Aspiring Harvard Students Change Names in Attempt to Scale Ladder of Social Success--Others Fail in Spelling

The disturbance caused in social circles of Boston a few years ago when a gentleman of undistinguished lineage tried to change his name to Cabot, has been duplicated in the Records Office at University Hall, it was discovered yesterday.

Several members of the University, a large enough number to cause considerable trouble to college officials, seem to have decided that the old family surname was not of the right calibre to thrive in the Harvard atmosphere. Consequently, names of racial connotation have been discarded, short names have become longer, undistinguished names have assumed a new dignity. The change is so complete in some instances that it is doubtful whether the family ancestor would recognize the appelation of the offspring.

Not all the trouble originates from those who would like to seem to be what they are not. Carelessness in registration accounts for a considerable number of errors in the University records. Plain mistakes in spelling are often found in these records. Failure to put the last name first in registration is the cause of much confusion, making it quite possible for a man to be registered under two different names in various offices of the college. This season's record for mistakes is now held by one man who has achieved the doubtful triumph of being registered under three names in the different files of the University.