The sun., 1912-07-25
MAGIC or NAMES.
The lns0undness Of Theory Of Shake.
SDearc'S Asserted,


To TIE EDITOR OF THE SrN- Sir: The
honeyed phrases Of immortal William of
Avon's pleasant waters are doubtlessly
indictable for the persistent and pcrnicious
prevalence of many n questionable maxim
in the English speech" on manners and
morals. fashion and philosophy. Prince
preeminent Of glittering sentimentalism no
less than master supreme of profound
analysis. only too often does the allurenent
of the prettily sentimental swerve him
from philosophic deeps and stand him
high and dry ON the shoals Of faulty logic
and fimsy metaphysics. Under the magic
of his language the weakest of sophistries
are made to appear strong as proofs of
Holy Writ The beguling witchery of his
tuneful tongue. potent and persuasive as
was ever that of immortal William of the
pur,ing Platte. incontinentlv captivates
reason and reflection. compelling uncondi-
tional capitulation.
What 50 utterly false and deceptive as
that Shakespca rian sentiment anent the
alleged inpotcncy and insignificance of u
name. What's in IA name! \ rose by any
other name would smell as sweet Pre-
sumably. but is there hing in the connota-
tion of a rose but mere smell. Another and
An inevitably less popular name would imply
the loss OF associations rich. rare and ro-
mantle, and even though il would smell az
sweet il would rema in as unsncllcd AS many
flower OF sweeter fragrance but less poetic
name.
the whole thing. II Is the most important
element IN the value Of suburban real estate,
in the talen, OF the theatrical star" in
artistic. in the advertised merits Of apart
ments and flats, in the nutritive property
Of breakfast foods. and last but not least
is absolutely indispensable in an aspirant
for Presidential honors. man. like
building. is generally Judged by the front
nomen il practically immaterial.
Can any mortal endowed with the dulles.
perception OF the eternal fitness Of things
suppose for an instant that q native born
American citizen hampered from baptism
by the centripetal clog OF such an appella-
tive as Thomas" could under any CON
ceivable concurrence of circumstances ever
hope to attain the dizzy heights where wave
the TOP branches Of Presidential timbcr9
As vel sMppcse ,ha, Julius C%sar The
great ness and post mortem fame If known
to his contemporaries and to posteri,y as
Only in abnormal instances in which the
natural mental processes are impaired
could such thing happen as in the case
OF parties M ,,,n so oGsessed by , single idea the
tied Then perhaps Is. there some chanc
for oms SsS ye Snns
causes. which are, really only symptoms
may make the welkin ring with recrimna-
tions and talk about theft. dishonesty
knitting and the faithful wounds OF friends
in explanation Of the results of this years
Presidential conventions. The philosopher
knows better, TO him the results were fore
gone con illusions.
When the detestable appellative Teddy"
began to replace "Theodore" lthe gift Of
in view. i could haye no chance .pitted
against william" tthe helmet of resolution
reinforced strongly by Howard"
The early rejection of Thomas" for
Woodrow" was prOgnOstic, almost pro :
phetic. The, name Woodrow so fnr out
dstanced all other names at baltimore
that victory was certain from the beginning
champ, %Jnd5son:" Oscar" are scarcely
with II. Let not "William" be compared
xiih wiih 4. 4. nor linked with Howard" compete
And Shakespeare asks What's in a
name?" SO much that the farmer sitting
under his own apple tree slipping cider
through q straw can draw his own con-
clnsions as to the outcome Of the November
elections. j. Y,
WAvERLY. July ~.