The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-11-04
What's IN a Name?

By JOHN ID. BARRY.
A citizen of New York, named Egg has petit.
toned the legislature to have his name changed
He says that, on account of the name, he has beer
subjected to annoyances almost uncomfortable He
seems to feel especially keeny about the jokes
Hearing himself repeatedly described as fresh
egg and bad egg has got on his nerves.
| Mr.. Egg is right. He should be protected
Names can be burdensome things. Around them
may cluster all kinds of unpleasant accidental as
soeiations, causing the wearer extreme diseom-
| fort.
Many innocent persons go through life ham
pered by names associated with ridicule or pre-
JUDGE. In this way the Jews have suffered such
ndignities that many of them have boldly adopted
plain Anglo-Saxon Names
In our larger cities there are great numbers of
foreigners with names almost unpronounceable
by native Americans. Some of them realize the
handicap and either modify or change the names
altogether. The changes, like the change from ex-
treme Jewish Names are not disloyslty to race;
they are simply acceptance of conditions. The
children of these foreigners going to become
out-and-out Americans. Why make them carry an
unnecessary burden?
Fashions in the adopting Of names are some
times very amusing. Among prize6ghters it used
to be the thing to take Irish Names even for those
fighters who happened to be Jewish.
Certain Christian names, through association
and habit, change of fashion, perhaps merely
through chance, have become ridiculous. 1t seems
a pity; but the fact must be recognized Such
names all but obstinate and eccentric parents in
naming their children, carefully avoid No nor
NAL parent however devoted to the Bible, would
name child Elphalet or Jerusha. II seems cred
liable to defy such prejudces; but it is cruel to
subject others to them where there are so many
names to choose from.
As mothers usually have the chief influence in
selecting names for children they are the chief
offenders. Happily, the present generation of
mothers is showing much more sense than the
generations that went before. Among young peo-
pie nowadays seldom hear names that cause
amusement. However we should bear in mind
that names amusing in one period may in another
period become commonplace
When the Chinese statesman WI Ting Fang
was living IN Washington some one asked him one
day TO give his Christian name. With great dig |
nifty he replied, My surname is WI" Like many
another belonging to countries with religious be-
liets more ancient than own, he must have !
been offended by our persistent and thoughtless |
use OF the word Christian, and by our provincial
our own.
We are always trying to size up one another
and in names we try to find clew to identity. !
But, IN this country, names tell much less |
than they did fifty years ago before the races |
were so mixed and before American life had
created out OF widely varying elements distinct |
American types.
Moreover, as the races blend in this coun-
Try, it becomes plain that Identification with race
by means OF name has little significance.
When such Identification fatters the wcarer and
helps, there is nothing to be said against it; where
i harms or tends to create discomfort, there is
little or nothing to be said in its favor.
To have an impressive name is unquestonably
an advantage in life. But the best of all advan-
ages, is to make for oneself good name by CIV
ng ones name good associations. There are
hose who think children ought to be given tenn
hey grow up. 1t is doubtful if the plan would do
much II any good. The names might be. not more
sensible, but less. At dramatic school where l
Ised to lecture it the fashion among the STU
tents to take what they called stage names. Their
selections often comic, showing bad taste
For high-fown names obviously made up, they
would put aside their names much more nat
lral and much better sounding
After all, a name to be good name has to be
given a personal meaning by its wearer. And
here ought not to be any gratuitous influence at
work tending to put obstacles in the way of max
ng name good. 1t is only the exceptional man
Who make absurd stand for dignity
n a community. And many fairly decent fellow
las been regarded kind of fool simply be-
ause he had what people regard fool-name.
1t is quite probable that the old feeling against
hanging ones name, If it reprehensible il
lot nquitous, will gradually weaken More and
more people will follow the example of Mr.. Egg.
he changes may result in some confusion among
he psychologists. But it will tend to put society
IN a more comfortable basis.
Besides, the expert genealogsts well know,
here have been IN the past many people who have
lone what Mr.. Egg wishes to do, but for less
modest reasons and without Mr.. Eggs commend
BILE frankness. |.