Hogan or Homans?
Considerable amusement was aroused at one time by the attempt of some members of the Hogan family to get their name legally changed to Homans. Hogan is so plainly an Irish name that they thought it injured their business and social relations. Doubtless they were wrong in so thinking, but anyway they thought so, and desired a name to which no foe of the Irish could take exception.
But when the Homans family heard of the plan they rose up in arms and got out an injunction on the proceeding. They held that their family name was their own property, and that no outsider had a right to it. They maintained that if the Hogans should force their way into the charmed circle they would work them irreparable injury. The court sustained them, and the Hogans had to remain Hogans. The Homanses were preserved from defilement.
[Later. The Hogans have succeeded in their effort, and are now legally transformed into Homonds] The episode is funny enough, but it has its serious side. Some of the rest of us may not like our family or personal names. They may be names bearing some historical stigma. They may be bombastic, fanciful, or ridiculous names. They may be very commonplace names. We have many reasons for objecting to them.
But they are our names, and the manly thing is to make the most of them. To render an unfortunate name famous and beloved is a double triumph. Why not take our names as a challenge from fate and make up our minds to come out on top?
And then, there is our new name, the beautiful new name that is to be given us in heaven. It will be written on our foreheads, remember, where all can see it. We shall wear it as a crown of beauty; and we shall be, oh, so proud of it!
That new name will express our character, all the strength and loveliness we have built up into it during these days on earth. May not some of the luster of that new name spring from this very mastery of our luckless names on earth?