A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. So wrote Mr. William S., but I am not so sure he was right about that.

I have been finding, for many years, there is a lot "in a name." When I married, I acquired a new name that would give me a problem.

Back then, no one thought of keeping their maiden name. My maiden name gave me a small problem during World War II and my mother said she had some problem with the German sounding name during World War I, even here in West Seattle.

However, the problem my married name is giving me is quite a worry. And it isn't at all true what people think of it, as being Middle Eastern. Actually, I've heard the name is of Friesen Dutch origin, though the family claims to be predominately German, speaking a language known as "Platt Deutsch" - "low German" that originated who knows where?

The people bearing the name have long been associated with the Mennonite branch of Christianity - similar to the Amish in religion and life style. The "tine" ending in our name probably is the problem - confused with the name Constantine. Had the "e" not been added, the name might be considered Russian in origin, such as Rasputin or Putin.

I should have done something years ago, probably taking the "e" off the ending and let people think we are Russians but then people would think we are immigrants. It might have been better to change completely to Smith.

So what is in a name? Or, the spelling of the name?

Harriet Warkentine

Schmitz Park