The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-21
Case Of Sarsaparilla Reilly.

Somewhere in the neighborhood will be
found the plant OF Nj. EDWARD J. RILEY,
who coucaives himself to be injured in his
name and in his feelings by certain
facetious articles that have appeared In the
news columns OF The Sun. 1t IS the
name Of one of the characters in these
pieces, tho Hon. SARSAPARILLA REILLY.
that brings on this war. Mr.. RILEY, whose
| letter will explain the ]purportof this article,
| is a hasty spoller or his Indignation has per-
turbrd his eyes. VIII he take the trouble
TO notice how tho Park Row REILLY spells
his name? Tho sound OF the two names is
the same, but surely no reader will think
Of Dir. RILEY or Of any other Of that honor
able name. II there Is any cause OF dissatis-
faction, it Is the REGLLYs, an equally honor
able AMI distinguished family, that have a
| right to complain. Mr.. RILEY's name has
not appeared in Park row.
Now no man likes to be called out OF his
name; and it is likely enough that every
body takes a secret pleasure In his own
name. Even the cacOphonio names that
have been sent into this Office from many
parts Of the country in the last several
years. probably give pleasure to the owners
and arc melodious to their ears. Much
more and with good reason must a flowing,
fluent, really liquid and harmonious sur
name like RILEY or REILLY please not
| merely the bearer Of it but the world In
general. But there is more than SELF
satisfaction in names. Il Is likely enough
that there is still latent and lingering
In civilized man some trace OF that
old savage feeling which looked upon
a mans name as a part OF him, and
feared magical arts In case it came TO the
knowledge Of an enemy. SO tho gods Of
a city we're often published anonymously,
so to speak, lest II their recondits name
was known tho enemy should invoke 1t
and conquer. The best and wisost are
tender OF their names, and even II Mr.. RILEY
Is a little sharp against US We Ike him for
his heat in behalf Of his family appella-
ton.
But surely he Is a little severe in his de-
mands. In the world OF fact persons OF
many names, even Ofthe most honored, are
continually getting into trouble. GEORGE
wAsHINGToN, full OF tho rosy. IS hauled boz
fore a hundred police courts. Wa have
heard Of RALPH WALDO ENERsONs shelter
Ing their greatness in the Black Maria.
Every name must bear somc of the burden
OF the deviltry OF mankind. Now does
anybody think worse OF anybody else be-
cause somebody else OF that anybody olse's
name has done something wrong? Would
Mr.. RILEY, for example, grove IL he should
sce that Mr.. RILEY Of Boston was guilty OF
anti-lmpcrialism ? If all tran-grrssions and
%iniquitics and absurjitios committed by the
unworthy bearers of II name bring no dis.
credit on tho worthy bcarcrs Of it. what
Is the harm sustained by Mr.. RILEY?
Yet Mr.. EILEY's grief is an old one. II i.
we'll known that noyclists o. distinction
usually receive letters from persons wht
have the same names as those of Disagree
able characters in the novels. DIcKF y
who had an almost suprrstitiOus care II
collecting odd names and bestowing then
upon the creations Of his fancy, uncon
/, %sciousiy trod on many toes. Mr.. LOWELL,
B~RpoPRrDUM SNwlN, Il uamc selected
! simply as Il handy rhyme to "cawin" an
I what not, was much resented by n high,
/ respectable family still living in Cambridge
| But what j. e. hn done? There must b,
| names for imaginary as for real persons
/ even the villains and th" hypocritcs mus.
be- named. Docs fiction look more rra
than the reality? 1t would seem so, 70,
= some who never min what Is done hy
actual persons OF their name, are ofYende,
BY tho introduction Of the name int,
!, fiction or the drama, Aqueor world, or If
wouldn't los half so interesting,
9 But who Is the Hon. S~ARsAPARfLLy
REILLY, anyway? Is he a man to b,
, ashamed of He Is a witty man and tn,
1 cause Of wit in others. us delights II