MONTH BY MONTH.
Our readers will be pleased to learn that the Official exemption, of which we wrote last month, has arrived, and our good chief has returned to Warsaw, to continue his pro-Esperanto work instead of journeying to Mandchuria. Although we regret the circumstances which brought about this exemption from military service, and would wish that Dr. Zamenhof were stronger and in better health, we are exceedingly glad that he will be able to bring the true Seal of the Language to Boulogne in August, and will thus give the Congress that significance which we had begun to fear would be wanting.
Doubtless something will there be arranged concerning the long-considered International Committee. It seems to us that the foundation of such an organisation is absolutely necessary for authoritatively incorporating additional words for the growing needs of a living language. Of course, only those roots already in the Universala Vortaro are the present fundamental roots of the language, and all other words found to be necessary have been introduced by various Esperantists. Even the creator of the language himself has given his sanction to these latter words, not as law-giver, but merely as the Esperantist most competent to make the selection.
We all, therefore, await with impatience the foundation of this central Committee. Naturally it must be International; but we fear that our distant readers in America, Africa, Asia and Australia will have to send their suggestions in writing, direct to Dr. Zamenhof for his consideration, in order that they may be submitted to the Boulogne Congress, which will probably include members from almost all European countries. But maybe the members of our latest Group, that in the Indian town of Udipi, will not be able to make their voices heard there with their almost as young Group-members in Folkestone.
The foundation of a Group in the latter town is most gratifying, and makes us think once more of the summer trip to the Five Harbours, which we have now in mind.
Captain Capé, who will, of course, be present, has just given the Esperantists a neatly got-up and good translation of The First Chapter of my Reminicences (price 8d.), by François Coppée, the famous French author, who gives his warm approval to Esperanto. Also our well-known author, Sam Meyer, has just published in brochure form the humorous one-act comedy, "The Tureen" (16pp., 5d.).
But from Peru comes a most noteworthy technical book, The Resistance of Iron Columns, by Dr. Federico Villareal. It is a large 69-page work, in Spanish and Esperanto, which undoubtedly strengthens our Scientific Library.
Professor Cart, whose bulky Esperanta Ligilo is the Braille organ for the Blind, has just composed a versified translation of The Cleft Tower, an ancient French legend. This pleasing work is published by the Esperanto Society, Ltd., of which many of our readers are shareholders.
Owing to the frequent appearance of Esperanto booklets, published at one shilling or less by private individuals, we shall be much obliged if the authors will kindly send ten each of all such publications to us, with an invoice. We will gladly remit either in other books (according to value) or in postage stamps.
The attention of all Esperantists is called to the four pages of our cover. On these is to be found useful information, which will facilitate International Commerce. We indeed believe that in a few years it will be quite a usual thing to send a penny or two, say to Germany, for those pretty pins, which the Germans make better than we; and, of course, Germans, on their part, will conveniently send us their small orders for buns and odd cakes, which we make so much more solid than they!
Announcements in Esperanto magazines must bring International orders, and as soon as we freely adopt Esperanto for commercial purposes, all merchants will hasten to master the language. We have already received several capital business catalogues and brochures. But perhaps M. Jadeau’s letter[2] will have a peculiar interest for readers of The Esperantist, as it was in reply to an English inquirer concerning an advertisement on our cover. Such letters as these prove the value and suitability of Esperanto commercially.
Several correspondents have written from time to time, proposing that we should touch upon grammatical points which had apparently not received adequate attention in our text-books. Probably Dr. Lloyd’s new book will explain such. But, if not, we will endeavour to supply the necessary explanation in The Esperantist.
Regarding Dr. Lloyd’s The Esperanto Language Practically Considered and Described, we have already received many most appreciative criticisms; and one devoted fellow worker has even composed verses, which we print below.[3]
At the close of January last a most interesting lecture on Esperanto was delivered by our esteemed contributor, Mr. Paul Mathews, M.A., at the Pioneer Club, the Members of which listened with interest, and warmly applauded the speaker.
In conclusion, we will relate in a few words the amusements which we Members of the London Club employ at our Monday meetings at the Club Café, 5, Bishopsgate Street Within, E.C. We do so believing that the good progress already made among our experts proves that such amusements provide a more agreeable form of study than a simple (or complicated) text-book.
To begin with, we adopt the International custom of having something to eat, chatting the while either in Esperanto or in English. Then, about 7h. 5m., we cross the road to the rooms kindly lent us by the Remington Typewriter Company. There we sit in circles and join in various games. For example, one member of the circle gives a sentence, as the beginning of a story. His (or her) neighbour adds another, and so on. The result is indeed astounding, and we often threaten to spring one of these stories on our readers! Then, perhaps, one present goes out while we select some object, about which he asks questions until he discovers it. Of course, the questions and all words in these games must be spoken in Esperanto.
Another greatly appreciated game is "I packed in my trunk." In this case the first member of the circle says, maybe, "A hat"; his neighbour has to repeat a hat, and adds (maybe) a toothbrush. And the matter goes on, each person having to repeat all the things already stuffed into this mysterious trunk by his neighbours, and also to add something more, until, finally, one can no longer remember the long catalogue, and dolefully announces: "And the trunk was full!"
But the most instructive game is this: Mr. A. pronounces an English phrase, and asks another member to translate it into Esperanto—a capital wit-sharpener.
The Editor.
PIEDNOTOJ:
[2] Estimata Sinjoro.—Mi bone ricevis vian karton kaj mi rapidas por sendi al vi la demanditajn sciigojn. Plezure mi vendos detale miajn vinojn. Ĉu per kesteto enhavanta 12 botelojn, aŭ 24 duon-botelojn, ĉu per bareloj, ĉiu enhavanta de 55 ĝis 225 litrojn da blanka aŭ ruĝa vino.
La elspezoj pro la sendo kaj la impoŝto kunekun estas je:—
12 frankoj (9s. 8d.) por unu kesteto enhavanta 12 botelojn, aŭ 24 duon-botelojn da ŝaŭmantaj vinoj (ĉampana vino, k.t.p.).
9 frankoj (7s. 3d.) por unu kesteto enhavanta saman kvanton de ne ŝaŭmantaj vinoj, blankaj aŭ ruĝaj.
100 frankoj (£4) por unu barelo enhavanta 225 litrojn da blanka aŭ ruĝa vino.
Pro tiaj elspezoj kaj laŭ la kvalito, mi do povos sendi:—
Unu Kesteton da 12 boteloj po. 45 ĝis 60 frankoj (£1 16s. ĝis £2 8s.). Plie, por duon-boteloj 75 centimoj.
Unu Barelon da 55 litroj po. 110 frankoj (£4 8s.).
Ĉio afrankite de porto kaj de limpago en stacidomo de la adresato. Ĉiu detala sendo estas liverota por la pago.
Se vi povus sciigi al mi pri tio, mi tre deziras seriozajn makleristojn ĉe via lando por vendi detale miajn produktojn.
Estante preta por zorge plenumi viajn mendojn, mi prezentas al vi miajn plej korajn salutojn.—Jadeau.
[3]
Vagonare vojaĝante
(mi konfesos Esperante)
Lernolibron mi maltegis
Kaj ĝin tute mi tralegis.
Dum la longa vojaĝiro
Jen per ravo, jen per miro
Min profunde interesis
Tiu libro kaj impresis.
"Kia estas la libreto
De plezuro la fonteto?"
Diru al la demandanto—
"Pri la lingvo Esperanto.
"De Doktoro Lloyd verkita
Kaj je pencoj dek vendita.
Kaj enhavas ĝi resumon
Kiu disvastigas lumon.
"Sur sintakson, gramatikon,
Kvankam ĝi ne havas dikon.
Sed por Esperantistaro
Estas multuminparvaro!"
D.H.L. (9660).