CORRESPONDENCE NOTES.
The Editor much regrets that, owing to the numerous Esperantic week-ends, and the work connected with his relinquishing the hon. secretaryship of the London Esperanto Club, he has not been able to give the usual attention to his postbag. He therefore trusts that those who have not received prompt replies will excuse the delay.
Next month he will leave town about September 15th, and no letters can be forwarded for a week or so. The October number should, however, be ready as usual.
In case any old subscribers should have failed to notice the announcement on last issue’s cover re the increase in price of back numbers, the time limit is extended till September 10th. All wishing to complete their series should send before that date, as the price of Nos. 2 to 8 (inclusive) will thereafter be raised to sixpence a copy.
Those willing to dispose of No. 1 will greatly oblige by informing the Editor of the lowest price they will accept for the same.
The use of the apostrophe in Esperanto prose is not to be encouraged, and has never appeared in this Gazette. It is only permissible under the following conditions:—The A of the definite article may be omitted when it follows a preposition ending in E. La domo de l’ mastro is thus met with occasionally. But this elision is not permissible in any other instance, even when the substantive following the article begins with a vowel. Thus La amikoj, and never L’ amikoj. But the question of elision is better left alone.
Among the useful little suffixes which do so much to simplify our vocabulary, perhaps the most troublesome to the beginner are IG and IĜ. Our good friend, the Rev. R. A. Davis, has favoured us with another of his invaluable aids to memory in this connection. "We kill, or cause to be killed, pIGs, in order that they may become sausIĜes." Who can now confuse them!
The Penny Text-Book is now on the market, and has probably been seen by many of our readers, for the publishers are sparing no efforts to bring this useful and somewhat humorous booklet into notice. Such a sentence as: La leonoj estis tiklataj de la lunatiko is bound to produce such an effect on the student’s brain that the agreement of participles can no longer be a source of doubt.
Another step in the right direction is the publication of the Note Book, a new monthly paper containing articles and lessons in Esperanto. Esperantists should send for a specimen copy (price 2d.) from the Editor. Annual sub., 2s. 6d., also received.
All Club Members are invited to the Monday meetings at the Club Café, 5, Bishopsgate Street Within, from 5.30 to 7; also from 7 to 9 at 100, Gracechurch Street (by the courtesy of the Remington Typewriter firm). These meetings have been especially interesting and instructive of late, as several foreign Esperantists have been present.
We advise those of our readers who are desirous of setting about founding Esperanto groups to carefully read page 52 (No. 4) of The Esperantist. The excellent articles appearing from time to time in the Press also contain valuable information and hints. The chief examples not hitherto referred to are:—Ethics, page 244 (July), by H. J. Bridges; The Ilford Guardian (August 5th), by John Kent; The Herts Advertiser and St. Albans Times (August 13th), by J. Catton; The Daily Express (August 17th), by Miss Lawrence; The Star (August 18th), by a humorous critic, and The St. James’ Gazette (August 15th).
The ever-increasing number of the clergy taking up Esperanto calls forth the suggestion: Why not have a sermon on the humanitarian nature of our movement?
One often hears of Peace sermons; but surely the adoption of Esperanto will do more to spread the Peace movement than can no end of propaganda on former lines.
Some correspondents are always interested in knowing some of the items to be looked forward to next month. The twelfth issue should contain a new hymn by Ben Elmy, with charming music by J. Hadfield. A treatise on the effect of physical culture on mental power by J. F. H. Woodward; another Indian tale by Alfred T. Simper; and a humorous skit, entitled La Libertempulo, from the pen of H. W. Southcombe (a new contributor), will, when added to the poetry page, help to provide, it is hoped, a number of considerable interest. Club news, from two to four pages, will appear regularly, so long as The Esperantist is recognised as the only official organ of the Association.