THE PROGRESS OF ESPERANTO IN GREAT BRITAIN AND ABROAD.
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.
The British Esperanto Association.
The first Council of the Association took place on Monday, October 24th. The President, Colonel Pollen, C.I.E., took the chair. Twelve of the Council were present, besides the executive officers. It was decided that the Council should use the power given them of appointing Sub-Committees for various purposes, and to co-opt as Councillors several people whose aid would be of value on such Sub-Committees. Messrs. Cowper, Millidge, Motteau, and Rolston, and Miss Schafer were then elected. It was decided to establish The British Esperanto Association in offices at 14, Norfolk Street, Strand, and appoint an Assistant Secretary at the rate of £26 per annum. A Sub-Committee, viz., Mr. Cowper (of Deal), Mr. Maitland, and Mr. Millidge, was appointed to draw up the Rules of Association, and the Rules, when drafted, were to be submitted to the Council for approval.
It was also resolved that Dr. Lloyd, Mr. Rhodes, and Mr. Bullen should be asked to collaborate in formulating, for submission to the Council, a Scheme and Rules for Examinations as to proficiency in Esperanto.
A Publication Sub-Committee was also arranged.
A meeting of the Executive Committee took place on November 7th, when Miss Lawrence, the representative of the London Club, formally handed over its store of books, and goodwill, and its affiliation fees, announcing that this abdication of its prestige was made without asking for any quid pro quo, and simply as an act of loyalty to the central body. Miss Lawrence begged that the fact might be entered on the minutes that the London Club had done this; and that it had borne the heavy cost of preparing for the foundation of The British Esperanto Association. This was considered a reasonable request, but it was pointed out that no country Councillor was present to second the motion proposed by Mr. Maitland, of the West London Group. It was therefore seconded by Mr. Gill, of the Acton Group.
The Committee also decided that the election of Fellows of the Association must be left to the consideration of the full Council, and that no immediate action could be taken in the several cases where applicants had forwarded subscriptions accompanied by requests that the senders might be elected Fellows of the B.E.A. It might be pointed out here that, according to the draft Rules, "The Council are empowered to elect from the Members a limited number of Fellows, who have proved themselves to be expert Esperantists, and who are willing to pay 5s."
It was announced with regret that W. Whitebrook, Esq., would be unable, owing to the numerous professional calls on his time, to accept the Hon. Treasurership. The Committee expressed their heartfelt sense of the loss this meant to the Association, and elected Harald Clegg, Esq. (the Hon. Secretary), to fill the position of Hon. Treasurer also. All subscriptions and donations should, therefore, be addressed to Mr. Clegg, at the offices of the Association:—14, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C.
Group News.
The Acton Group reports a very successful meeting recently, at which the veteran Esperantist, Miss Warlow, was unanimously elected President. Miss Warlow is the first lady President of any British Group. Those who know her are delighted at this fitting choice. The Hon. Secretary, Mr. E. J. Gant, Ivy Dene, Cumberland Road, Hanwell, will gladly supply information, and intending Members will be heartily welcomed. The classes are held in the South Acton Schoolrooms.
From Aberdeen comes the news that the Committee of the Chamber of Commerce have unanimously agreed that if Mr. Christen desires to give another lecture on the subject of Esperanto, the Chamber’s support will be given to the meeting. The Committee were glad to know that Mr. Christen "was advocating the popular study of this new commercial language, which had been taken up in many parts of England and Scotland, and was so well known on the Continent." The Group meetings are held in the studio of Mr. Hector, and the Hon. Secretary is Mr. Donaldson S. Rose, M.A., 259, Union Street.
The Brixton Club is ever energetic. It is forming a circulating library, and subscribes to five magazines. It holds its meetings on Tuesdays, at 8 p.m. Members are invited to bring friends, and Mr. Eagle, 21, Kellett Road, will be pleased to give information.
Canon Lonsdale has consented to become President of the Corbridge Group. The Membership is large for the size of the village, and this is surely owing to the energetic past and present Secretaries, Miss Bauer and Miss Bickell.
At Battersea, Mr. A. Lee, 2, Cupar Road, has organised a regular campaign. The meetings are at the Latchmere Baths on Tuesday, at 7.30.
The Ilford Group meets at the house of Mr. Jeffrey, 42, Park Road. One of the Members of this Group learnt Esperanto so quickly that after 14 days he was able to write a clever historical description of an old town.
The classes at Liverpool University are held on Wednesday, at 7.30, by Dr. Lloyd, who is preparing the Rules for Examinations.
In Leeds the classes are held at the Northern Institute on Saturday evenings, at 8.30 p.m. The visit of Mr. Rhodes in October was much appreciated. Between 70 and 80 people attended the lecture, many afterwards joining the Club. To arrange for such lectures will be in the future one of the important duties of The British Esperanto Association.
The Rev. E. Atkins has placed a room in the Working Men’s College at the disposal of the Leicester Group. Mr. F. Mugglestone, 61, Bonsall Street, who is the Hon. Secretary, will gladly give information.
Newcastle does not mean to be content with one gathering. The classes at 29, Grainger Street, are held on Wednesdays, at 7.30, and a special elementary class for ladies at 10, Mosley Street, on Wednesday evenings, from 7 until 9 o’clock.
Mr. Korth, of Swansea, reports a rather amusing objection to the use of the Free Library for an Esperanto class. A Committee Member objected because "Esperanto is so awfully difficult." What kind of study is favoured in Swansea if the height of difficulty is measured by Esperanto? Inquirers will be gladly answered by Mr. Oswald Korth, 1, Kensington Terrace, Swansea.
Mr. S. E. Hunt, Selsley Road, Woodchester (Glos.), would like to hear from anyone in his neighbourhood interested in Esperanto.
London Classes.
Monday.—Club Café, 5, Bishopsgate Street Within. Tea at 6 o’clock; at 7 the party adjourns to 100, Gracechurch Street, to rooms kindly placed at their disposal by the Remington Typewriter Company.
Monday.—Students’ class at 7.30. Conducted by Mr. Motteau, at the rooms of the Ethical Society, 19, Buckingham Street, Strand.
Tuesday, 6 to 8.—71, High Holborn. Room kindly lent by Messrs. Hatchard and Castarede. Those desiring to join should write to the Hon. Secretary, Mr. C. F. Hayes, 48, Swanage Road, Wandsworth.
Tuesday, 8.30.—The Co-operative Brotherhood Trust have a meeting of "Clarionites." Hon. Secretary, Mr. Goode, 37, Newington Green Road.
Wednesday.—German Club, Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square. For particulars send stamped envelope to Miss A. Schafer, 8, Gloucester Crescent, Regent’s Park.
Thursday.—Cusack’s Institute, White Street, near Moorgate Street Station. Room kindly lent by the Principals. Beginners, 6.15. Advanced, 7.15.
Friday, 6.30.—Enterprise Club, Petersburgh House, Leadenhall Street. For lady clerks and secretaries. This class is the result of a lecture given to Members of the Club by Miss Schafer. The audience was much interested in the discussion as to the utility and facility of Esperanto. Much amusement was caused when the speaker recited a few sentences in Esperanto, the meanings of which were easily guessed by the ladies present.
The veteran artist, Felix Moscheles, desiring to practise speaking, would like to talk with a few Esperantists in his own beautiful home, 80, Elm Park Road, Chelsea. About twilight would be a good time.
The above classes are free, but, as mentioned last month, a series of lessons by a skilled Esperantist can be arranged for by applying to the Secretary of the School of Esperanto, 93, Chancery Lane, W.C.
Newspapers.
The articles and letters commenced the 27th August in La Chronique (29, Bessborough Street, London) have continued every week since. The arguments of M. Hamonet, our keen antagonist, may be summed up in the formula we know so well: "An artificial language is so unnatural"; and, "Esperanto, if it should be successful, will displace all the national tongues, and Shakespeare, Goethe, Victor Hugo, Tolstoy, become just ‘memories’; for boys (and men) are prone to idleness, and Esperanto is so easy that of course they will prefer it to their own tongue." Is this "approval" in disguise? The splendid articles in our favour by MM. Michaux, Bastien, Capé, Lefèvre, and a member of the French Academy seem waste of energy after the account of his previsions given by our adversary, M. Hamonet; for in their wildest dreams these gentlemen never supposed that an Englishman would prefer Esperanto to English.
The School World has at last spoken, and to some purpose. In the November number Mr. Mathews, of Rochester, after an exposition of the structure and uses of Esperanto, and a comparison with Volapuk, argues that for a large number of pupils in our schools the study of Latin, French, and German has little practical value. He would substitute Esperanto for the lower forms, because (1st) more time will be set free for other subjects; (2nd) the pupils will get a good training in the correct meaning of words, and will have such a copious stock of roots that they will be able to overtake students in other modern languages who have not had their advantages. He considers Esperanto more valuable than Latin as a means of training. An interesting article from the pen of Dr. Martyn Westcott, in the November number of Womanhood (5, Agar Street, Strand), is the first of a series which the Editress, Mrs. Ada Ballin, intends to carry on in future numbers. There will be a monthly lesson; also short story competitions, prizes, etc., etc.; and it is hoped that a Womanhood Club will be formed. I trust Mrs. Ballin will have great success, for, oddly enough, the majority of Esperantists are men; when once their wives, sisters, and daughters take up the matter, "We shall see what we shall see."
Foreign News.
First in importance are the preparations for the Congress in Boulogne next year. Dr. Zamenhof, having consented to preside, has also intimated his wish that this should be a Congress in which every Group in the world should be represented, but the Boulogne Group, unaided, could not organise so stupendous an affair; even the comparatively small gathering at Dover last summer cost more than that Group could rightly afford; M. Michaux therefore calls for aid from all quarters. The Société Française p.p. Esperanto has, as usual, been the first to answer. It announces a contribution of 200 francs, and more, if possible. What will Great Britain do? Many have suggested that Dr. Zamenhof should "come out of his shell." Now he means, if possible, to do so. We must see that he has a good welcome. Will Esperantists send suggestions to the Hon. Secretary of The British Esperanto Association as to how much we should contribute?
There is to be a great Esperanto Exhibition in Algiers in March, and Captain Capé, 17, Boulevard, Gambetta, earnestly hopes that literature of all kinds may be lent him. Circulars in Esperanto, articles of commerce with Esperanto labels, books, journals, post cards, propaganda leaflets, etc., etc.
At the Grenoble Congress M. Bolack occupied some hours in describing the invention, the Langue Bleue, to which he has devoted so much time and money, but he at length confessed that he could not hold a conversation in it for even five consecutive minutes.
It is stated in this month’s Esperantiste that, owing to a fire in his house, Mr. Geoghegan, the first English Esperantist (it is supposed), has lost the whole of his valuable collection of letters, post cards, and books; this means that he has lost the addresses of all his correspondents as well. Any such who read these lines are asked to send him their news to East Sound, Washington County, U.S.A. Truly every Esperantist will condole with him upon this loss.
On the 19th October an amusing critique appeared in the Glasgow Evening Times. Under the heading of "Shreds and Patches" its editor attacked Esperanto in diatribe against Mr. W. T. Stead. This naturally provoked the retort on the 20th that Esperanto was not a new untried experiment which Mr. Stead was trying to boom, and that there was no earthly reason for connecting the man and the language, except that Mr. Stead is enthusiastic and open-minded, and Esperanto as a language is approved of by such. Mr. Wallace, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Rhodes and others joined in the fray, and on November 2nd an amusing skit headed "Shredoji kaj Patchegaj" appeared, in which the writer started by saying "Mi esperas ke Mi povos uzi la Internacia Lingo Esperanto por tui artikolon," but he found it better to stick to English. Of the propriety of this there could be no question, seeing the writer knew only twelve words of Esperanto. He then goes on to classify the thirty-seven letters he had received, announcing that, evidently, "any craft that appears within extreme range of Esperanto must be a hostile torpedo boat." The correspondence apparently dwindled after this date; but one singular fact with regard to it appears to be that Glasgow people themselves were not sufficiently interested to enlarge the Glasgow group to any conceivable extent, the exact opposite to Aberdeen, Bedford, etc.
The November number of the Note-Book (every issue gives Esperanto matter) contains a very interesting report of the General Meeting of the British Esperanto Association, together with the usual interesting lesson, and an account of an amusing game by Mr. Hugon.
The foreign Esperanto journals have been especially interesting of late. Many of them have contained articles on "Holidays in Esperantoland." Most of the gazettes are also improving in appearance, which must also be taken as a good sign of progress and increasing circulation.
Several New Zealand papers have been discussing Esperanto of late. The Voice, a widely-read and attractive monthly, led the way, and Otago and Southland papers have followed on, thanks to the energy of Mr. Field.