The New Year begins. Greeting! May it be happy for all
fellow-thinkers throughout the Esperanto world. And may it be happy
for the prized language itself.
The year 1903 was excellent--possibly the best which Esperanto has
yet seen--but let us trust that the coming year will be even better.
The _Esperanto Club_ also has commenced a new year. All that was
possible with its slender funds the Club has done to spread the
language, and it is wonderful how much a few enthusiasts have been
able to do during some months of ceaseless activity. All Esperantists
and their friends are invited to its Annual Meeting at Essex Hall,
Strand, on January 14th, from 7-10 p.m.
People of every nationality find the propaganda of Esperanto most
pleasurable. Our readers will appreciate the beautiful words of Dr.
Busuttil (Malta), and doubtless it will give equal pleasure to read
the following letter of Dr. Ostrovsky (Yalta, Russia):--
"Esteemed Brethren,--I have just received No. 1 of your Gazette,
The Esperantist. Most hearty congratulations on this new
important means of propagating our dear Esperanto! I know the
international language since 1891, yet up to the present I do not
forget the wonderful impression which Esperanto produced upon me.
It seemed to me as if someone had taken away from before my eyes
some heavy curtain, which prevented my seeing God's world. Esperanto,
as it were, opened before me a wide portal, the entry into a palace
vast and beautiful, where I have ever met many brethren, albeit
unknown, yet very dear to me, whom once I lost and now have found
again. Corresponding with persons of one and another nationality,
my horizon has continued to become wider and wider, and I more and
more have revelled in the great joy of being in this charming
palace, together with its noble denizens. To-day your attractive,
very congenial The Esperantist has once again filled my soul with
a new, true joy. It has, as it were, introduced me into a hitherto
unknown, immense new chamber of that palace, into your estimable
Britain, into one of the most handsome, most luxurious apartments
of this palace, where I hope I still shall find new, sincere,
noble brethren. The conception is bewitching! Long live the builders
of this wonderful palace! Long live the Esperantists!!"
We hope that the amiable Dr. Ostrovsky will find many correspondents
in our land. To this end we trust that our readers will fully utilise
the address list on the cover of this Gazette. They will thus not
only help Esperanto, but also themselves, for in corresponding we
learn. [All the advertisements in The Esperantist are worthy
of attention.]
We could write many pages on the progress made by Esperanto during
last year, but now we will only give the memorabilia of December,
1903.
For a long time past Esperantists have greatly desired a suitable
collection of writings as a model of style. To fulfil this
requirement, Dr. Zamenhof has just brought out an interesting and
most useful work. Here are some phrases from its foreword:--"In order
that all shall be able equally to use the language, it is necessary
for some models to exist which shall lay down the law for all. This
is the reason why, having given way to the request of many
Esperantists, I have brought out the _Fundamenta Krestomatio_, which
can serve as a model of Esperanto style for all, and can guard the
language from the fatal falling away into different dialects. I
recommend the attentive perusal of the _Fundamenta Krestomatio_ to
all who wish to use written or spoken Esperanto. All the articles are
either written by myself, or, if they are written by others, they
have been by me corrected, so that their style shall not diverge from
that which I myself employ."
The first pages contain simple phrases. At the 18th page commence
fables and legends. Then appear many anecdotes, tales, science
articles, and lastly poetry. It is possibly a matter for regret
that the good Doctor has included 38 pages of his "Hamlet" and 17
from the "Iliad" of Mr. Kofman, because many Esperantists already
have these works. But undoubtedly the other 403 pages will suffice
to manifest perfect style. (Price 3s., post free, from the Librarian,
Esperanto Club).
Another most useful publication is "Komercaj Leteroj," edited by
Messrs. Berthelot & Lambert, which will certainly facilitate the use
of the language among our commercial friends. It contains 34 letters
on divers matters, and a vocabulary in Esperanto, French, German, and
English. (Price 7d., post free).
Mr. Rhodes has sent us a copy of his new _Key to the Ekzercaro_. It
is a good little work, and all Esperantists who have the _Ekzercaro_
will certainly be wise in sending 2-1/2d. for its translation into
English. Mr. Rhodes has also commenced a translation of Bunyan's
_Pilgrim's Progress_, and probably our readers will soon see a
specimen in The Esperantist. Another specimen we hope to
print is from the translation of the _Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam_, done
by our busy fellow-worker, Mr. Ben Elmy. Although it is to be
regretted that Esperantists, so clever as are these experts, do not
always write original matter, we nevertheless desire the success of
these two books, and hope for original works from them and from all
expert friends-in-Esperanto.
I desire to thank all who have sent proposals for improving the
Gazette. By request we will now print a science column. Our readers
know something about the recently-discovered qualities of Radium, the
newest wonder of the chemical world. I had the temerity to write to
Sir William Ramsay, asking him to help the Esperanto cause by kindly
writing for us an article on Radium. I gladly announce that he not
only promised to do so, but that his reply was written in Esperanto.
M. Seynaeve has proposed an Esperanto Congress in London during this
year, when representatives from all countries should deliberate
concerning an International Esperanto Academy. An excellent idea. If
our friends from over the sea will come here, they may be sure we
shall do all in our power to help in establishing an Academy, and
also to make their holiday pleasurable.
_Literal Translation._
P.S.--We have just received a proof of another new little work, "A
New Hobby that may bring you a Living." It is an interesting,
well-printed means for spreading the language, and is published by
"_The Esperanto Literature Agency_," _Colchester_. The Librarian of
the Esperanto Club (_P. H. Howard, Esq., The Bungalow, Cranes Park,
Surbiton_) will send it on receipt of 7d.