The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-10
WHICH NAME is BEsT7
ONE OF THE DIL.EsTsIAs THAT CON-
FRONTS A MARRIED WOMAN.
Must She Lose Her Identityt-Should
She Retain Her Maidcn Cognomen
on Marrying, or Compound Ii with
That of Her Husband, or Drop 1t
n the Boston Transcript

Alt0gethers
From the Boston Transcript.
What shall be married womans
name? This is the question one of the
women's papers has been trying to answer
for It's readers. Shall married woman
take her husbands name and drop her
own, being known as Mrs. John Smyth
Rogers? Or. shall she keep her maiden
name in full and add to 1t that of her
husband. writing herself as Mrs. Mary
Jones Rogers? Or shall the wife and hus-
band unite their names, and call them
selves Jones-Rogers? Or shall the wo-
man keep strictly to her own name. dis
carding entirely that of her husband,
and call herself Mary Jones or Mrs. Mary
Jones? These are the possibilities offered
in the way of woman's name, and they
ought to satisfy the ambition of even the
most individualistic college graduate of
this opening year of a new century.
Power of Social Custom.
That not many women care to retain
their own name without taking that of
their husband simply shows how power
tul is social custom. 1t might be said
that 1t indicates that women are want
ing in individuality; but such an asser-
ton can have little weight in view OF the
fact that social tradition reaching back
for thousands OF years practically settles
what shall be the form of a womans
name. Few women have the time or the
energy or the courage to battle with an
established rule of this kind; and the
number of men cannot be much larger. II
IL were, they would wage the battle for
the women, which they now show no incIi-
nation for doing.
Some Exceptions.
However, there are not wanting indica-
uons that women are gaining in individ-
uality, fact that is shown by the in
creasing number who do not wish to lose
their maiden names when they are mar
ried. Yet there also seems to be an in
crease in the number of women who re-
speot the conventions of society," and
merge their names in those of their hus-
bands. If John Smith is prominent man
In business or politics or literature, it is
natural that his wife should wish to
nave the social advantage of his popular
ity If she calls herself Mrs John Smith,
1t serves not only to identity her in the
minds of all who know her husband, but
1t odds to her social standing and posi-
ton That most business men and poll
tlclans would take advantage of such an
for so doing.
AS women come to do things for them
selves, however, it is of advantage to
them TO Keep their own names lust as
II would be to men, No man of a positive
Individuality wishes to appear under the
form of Co" in the firm to which he
belongs. He may submit to it because
he has not money or experience enough
| 10 take any other position but he Is
when that is possible.
When Names Count.
Why should a woman wish to abandon
her own name, that has become Identified
with her personality. and that is in a
real sense part of her individual self?
Inc fact seems to be that as soon as wo-
men make a place for themselves in the
| world they do not desire to abandon their
maiden names. Professional singers, &C
tors artists and others refuse to give
| UP what has become identified with their
| successes. This increased sense of per-
sonality, that identifies itself with a name
known to the public, and that has it's
professional and business value, has, no
doubt, its influence in causing women TO
refuse to marry. The popular idea of
marriage, that merges the wife in the
| husband and in his children must have
It's influence on women who have sought
to work out a career for themselves.
Now, whether we think women ought to
be contented with husband and children
or not, the fact is that an increasing
| number of women and those the most in
telligent and capable, refuse to marry.
We may write or speak as we like in
favor of women keeping to the good old
way of housewifery, we are quite vast
ing our words so far as a very large
class of the most capable young women
| are now concerned. They have found a
mission, and no man can claim them as
wife. They have found that the world
needs mothering, and not one little brood
of children only; and they have set
themselves to that work. Having enter
ed upon it and gained some success in It.
why should they break its continuity and
1t purpose by taking another name and
adding other interests? But this question
opens up the whole problem of woman's
position to-day, and it is too large and
momentous to settle here.
New Ideas in Many Ways.
1t is highly significant, however, that
women should wish to keep their own
names, not merely because they do not
wish to marry, but because they have
gained the underground of the full
recognition OF personality. Is Mrs. Rog-
ers herself, or Is she merely an appen-
her own name, or must she always refer
to "him" in order to know what to think?
Perhaps suffrage for women is not gain
ing rapidly, but vast change has been
brought about in the last half-century in
the recognition of the individuality of wo-
man. The women who quote "him" are
growing small in number, and the women
who have opinions of their own are rap
idly increasing. In the meantime mar
~ 90
as formerly, simply because the husband
is no longer lord and master" and two
wills must be reconciled, instead of one
being ignored.
In due time, however, when the transit
ton has been made to the full recognition
of individuality In woman, it will me
found that marriage has become more
ideal and happier. That women will ever
go back to the old submissive way hav-
ing once tasted freedom is not to be
supposed. Therefore, marriage must
henceforth be real partnership of two
personalities or else women will more and
more refuse to marry.