The question of changing names will and ought to become of grave importance before the law in this country. As we now have women lawyers, it should be their special charge to bring up at once this neglected matter--the question of the legality of diplomas as regards the names thereon--before the legislatures in their respective states. Let me suppose a case in order to show the gravity of this subject. A young woman who has studied medicine receives a diploma under the name of Anna Elizabeth Brown. In a few years she marries, removes the sign from her door and puts up a new one reading “Dr. A. E. Stone.” Soon after this she has to sign a death certificate, which she does by writing “Anna Elizabeth Stone, M.D.” Such a document has no legal truth in it. Again, suppose the relatives of a patient sue this doctor for malpractice, cannot the lawyer make a good case from the fact that her diploma certifies to the ability of “Anna E. Brown,” and that a “Dr. Stone” does not exist? Does not this create a flaw or an irregularity in the indictment executed by the complainants? Still further, the husband “Stone” dies, and in a year the widow marries McIntosh and again changes sign and signature to “Dr. A. E. McIntosh,” while no diploma, and therefore no such doctor of that name exists, but only the original “Anna Elizabeth Brown, M.D.” What is thus true in the medical profession is true in commercial pursuits and in all professions. Annoyances also arise in social relations. A short time ago, I was asked if I knew a Dr. Alice Smith of a certain city, she having referred to me for professional recommendation. I at once declared the woman to be a fraud. A few months later, Dr. Alice Smith, having been informed of my not very complimentary appellation, sent me a letter expressive of much injured feeling. In this letter, she gave her maiden name under which she had served as interne in our New England Hospital where we had valued her as one of our best assistants. Now, if men cannot see the importance of this demand for a settlement of the question of women’s names, I wish that our women lawyers would bring the subject before the legislatures, requesting some decision on the legal qualifications as to names for any professional or business relation of women, whether they are single, married or widowed. If the woman cannot call her name her own and will not drop the diminutive pet name, she does not deserve to be considered a full human being.