South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-17
No Minister Needed
In This Formula for
Changing Your Name
= By Irene Weston


idea which is responsible for the wholesale
change OF names throughout the country in
recent years.
In the constantly increasing flood of mm-
grafton there are many who desire To adapt
themselves to the conditions of their adopted
country in every possible way. The LEGISLATURES
of most of the states have provided means
whereby those who wish to change their names
may do so upon presenting satisfactory rea-
sons and the foreigners in our midst have
not failed to take advantage of the opportunity
afforded to expedite their assimilation i'm this
respect.
1t is very well to be known as Loszczynski i'm
Russia, where the name may possibly be pro-
nounced without resulting in permanent injury
to the speakers facial muscles hut i'm this
country the more simple "Leshin" is infinitely
safer and more desirable from every stand
point
\ change of this kind is easily accomplished
A petition is drawn UP setting forth the odious
and the new one proposed and the reason
for the desired change, and is presented to the
proper court.
If the application is looked upon favorably
and unless some Interior motive or capri
cious motive is disclosed. such applications are
usually granted s a matter Of course-an or
der is made authorizing the change and notice
of the change is generally required to be pub
lished in some local newspaper designated 10y
the court.
II New York a complete list Of the names
changed during the preceding year is published
in the annual volume of session laws passed
by the state legislature and makes interesting
reading.
Running through these lists at random one
may obtain fair idea of the various reasons
which induce people to change their names
Called by any other name, rose may smell
as sweet, as Shakespeare assures us but called
by any other name Rosenchinsky will sound
much sweeter.
That most OF the names are changed for
business reasons is indicated by the fact that
80 per cent of the applications are made By
men.
The reason for changing such names as Jo-
seph Henry Hrdhcka to Joseph Henry and
Rouper Yuzukjian to Rouper Yuzuk is more or
less apparent.
Long and unwieldly surnames are usually
simplfed by removing a section off the tail
end thus: Kinilovsky to Kinney; schilansly
to Shill; Jarnowsl1y to Jarnow; Berdichevslxy
to Berdy; Lempitsky to Lempit; Odrezinsky to
Odrezin; Seamansky to seaman. Sometimes.
"a little bit off the top" as for instance. Arnd-
stein ArEdt Steyn. and curiOusly enough.
Steinhardt TO S Harde.
Occasionally Christian nameso My have been
changed. although the necessity for such
changes is not very palpable. Max has been
changed TO Maxwell Bertrand TO Bernard.
Harry TO Henry Fannie TO Frances Edwin 10
Hugh, and Moses to Henry.
The honor for the longest name with the
shortest change undoubtedly belongs to Flea
orefC liza arh Ffrf tomb rio
Crawford, who changed it to Eleanor Louisa
Elizabeth Christophers Marion ( Crawford the
hyphen connecting the last two names having
been inserted by the court at the request Of the
petitioner.
The records show that AdoIph Jules Werner
changed his name 10 Truly Warner: Ralph r.
Horton 10 Samuel Israel: Mary T.. Selbv 20
Mary Israel; Vahan Seboux Narguiledjan 10
Vahan Seboux AmadOuny: Arthur Abrams 10
Abram BOnnheim Arthur; Norman John OPP
penheimer 10 Norman John Norman: David
SchOmunovitz TO David Simpson Moses Froe-
Itch 10 Moses Seymour Froelich. Morris Coble
Solomon 70 Morris solomon Coble: Ohm Nus<in
TO John Musgrove: AdOlph Weislovitz 10
Adolph Whiteaw; Max Cohn 10 Louis wilson.
Samuel David KalasSy TO Samuel David Kay.
and Isaac BotkOwsSy 10 Isaac Butler.
corporation. which is an artificial person
has to through practically the same riga-
marOle when its name Is 10 be changed as a
human being. and many a shipovner no has
fancied he would like TO give his vessel a new
name. has given UP the attempt when he dis
covered what a formidable set Of rules. esta0-
lished by the United States customs house re
would lave TO comply with before ne could
accomplish his object
These precautions in the case OF ships have
10 be taken. in order thai the identity of the
vessel may not be lost
Buildings and animals upon whom names
also bestowed may be renamed without
any official action. while Photographs. type
writer's, sewing machines and similar articles
which are distinguished by numbers instead OF
names. are not the subject OF official cogni-
Zance either.