CONCERNING THE FUTURE.
"We are none of us infallible, even the youngest."
The Editor of The Esperantist desires to send as early as possible his most hearty expression of thanks to his readers for the kind letters which he daily receives. In the first article of the first Esperantist a request was put forward that one should send proposals for the improvement of the youngest of Esperanto journals. In consequence of this, many friends have written their opinions on the subject.
To begin at the beginning, some friends-in-Esperanto criticised the somewhat greenness of the cover. But we have also received many letters, especially from our lady readers, fully approving of it. We therefore think it would be regrettable to change it without unanimous consent; thus the second number has a similar green exterior.
But the most serious criticisms were concerning the interior. Some readers found that an undivided page was somewhat difficult to read. Especially in the interesting original work, "The Italian Summer," did they experience this. Although undivided pages have a more pleasant appearance, we will not continue them any more, and thank the friends who pointed out the defect.
An adept Esperantist thought the standard was too high; that the second Gazette could not be as interesting as the first, and so on. This truly would be a most serious matter, and British Esperantists must take care that the prophecy be not verified. We are quite certain that if one will only send as many articles as possible—especially original works—sufficiently interesting Gazettes will result.
The same critic also opined that there was not enough English in the first number. It contains only sixteen pages, and the majority of readers desire to read Esperanto matter, not English. One of our painstaking collaborators has promised to mark all words not to be found in the Textbook, and we will always give their meanings. In this manner we hope to please those who wish to see more in English, without limiting the interesting matter.
Among the friends who have written of the great purpose of Esperanto, one has said "Xenophon led the lost Greeks through the barren eastern land of poetry, sand, and romance. And you, my friend-in-Esperanto, must—by means of your Gazette—guide the dreamy Esperantists down into the everyday land of pork and beans!"
Truly this is good counsel, for Esperanto must be a "Bread and butter language" for commerce and daily life. But do our readers wish us never to print poetry and interesting narratives? The majority of the letters which continue to arrive daily contain congratulations on the poems and short stories.
Another helper of this beneficent movement has weighty international relations with foreign firms, and has proposed that all commercial Esperantists should write to their foreign clients, submitting Esperanto as a suitable auxiliary language, and asking them to learn it for future communications. A most excellent idea! If this be approved, the Esperanto Club will have circulars printed and will distribute them among its commercial members. The Hon. Sec. will be glad to receive specimens of the proposed announcement.
Again thanking all collaborators, we appeal for original work for the Gazette. In every land it is the same. One finds a great number of people, sceptics, who continually say, "Oh! I see that your language is only good for translations. When you have your own literature I will take up the study of Esperanto. But, at present, I prefer my national tongue."
I wrote this request to our good friend, Mr. Ben Elmy, and, as a result, our readers now have the great pleasure of reading an Esperanto poem with English translation. Other friends have already responded to this appeal, and all must thank them most heartily for the great help they have given to Esperanto in so doing. Although translations are very acceptable, original works are, without doubt, worthy of precedence.
Literal translation.