SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.
A short time since I received a well-printed but mysterious booklet, entitled: Tri L. Zamenhofin kansainvälinen apukieli Esperanto. Kielioppi sekä Esimerkki ja Harjoitussarja. Suomenkielelle Muodostaneet.
At first I thought it was some new mysterious Volapük, but soon discovered that brethren in the Land of Lakes and Marshes now have their own Esperanto textbook (72 pages, 1s.).
Up to the present there are not many Esperantists in Finland, and those who already exist must, doubtless, have learned from the Swedish Textbook of Dr. Henriclundquest.
It is now to be hoped that our Army will gain many recruits among the dwellers in this little-known land.
Possibly readers will be interested by a few words on this language, which is quite different from most European tongues. Neither Romance nor Teutonic, Finnish somewhat resembles Turkish, Tartar, Lapp, and Magyar. It is a member of the Turanian family.
The Substantives never vary; but, in order to indicate number, sex, etc., other words are added. Prepositions and Pronouns are added to the words to which they refer. The verb has only Present and Past tenses. When desirous of using the Future, one has to add another word to the Present.
Truly, at first sight, this tongue does not seem to sound well, but the critic Rask considered it to be the most euphonious of all national languages.
In testifying to the rapid progress made by Esperanto in the civilised world, it is assuredly important to be able to cite grammars in such little-known idioms, but another circumstance now presents itself to indicate this continued progress.
The long-expected International Scientific Review is now published, and should please all who have impatiently awaited it. Although appearing only at the end of February, it is styled the January number. Subscribers are requested to bear in mind that it contains a review of the scientific events of the preceding month.
Both exterior and contents are very good, and I hope that the devoted M. Fruictier will find many Collaborators and Subscribers, so that the Review may be thoroughly successful. Here are a few excerpts from the foreword.
"Of old it hath been said: Nothing new under the sun; we can now proclaim: Something new under the sun. Here is a proof, a palpable proof, that Esperanto grows, progresses, lives. The foundation of a scientific Review edited wholly in the international language is assuredly a most novel, significant event, full of promise. Past is the period of pure philanthropy; speedily comes the time of a practical, of a really useful employment of Esperanto.... We shall take steps to give translations of highly important works; we shall analyse those which, for lack of space, we cannot translate; finally, we shall report in brief the contents of the scientific organs of divers lands.... The world, which has mocked, which has called us Utopians, the world will then have to repent its folly. To worthless objections we can now submit facts; to the self-seeking offer immediate benefit at will; insignificant opponents we can refute by the celebrated names of our renowned Patrons and Collaborators. Such is our purpose. May our friends not permit our enterprise fruitlessly to perish. We have created a most powerful lever; like Archimedes, we now need but a fulcrum. Give us that fulcrum, and, together, we will raise the world."
Considering that, up to the present, scientific men cannot become informed of the new results of scientific research unless they know at least English, French, and German, it is quite obvious that this scientific organ can be very useful to them.
The Review is published monthly, contains 32 pages, and the subscription (6s.) can be sent to 41, Outer Temple, W.C.
This is the sixth number of The Esperantist, and, during the half-year of its existence, it has gained a world-wide circulation. At present more than thirty per cent. of the Subscribers dwell abroad. The Editor believes it would be most interesting if friends would kindly send short articles and letters about the daily life, memorable customs, etc., of their own lands. In an Esperanto Gazette, more than elsewhere, such interesting information should be expected; and, if our friends will do this, the inhabitants of divers lands will naturally learn much about their hitherto almost unknown neighbours. As a beginning, in this issue are the articles on Italian Conscription and First Impressions of the Houses of Parliament. If these prove interesting, let us hope that many similar items will be forthcoming. At present one often forgets that reading can instruct, as well as amuse. See the advertisement of one of our contemporaries: "This Gazette is only to amuse, not to instruct!!" If friends will coöperate, The Esperantist purposes to instruct and amuse.