Not a few people have already proved by actual experience that
Esperanto possesses all the qualifications requisite for a practical
spoken language, but the visit of the President of the "Esperanto"
Society to Havre (France), which took place a little while ago, has
afforded another proof. His wife, who was very happy chatting with
the Havre lady-Esperantists, the Secretary of the same Society, and a
friend, to whom Esperanto was a new language, accompanied him.
After a few days the Secretary of the Esperanto Club and Miss
Lawrence, the ex-Secretary, also arrived.
The four Keighleyites spent eleven days in one spot, living at an
hotel where four Professors of the Havre Lycée daily took their
meals, and for at least 2-1/2 hours each day the same persons
conversed in Esperanto with each other. Necessarily the number of
topics covered was very large and the subjects of conversation most
various. It was not a case of a short call, some remarks on the
weather and health, or a few questions as to luggage and tickets and
the best way to So-and-so, but a genuine interchange of opinions on
all manner of subjects, passing between persons previously separated
from each other for lack of a common medium of speech.
Not only that, but the visit gave opportunity for making speeches,
both set and extempore, in Esperanto, and the prized language came
through the ordeal with flying colours. Englishmen have now English
testimony that Esperanto is not merely an interesting toy to while
away the leisure hours, but a sound, solid language, available for
all practical purposes, but yet to be acquired without serious
effort.
At the same time another argument, which those who are blinded by
prejudice frequently employ against Esperanto, that is to say, that
on account of the differences in pronunciation and national idiom,
Esperantists of various countries would not be able to understand the
Esperanto of a foreigner, was effectually silenced. From the first
moment that the English set foot on French soil to the final adieux,
no difficulty was experienced, either in speaking or in
understanding.
This was all the more remarkable because the visitors had previously
had very few opportunities of conversation in Esperanto. They were
like boys thrown into the water, they had either to swim or drown.
Most assuredly they did not drown; on the other hand, by means of
Esperanto, and by nothing else, they spent a most pleasant little
holiday, which they long to repeat next year, either at Havre or
elsewhere.
John Ellis, No. 7124.