IN CORRESPONDING, WE LEARN.
The New Year begins. Greeting! May it be happy for all fellow-thinkers throughout the Esperanto world. And may it be happy for the prized language itself.
The year 1903 was excellent—possibly the best which Esperanto has yet seen—but let us trust that the coming year will be even better.
The Esperanto Club also has commenced a new year. All that was possible with its slender funds the Club has done to spread the language, and it is wonderful how much a few enthusiasts have been able to do during some months of ceaseless activity. All Esperantists and their friends are invited to its Annual Meeting at Essex Hall, Strand, on January 14th, from 7–10 p.m.
People of every nationality find the propaganda of Esperanto most pleasurable. Our readers will appreciate the beautiful words of Dr. Busuttil (Malta), and doubtless it will give equal pleasure to read the following letter of Dr. Ostrovsky (Yalta, Russia):—
"Esteemed Brethren,—I have just received No. 1 of your Gazette, The Esperantist. Most hearty congratulations on this new important means of propagating our dear Esperanto! I know the international language since 1891, yet up to the present I do not forget the wonderful impression which Esperanto produced upon me. It seemed to me as if someone had taken away from before my eyes some heavy curtain, which prevented my seeing God’s world. Esperanto, as it were, opened before me a wide portal, the entry into a palace vast and beautiful, where I have ever met many brethren, albeit unknown, yet very dear to me, whom once I lost and now have found again. Corresponding with persons of one and another nationality, my horizon has continued to become wider and wider, and I more and more have revelled in the great joy of being in this charming palace, together with its noble denizens. To-day your attractive, very congenial The Esperantist has once again filled my soul with a new, true joy. It has, as it were, introduced me into a hitherto unknown, immense new chamber of that palace, into your estimable Britain, into one of the most handsome, most luxurious apartments of this palace, where I hope I still shall find new, sincere, noble brethren. The conception is bewitching! Long live the builders of this wonderful palace! Long live the Esperantists!!"
We hope that the amiable Dr. Ostrovsky will find many correspondents in our land. To this end we trust that our readers will fully utilise the address list on the cover of this Gazette. They will thus not only help Esperanto, but also themselves, for in corresponding we learn. [All the advertisements in The Esperantist are worthy of attention.]
We could write many pages on the progress made by Esperanto during last year, but now we will only give the memorabilia of December, 1903.
For a long time past Esperantists have greatly desired a suitable collection of writings as a model of style. To fulfil this requirement, Dr. Zamenhof has just brought out an interesting and most useful work. Here are some phrases from its foreword:—"In order that all shall be able equally to use the language, it is necessary for some models to exist which shall lay down the law for all. This is the reason why, having given way to the request of many Esperantists, I have brought out the Fundamenta Krestomatio, which can serve as a model of Esperanto style for all, and can guard the language from the fatal falling away into different dialects. I recommend the attentive perusal of the Fundamenta Krestomatio to all who wish to use written or spoken Esperanto. All the articles are either written by myself, or, if they are written by others, they have been by me corrected, so that their style shall not diverge from that which I myself employ."
The first pages contain simple phrases. At the 18th page commence fables and legends. Then appear many anecdotes, tales, science articles, and lastly poetry. It is possibly a matter for regret that the good Doctor has included 38 pages of his "Hamlet" and 17 from the "Iliad" of Mr. Kofman, because many Esperantists already have these works. But undoubtedly the other 403 pages will suffice to manifest perfect style. (Price 3s., post free, from the Librarian, Esperanto Club).
Another most useful publication is "Komercaj Leteroj," edited by Messrs. Berthelot & Lambert, which will certainly facilitate the use of the language among our commercial friends. It contains 34 letters on divers matters, and a vocabulary in Esperanto, French, German, and English. (Price 7d., post free).
Mr. Rhodes has sent us a copy of his new Key to the Ekzercaro. It is a good little work, and all Esperantists who have the Ekzercaro will certainly be wise in sending 2½d. for its translation into English. Mr. Rhodes has also commenced a translation of Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, and probably our readers will soon see a specimen in The Esperantist. Another specimen we hope to print is from the translation of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, done by our busy fellow-worker, Mr. Ben Elmy. Although it is to be regretted that Esperantists, so clever as are these experts, do not always write original matter, we nevertheless desire the success of these two books, and hope for original works from them and from all expert friends-in-Esperanto.
I desire to thank all who have sent proposals for improving the Gazette. By request we will now print a science column. Our readers know something about the recently-discovered qualities of Radium, the newest wonder of the chemical world. I had the temerity to write to Sir William Ramsay, asking him to help the Esperanto cause by kindly writing for us an article on Radium. I gladly announce that he not only promised to do so, but that his reply was written in Esperanto.
M. Seynaeve has proposed an Esperanto Congress in London during this year, when representatives from all countries should deliberate concerning an International Esperanto Academy. An excellent idea. If our friends from over the sea will come here, they may be sure we shall do all in our power to help in establishing an Academy, and also to make their holiday pleasurable.
Literal Translation.
P.S.—We have just received a proof of another new little work, "A New Hobby that may bring you a Living." It is an interesting, well-printed means for spreading the language, and is published by "The Esperanto Literature Agency," Colchester. The Librarian of the Esperanto Club (P. H. Howard, Esq., The Bungalow, Cranes Park, Surbiton) will send it on receipt of 7d.