_The contents of this section are supplied by the Hon. Sec. of the
London Esperanto Club, who invites all Esperantists to send monthly
reports of the spread of the International Language in their
districts. Communications must reach 14, Norfolk Street, London, W.
C., before the 8th of each month._[96]
There has been no Committee Meeting of the London Club this month.
Some of the Members and the President are away, and the matter at
present to be decided upon is so important and far reaching that a
general vote of the various Esperanto centres has, as far as
possible, been taken by letter instead.
The question to be decided upon is this: Has the time now come for a
general federation of all British Esperantists? So far the answer is
wholly affirmative, and by the time this October issue appears the
majority will have given their decision--yes or no. If by any chance
anyone has neglected the circular sent for consideration, will the
defaulter please look up that paper and return it with the needed
comments at once.
The circular has been sent to every member of the London and Keighley
Societies, and to the Committees of the various Groups for
distribution amongst their own members.
A General Meeting is called for the _first_ week in October, and
notice of this will be sent by postcard. If the Federation becomes an
accomplished fact, the next point will be the choice of a Committee
to draw up the Constitution and decide upon the Officers.
Curiously, the name has been a difficulty; "English-speaking" is too
wide a term, as we have no doubt that the United States will have its
own centre soon. "British" is too narrow, for some will think it will
leave out our Colonial or Celtic members. We Esperantists have coined
one word, "Samideano," to express an idea of friendship, but the
suitable all-embracing word for our contemplated union has not yet
been devised, and from the nature of things a compromise will have to
be accepted.
The next question is a question of funds, of course. Have we any
self-denying Esperantists amongst us? Or are we each going to wait
and see whether our neighbour will put hands in pocket first? The
London Club has, as is natural, borne all the expense of this
preliminary enquiry, but the Central Society will have to shape its
doings by its income.
_Classes in and around London._
After a summer of Congresses and such like, we are now settling down
to our regular winter work.
Unfortunately we cannot have the Finsbury Circus rooms this year,
and, at the time of going to Press, a definite arrangement had not
been made. Will those of our Members who could go to 185, Oxford
Street, please write to Miss A. Schafer, 8, Gloucester Crescent,
Regent's Park, N. W.
The Principals of the Gouin School kindly offer us the use of their
Oxford Street rooms.
Miss Schafer's lessons will be entirely in Esperanto (Conversation,
Reading, etc.). A beginners' class is also being arranged for, which
Mr. Millidge will take.
On Tuesdays a class meets, by the courtesy of Messrs. Hatchard &
Castarede, at 71, High Holborn. Applications should be sent to C. F.
Hayes, Esq., 48, Swanage Road, Wandsworth, S. W. Here, also,
beginners and those more advanced will find help, and a library is in
formation.
Monday evenings, as usual, at The Club Café, 5, Bishopsgate Street
Within, E. C. Tea at 6 o'clock. The Members afterwards adjourn to
100, Gracechurch Street, where the Remington Typewriter Co. have
kindly placed a room at their disposal.
A class for German-speaking students, conducted in German, is held by
Miss Schafer, on Thursday evenings, at the German Club, Charlotte
Street, Fitzroy Square. For particulars apply to Miss Schafer, as
above.
_Forest Gate._--The Members meet weekly on Thursday at 7.30 for
conversation and social intercourse. Dr. Batteson, of 39, Woodgrange
Road, kindly receives them at his house. The beginners' class is from
8 to 9 o'clock on the same evening, A. Motteau, Esq., 157, Earlham
Grove, being the lecturer.
_Battersea._--A. T. Lee, Esq., of 2, Cupar Road, Battersea, writes
that the meetings are at the Latchmere Baths on Tuesday evenings at
7.30.
_Ilford._--This Group meets at the house of J. Kent, Esq., 42, Park
Road, Ilford, on Friday evening at 7.30. He will gladly reply to all
inquiries.
_Brixton._--E. W. Eagle, Esq., of 22, Kellett Road, is again
arranging for this Group.
_Leytonstone._--Any in this neighbourhood interested in
Esperanto are requested to write to Herbert Farnes, Esq., Rozel,
Percy Road.
_E. Dulwich._--G. W. Bullen, Esq., 17, Thorncombe Road, will again
arrange to receive Esperantists, if a sufficient number desire it.
_The Esperanto Society, Keighley._
Mr. Rhodes will open the Session with a paper on "Artificial
Languages" at the Keighley Municipal Technical Institute, which, like
Liverpool University, inserts an Esperanto syllabus in its
prospectus. Mr. Rhodes himself is still occupied with the preparation
of his dictionary, which from day to day needs enlarging, as more
technical terms are added to our vocabulary.
_General Group News._
(_Addresses of Hon. Secretaries on outside cover._)
Our pages have had to be prepared so early this month that full news
has not yet come to hand, and enquirers should write to the several
secretaries.
From _Brighton_ Miss Oxenford reports a very pleasant meeting on
the 3rd September at the Remington School, 12, St. George's Place.
Saturday, at 8 o'clock, is the regular day and hour. Mr. Lambert, the
President, has been exploring other artificial languages with the
usual result--that no one of them can compare with Esperanto, however
ingenious it may be.
G. H. Taylor, Esq., 9, Norman Road, Huddersfield, would be most
grateful if any not too far off Esperantist could arrange to come and
give a lecture there; and F. G. Rowe, Esq., 51, Portland Road,
Nottingham, has a like desire.
Dr. Mayer, Central Hall, Manchester, announces lectures at the Gouin
School of Languages, 2, Victoria Street.
Dr. Greenwood (Portsmouth) announces that the classes at his house
have recommenced, and will continue on Tuesday evenings all through
the winter. He and Mrs. Greenwood will be pleased to see or hear from
enquirers.
The _Plymouth_ classes meet at the Ruskin Institute, which has
kindly placed a room at their disposal. The members of the Social
Democratic Federation have become strongly interested, and the
Tuesday evening meetings are well attended. The new Hon. Secretary is
Arthur T. Grindley, Esq., 23, Gifford Place, Plymouth.
Mr. Haxton writes that great interest is felt in St. Andrews, and he
hopes for a very encouraging session.
_Newspapers._
_La Chronique_, a French journal, published in London, has had a
series of most interesting papers, beginning with a description of
the Dover Congress, which provoked a letter from Professor Hamonet.
In this letter he takes up the old contention, that to propagate
Esperanto is to commit a mortal sin, because if men ever come to use
this language as a common international means of doing business it
will infallibly follow that they will neglect the study and practice
of their own languages, and, thus forgetting them, they very soon
will fall into desuetude; thus, _chefs d'œuvre_ of national
languages, which have so powerfully aided in the progress of science
and the spread of humanity, will be neglected and disused, that is to
say, that if we use Esperanto as an auxiliary language, Shakespeare
and Goethe, Victor Hugo, Schiller, Milton, and the rest will soon be
mere names connected with a distant past.
To this M. Michaux, of Boulogne, replies in the issue of August 27th
(further letters follow) by explaining that M. Hamonet knows only a
part of the truth, that he does not realise that in France the
Minister of Public Instruction and other such encourage our work,
that many Esperanto translations are made by professors of high
standing in the various Universities. He then suggests that, instead
of theorising, Mr. Hamonet would do well to study practical effects,
and tells him a little story by way of warning. I can only briefly
sum up this story.
A hundred years ago an American sought an interview with a monarch.
The American had made a model of the first steamboat, and he thought
he had brought it to a person who would properly appreciate it.
Fulton, the American in question, had managed to have the little boat
placed on the lake in front of the Palace windows, and pointed it out
to the great Chief. The great man answered, "Oars and the wind have
been from all time the sole means for the propulsion of boats, and
no other way is possible." "But, Sire," said the gentleman who had
introduced him, "if you will just glance at the lake in front of you,
you will see that the little model of the inventor does move by other
means." The Monarch appeared for the moment astonished; he saw the
marvellous boat, he heard the cries of the people and the applause of
the helpers, then he became angry, and at last disdainful, shrugged
his shoulders and said, "It is not because this little boat goes
automatically without oars and against the wind on a little piece
of water on my park, that the attempt of this stranger will conquer
the world; such things are not born in an hour; every race has
developed the art of navigation, but the means of propulsion have
remained invariably the same; sails and the oar propelled a boat
in pre-historic times, and will continue to be the only motor power.
Tell this ambitious young man that my navy and commerce have not
waited for his invention to be prosperous, and if men adopt his
invention they would neglect the study and practice of navigation,
and the victories of our heroes become useless."
Mr. Ellis, of Keighley, contributed a fine article on Esperanto, last
August, to the _Law Times_. It was entitled "Esperanto for
Lawyers," and point by point the suitability of our language for law
purposes was clearly shown. One interesting argument was taken from a
report in the _Internacia Scienca Revuo_ upon a Russian boy who
died of a very rare disease. Valuable scientific information was
called forth at the inquest, and accurately given in the _Revuo_
through the medium of Esperanto.
Mr. Ledger sends a most interesting summary of articles contributed
to the _Phonographic Monthly_. This paper is printed in
shorthand, and here is a list of articles:--
April, 1904.--J. French. Visit to Havre and practicability of
Esperanto.
May.--T. Bailey. Outline of Esperanto, but doubts whether Pitman's be
suitable.
August.--G. Ledger. Shows that the phonetic principles upon which
Esperanto is based make it admirably adaptable, and gives
illustrations.
September.--J. Catton. Continues the subject, challenging Mr.
Bailey's assertion in May.
_News from Abroad._
Count Gallois writes from Italy: "We are progressing very well indeed
here. Many daily journals are publishing articles about our language,
and the idea of it is rapidly gaining ground. On the 16th of August a
Russian Esperantist, Sro Kolovrot-Cervinski, paid us a visit at
Riolunato, and we had long and most interesting conversations with
him, our members all understanding quite easily."
From Hamburg comes the news that a Group has been founded, Dr. Mybs,
of Altona, being President; his address is Markstrasse 68, Altona,
Elbe. Dr. Lindinger is Secretary.
The _Esperantiste Mitteilungen_ says:--"We are happy to state
that Germany, which for a long while has not taken Esperanto
seriously, has now shown an earnest reviving interest. The Berlin
group has sent out some 10,000 brochures and leaflets. Hanover has
had a good meeting of shorthand writers. Hildesheim, Stuttgart,
Königsberg, and Schleswig are planning new developments, as are
various other towns."
Mr. Müller, the director of the Modern Language Institute in
Iserlohn, very much approves of Esperanto.
Sinjoro C. Barttel, of Woehlerstrasse, 14, Frankfort-on-Main, writes
that he has founded an Esperanto Society in that city, and will be
delighted to hear from English Esperantists.
From Sinjoro Werner, St. Gall, Switzerland (the Vice-President),
comes the announcement that the Society there, now numbers 42
members, and from Vienna we have the encouraging news that an
Esperantist Society has been formed.
Canadian readers will learn with interest that a Group has been
founded in Winnipeg. Members meet every Friday evening from 8 till 9,
at the residence of Mr. W. A. Pierce, 264, Selkirk Avenue.
Dr. Zamenhof, some little time ago, contributed an article to the
_Independent_, a weekly U. S. journal. Mr. Mudie prepared the
English version, but forgot to ask that a copy should be sent to him.
No one of us has seen the article, but letters in consequence of it
have reached the London Club from nine or ten American cities, and it
will be very interesting to follow out the result of this article. We
hope to have a copy of it before long, and will certainly give our
readers the benefit of it when it comes to hand.
From a visitor to the St. Louis Exhibition we hear that the Esperanto
stall there is attracting a great deal of attention--the various
national grammars, journals, etc., being prominently shown.
_Items of Interest._
Chess players who want correspondence-play with foreigners may apply
to Mr. Ellis, Keighley, who can furnish opponents. The chess terms
and method of notation have been translated into Esperanto by Mr.
Ellis, and published in the "Lingvo Internacia." Such of the
contractions as are needful for correspondence-play Mr. Ellis will
willingly make known to those about to play.
During the visit of the Boulogne Esperantists to London, M. Michaux
and his party were conducted round the museum of the British South
African Company, London Wall, and the interesting exhibits from
Rhodesia were duly explained to them in Esperanto by the officials.
The occasion was very interesting, and will doubtless be repeated, as
the Company have many foreign shareholders.
_Pan-Celtic Congress._
This Congress, which met at Carnarvon, and at which members from many
countries were present, decided, after a very interesting discussion,
"That a committee should be appointed to discuss the suitability of
Esperanto as a means of communication." It had been prefaced by a
somewhat amusing, though passionate, discussion. The Cornish Celts
said that the Celtic tongue would answer the purpose. Their motion
was agreed to, but when the question was asked which Celtic tongue,
they at once said, "Why, the Cornish, of course," and an uproar was
the result, all preferring their own dialect.