Evening star., 1901-05-04
MAN AND HIS NAME.
Over Everything Else He Has Iudi-
Vidual Control.

1T seems to me that the written and the
unwritten laws Of the land should be so
amended that man should exercise indi-
vidual volition and control in the selection
of his name" said member of the District
bar to a Star reporter today.
1.-THE question has often occurred to me
when observing the curious and freakish
names one encounters on the calendars Of
the courts and in the books of reports
''Over pretty much everything in this life
affecting a mans personal being he has alb
soute control. He may devise his prop
erty to whom he choose Squander 1t as he
likes, endeavor to prolong his life cut
1t short by suicide, wear what his taste die
tateS and marry Or not, as he determines
and whom he pleases. His fond parents.
however, may dub him Julius Caesar Han
nibal Alexander Wellington Napoleon
Washington Webster Clay Montmorency
Bolts, or just plain Bill Bilks, and that
settles it so far as he is concerned. He
wears his cognomeu as the convict wears
the shackles. because he has to.
"Of course, the law provides a remedy If
a man is dispieased with his name, as it
does for every other human emergency
Under the common law a man is permitted
to change his name ii sufficient reasons ex-
ist in the mind of the court for it. and in
some of the states special acts have been
passed. Some states require act Of the
legislature
But these proceedings are cumbersome
and comparatively expensive. though il l
had to journey through life with some of
the names | have seen I'd give UP my last
dollar to effect change. y And as a rule
you are required to give some substantial
reason, injury to business. prospective
legacy and the like before the court will
consent to a change.
Il would suggest an easier and fully eff
fectiye way If sanctioned by statute. For
instance. upon the majority of any person.
male or female, he or she may be permit
ted to elect to whether they desire to
retain their baptismal name or adopt
new one in whole or in part. Make the pro-
ceeding as simple as possible, yet one of
record, requiring that formal declaration
in writing setting forth the facts and sworn
to before notary public and filed In the
office of the county clerk. where, for q
small fee. a certificate of the change would
be furnished and the old and the new
name made q matter of permanent record
in the files and books Of the office.
while 1t is true that some people change
their names and adopt new ones or hyphen
one or two other names to their original
legal. yet there might be an easy way,
such as is suggested, and if there were
believe many thousands of persons would
annually take advantage Of it.
The law recognizes but two names, the
first and the last, and the middle initial of
a name Is no part of it legally. For in
stance. If a man signed a note John
Jones and then sought to eVade payment
oS oiASSiii5 that HlS Iedl HdHlt was JOull
j. Jones it would avail him nothing For
notable example on this point, former
President Cleveland dropped his middle
name and is known Grover Cleveland.
Another notable example of a change of
name which has passed out of the memory
of most people is that of Henry Wilson Of
Massachusetts. who was Vice President Of
the lnited States under President Grant 8
last term. do not now recall his original
name. Henry Wilson was an adopted name
Actors and actresses have a penchant
LOT changing their names and there are few
ladies on the stage who act under their
real names, and fewer still who adopt
on the program the names of their huS-
bands OF affiX Mrs before any name under
which they appear before the public. In
law one or the other, or all. if an actress
has more than two, is good another
when 1t comes to a suit, If they try to
eVadc the law or its processes or their
debts. The law permits no subterfuge to
be used to cvadc it,
ut seems to me that if there is one thing
above another which is essentially mans
personal property it is his name. 1t is
odd, therefore, that he has nothing to do
with Its selection. Under existing condi-
t1ons he never will enjoy this high favor
unless he ayails himself of the courts or
simpler and more popular method in line
with the one here suggested is eventually
put INTO practice. In fact, q mans name
has repeatedly been held to be personal
property of recognized value, and the
courts will protect a man in the use there
of, or his heirs, if other persons attempt
to steal or use IL without authority'