The Washington herald., 1917-10-04

New York. Oct 3.-Since the war
began there has been a wild rush TO
court to change names. When a man
who doesn't know whether Berlin is
city or a song writer. but has a
name like Fritz Hochmeister, ii is
natural that under such conditions
he should prefer a name such as
Andy Spivins or the like.
But among those who appeared the
other day before the Supreme Court,
which Is qualified to permit the
changing of ones name, was a gen.
tleman of pronounced Irish appear
ance. He pronounced the English
language in such a manner that there
was no mistsking his Emerald Isle
nativity.
He explained to the court that since
the beginning of the war life had
become burdensome to him because
OF his parents unintentional slip-up
in nomenclature.
Even before the war aforesaid life
would have been depressing, he said,
had not he simply signed the initial
"" for his Christian name Of Vic
torian. Such a name, he expostulat-
ed, was never meant for a loyol son
OF Drawn and toll And SO to escape
ridicule he always signed the payroll
W" for his first name.
But what's your last name, and
why can't you continue TO sisn your
name as heretofore?" asked the court.
My last name is Gates. your hon
or said the man. land now, when
ever anyone asks my name and say
". Gates they think it's German
I'm talking"
'V. Gates" unused the magistrate.
and the court room guffawed. Here
after the pay roll will be signed
George Washington Gates.
1t is getting easier all the time for
the business man in New York to 20
10 church. Nearly all the Fifth ave-
nue. churches are holding fifteen-min-
ute sermons at noon, and some are
| even serving a little luncheon.
Those noon sermons are sprightly
little talks that have proven very
helpful Another innovation at some
of the large churches is the reserying
of special seats for chauffeurs. In
stead Of idling at the curb, the chauf-
feur is urged to take a seat in the
chauffeurs' pew and enjoy the sermon
along with his employer.
Michael Monohan, the author.
doesn't like Broadway. The white
lights that leap the dome of heaven In
letters Of fire to proclaim the virtues
of chewing gum, breakfast food, beer
or purgative pills he believes are de-
grading. He says that the hotels be-
tray a people in whom there is no de-
fined artistic sense.
In his forthcoming novel he SAYS of
Broadway: Here is a large popula-
| tion that lives by pleasure, its means
and procurements. and especially ded-
icate to what Kipling calls love o.
women A hectic folk, cocottes,
souteneurs, gamblers, men-about-
town, rakes, wastrels. all mixed up in
humorous promiscuity."
1t is the way of authors to knock
Broadway-but without 1t most of
them wouldn't have any racy atmos-
phere for their yarns, and so at least
Broadway fills the purpose.
The jews-harp is becoming a IA
vorite musical instrument with the
soldiers about town. When the or
chestra begins playing a military tune.
the boys accompany 1t with their
tews-harp. In Rector's the other night
the orchestra started playing Good
bye Broadway, Hello Frsnce!" seven
teen soldiers got out their -harps
and then the orchestra quit and the
soldiers played the entire tune while
the fox-trotters cavorted. The street
vendors keen to the commercial pos
sibilities are vending the instruments
on all the prominent streets for 10
cents and manufacturers are unable
to I'LL the orders for a musical con-
trivance that was almost extinct.