ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 19, 1993                   TAG: 9305190614
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

`HYPHENATED' TO ECONOMIC DISASTER

WITH REFERENCE to Elizabeth R. Lindsey-Locke's April 13 letter ("What's in a (hyphenated) name?") explaining her preference for retaining her maiden name hyphenated with her husband's:

I am concerned about the end results. Perhaps she is childless and hasn't considered how the preference may affect offspring down the line, and even our whole economy. Let's suppose she has a daughter Emaline who marries Eric Klingenhoffer. Does she then become Emaline Lindsey-Locke-Klingenhoffer? If she, in turn, has a daughter Isabel who marries Humphrey Skeffington, should she, in turn, be known as Isabel Lindsey-Locke-Klingenhoffer-Skeffington? What then if her daughter marries into the Boutros Boutros-Ghali family? The cost of printing wedding announcements is mind-boggling.

All this would result in driving up the cost of printing telephone directories, checks, insurance policies, etc. Imagine fitting all those names onto credit cards and drivers' licenses! If this practice is allowed to become widespread, I'd recommend investing in rock quarries. The supplies required by headstone engravers would soar.

I suggest this practice be outlawed in view of the ultimate disastrous inflationary consequences. RODMAN S. MOELLER ROANOKE 


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