The world is now older by a year, and we are all the wiser in
consequence. The progress made by Esperanto is even more remarkable
than during the year 1903. To all fellow-workers do we desire to send
most hearty congratulations on this success, and we also add our most
sincere good wishes for the New Year. May it be still more
progressive! May it be even happier for Esperantists!
Last month we had the pleasure of arranging the index of our first
volume, and the fact reminded us of many charming hours spent with
Esperantists in person and by letter. Especially do we desire to send
good wishes to our devoted contributors. May they become more and
more international!
When a sceptic looks through this index he can no longer doubt the
internationality of the language.
Thanks to the year's progress in England, one no longer need believe
that "Esperanto is a cure for bodily ailments," or "a new food for
the human frame," but almost all are aware that Esperanto feeds only
the mind, and cures but the discords of humanity.
It is wonderful to find out how much advertising is necessary before
the inhabitants of even a small town can all be made cognisant of the
matter, and of course a great deal of work still remains to be done.
Let us not weary; let us not rest on our laurels watching the garden
which contains so many sown seeds! No, let us ever be busy; we must
indeed water the seeds with the pure water of internationality, and
we must take care that they be not dried up for lack of interest,
care, or assistance on our part.
A prophet would say that this new year must be very important for the
Esperanto movement. Shall we not have at least one great International
Congress, which will probably take place in August among our kind
friends in Boulogne? And will not this impatiently-awaited gathering
be honoured by the presence of our esteemed chief, Dr. Zamenhof
himself!
This single fact is enough to make the present year famous, but it is
indeed unnecessary to wait for the lovely summer time to find signs
of progress. Chill winter will bring forth divers new gazettes,
which, no doubt, warm spring and hot summer will cause to flourish,
till they can obtain some influence among the already numerous
international journals.
This fact, the increase in the number of gazettes, is one reason for
the non-enlargement of The Esperantist. Our readers may
remember that we proposed to enlarge it if possible during 1905. We
much feared that the progress of the cause would demand this
increase, although we find that sixteen pages are indeed enough for
our free time.
And, as it will not now be necessary to enlarge a gazette which will
no longer be the _only_ British organ, we are taking pains to enlarge
it without enlarging it! This may seem paradoxical to our readers; it
is nevertheless true that we have succeeded. Instead of the club
news, which formerly was found only in English, we intend to print a
series of articles under the title of "Month by Month." These will
contain, in the two languages, the memorable events of the preceding
month. Thus Esperantists in other lands--who are constantly becoming
more numerous among our subscribers--will not lose three or four
pages, and inland Esperantists will gain more practice by means of
the appreciated literal translations. Here is the Q.E.F. and the
Q.E.D. of our problem.
Two different courses now open up before us. We can begin this series
with a _résumé_ of the accomplished progress of last year, or we can
limit our remarks to the last month. Employing the title given above,
the latter of these courses seems preferable, and we now treat of the
memorable events of the close of 1904.
It is cold during the winter months, so we will commence our
explorations in warmer lands, where the Esperantic Sun has shown
itself stronger and more powerful than of old. Farthest off, the vast
region of Queensland, Australia, merits our notice. The Editor of the
most important journals there has become allied with Esperanto; we
have written a short article, which perhaps will appear there later,
and from divers parts of the Colony come the usual inquiries from our
future fellow-workers. New Zealand is also Esperantically inclined at
present, and the several articles already published are bringing in
their fruits.
As warm, and even vaster, India now enrolls recruits for our army.
Mr. Adinarayana Chettiar has written a valuable article in the
_Indian Review_, the most important of local gazettes. We have also
written a reply--to be printed or not, according to the will of "His
Mightiness the Editor."
In Central America, the Director of the National Institute of San
Salvador warmly approves of the Esperanto lectures of our subscriber,
Mr. R. G. Abrill. Perchance in this account we inquisitive
Esperantists will soon be able to find out more about these (to us)
almost unknown Republics. Speaking of these, we well remember an
interesting circumstance. A very enthusiastic friend moved into
Venezuela, and, of course, we proposed that he should found a group
there. A few weeks later came a postcard representing "The Group
Progress," but, unfortunately, it was a cluster of naked niggers!
But, joking aside, there must be many intelligent folk in Venezuela
who are willing to become Esperantists. Interesting articles have
lately come from Virginia and Erie, in the United States.
Nearer to us, in progressive Malta, accented letters hinder the
foundation of the awaited _Maltese Gazette_, but it is to be hoped
that the solution of the difficulty is at hand, and that we shall
soon be able to give it a welcome.
From Algeria, the ever-busy Captain Capé sends interesting news, and,
among other things, wishes to receive the names of those able to take
part in an Esperanto Caravan at Easter, 1905. An exhibition is also
being organised. Will helpers kindly write to the President, 17,
Boulevard Gambetta, Algiers?
In England, encouraging news comes from Folkestone. The Chamber of
Commerce was much interested at a lecture given by Mr. Geddes, the
well-known secretary of the Dover Group. Doubtless the foundation of
a Folkestone Society will soon follow, and we shall then be able to
invest in circular tickets to visit the "Five Esperanto Havens,"
Dover, Folkestone, Boulogne, Calais, and Ostend. There is a holiday
trip for lovers of the sea! Just think of it!
Hastings now possesses a group, whose president is Dr. Martyn
Westcott. This devoted collaborator has often written pro-Esperanto
articles. He tells us that during a stay in Paris he visited _Notre
Dame_, and there saw with pleasure the green stars worn in the
buttonholes of two Spaniards. It is needless to say that the pleasure
was mutual, and the proverb, "Two's company, three's none," did not
here find confirmation.
At the Club Café we of the London Club had the pleasure of listening
to a series of articles on German literature, kindly delivered by our
visitor, Mr. Jürgensen. Then, as always, Esperanto needed no
interpreter!
But possibly the best proof of our progress is the fact that the
Esperanto Library has further increased. Shakespeare's "Tempest" (Art
Edition, 2s. 6d.) is now ready. Another well-printed book, on nice
paper, which will give all much pleasure and instruction, comes from
Belgium: _Pages from Flemish Literature_, translated by Drs. Seynaeve
and van Melckebeke (134 pp., 1s. 6d.).
Messrs. Hachette have also published _Conversation and Correspondence
Guide_, by A. Grabowski (180 pp., 2s.); a useful international
volume.
Many Correspondents have applied for a cover for Vol. I. We regret
that we are not publishing any special cover, as the majority of our
readers have, we hope, their special fancies, and will prefer to
choose their own binding.
[Literal Translation].