuuring a position in the
world Of letters. He may feel a little shy about
coming before the public in propria persona, he
may prefer to remain unknown, he may think
that il is easier to win notorlcty for an a%llitcra-
tive or catchy so'riuuet, or he may feel that
in assuming n new name il IS easier Tor
him TO assume the. character in which
he wishes to appear before the public. Thack-
cray used several names, because lie wrote for
different publications in different styles. He
signed himself sometimes John Corks:, some
name of James H~cllownlush;" for another
that of Michael Angelo Titnarsh." The last
was suggested by tho nickname gtycnhim hE a
the great artist, had u broken nose. THO
is RsS' "M knqN" Twain fn WIN" Which Mr.. "' Clemens M%Ins
saws was the nom de pl.n.cofCapt. Isaiah Sell
ifrs' who G used to %ritS river ne% Sic oyer ;n ,ef far
and. as he could no longer use that signature, |
laid violent hands upon II without asking per-
done my best to make II remain what II was in
M hands, symbol and warrant that whatever wa I e
b bci i9g" tb In i,s GGmG"I tyn may how pc E"I"RRI aTe on sues as
ccrdcd it would not lie modest in me 10 say"
6Nliss Alice French chose the very attractive
name, Octave Thane,,' by chnnce; NJ. Paul
Romet combined the first name of his French
grandfather and the last name OF his Irish
6t''RI1stI'r"'';: GintinHatGs H. MHiller, when he began
to write poetry, wisely concluded that il would
seem more like real poetry if he signed his first
name Joaquin Many women have won fame
under masculine names. AS: Georgr EiIot iMarl-
anne Evans. Charles Egbert Craddork MARY ).
vnntD. In the last case the authors parents mad
the family name. Dupin, changed to sand. The
ing names Of Curror, Ellis. and Acton Bell, in.
vcntions, which are really marked by genius.
though they were assumed as 4 compromise be-
tween masculine and feminine names.
1t is pretty certain that the best of the short
stories signed Sake Holm" which appeared in
b SyE =" H." e Mdie m H inS sSH Tio Secret TS'S wa" %'; Woii
kept. and. we believe, the truth has never been
sbsoiute!y settled: As poet the name OF "a,
by the signature, 'Owcn Meredith taken from
remote Welsh ancestors and made familiar TO
Hosea lBsiE;lo;w's" fame. however. is mcrgcd n
that of the real author, James Russell Lowell.
The atfcctation Of alliterative pscud9nyms like
.Jcumio June Grace Greenwood Fannie
EsTn"nFrank Forester" oliver Optic" and
writer's now sign with their real names.
Once it was quite necessary for authors to fire
donym. Had Junius signed his real name his
liberty and fortune. and possibly his stature.
eut there is no more reason for authors to con.
Cugl their identity than there is for preachers 10
do SO. journalists, Of course. should and do
merge their personality in that of'their paper.
Reviewers should not sign book notices.
for il their personality lntrndcs that Of
the writer whom they are considering
becomes present and the article ceases
10 be addressed strictly tothc public as it should
lie. With these exceptions there is no reason
for Conccaling the names of "a writer in these
later days. for mohcsty is rather an old-fash-
toned virtue. Besides now nobody is lowered in
public estimation even by writing verses. The
use Of the - pen name. in sritcof the recent cx-
ample of Ian Maclarcn.' may AS well be nban-
duncd. The mask IS worn by highwaymcn for
personal reasons. but honest people no longer
need ii for safety.