His own family called him Harry, newspapermen Hank, occasional friends Henry, and New Yorkers Menck. But his trademark was H.L.Mencken.
There was H.L.Mencken, the public figure, noisy iconoclast and national wag; there was the Henry Mencken, the citizen of Baltimore and sentimentalist; the emotionally Victorian, earthy romancer of various women, and kindly, generous visitor to the sick, who shared his gusto for music and food among a small circle of loyal and devoted friends. He was fully aware of the distinction and drew it sharply himself, a colleague observed. As far as he could, he screened Henry Mencken from the observation of press and public, while thrusting H.L.Mencken to the fore. It was the citizen of Baltimore whom very few were to come to know.