It is rather our purpose to introduce some inducements to the study of this remarkable language. We say remarkable, because, no matter who the student—be he Russian, be he Spaniard—the language fully satisfies him as to its syntax, vocabulary, and uniformity. This fact alone assures Esperanto of the great future which its present state leads the investigator to expect.
But, to return to our main purpose: "Why should our reader join our ranks?" It were well to first inquire what especial pursuits be his. If a scientist, then he must find his world woefully hemmed in by the almost impassable barriers of Babel. Owing to the fact that, year by year, more and more invaluable works are appearing in, say, the to-us-almost-unlearnable Russian, he may be spending precious years on a theory which has long been exploded in the literature of that vast, but little known, land. Yet, had our friend become an Esperantist, and a subscriber to the invaluable Scienca Revuo, he would have saved his time.
But, should our reader not soar so high as science, let him become a regular correspondent with some charming foreign fellow-student, or let him subscribe to some of the many International Gazettes, and he will find his ideas wonderfully broadened by the more exhaustive view he will be able to form of the world in general. Even such apparent trifles as picture postcards, postage stamps, and the like are vastly instructive, and many a volume of enthralling interest might be written about an Esperantist’s postcard album.
But it is to the pocket, alas! that all things must appeal before they can truly achieve success. Let our business man of the Twentieth Century but realise that an international language brings an international market, and he will at once become an Esperantist, and reap the benefit. There is no particle of doubt that a commercial traveller knowing Esperanto possesses many advantages over his competitors.
The writer hopes that these few remarks may serve as an introduction to Esperanto for many future fellow-students. In conclusion, he must candidly confess that, during the two years he has interested himself (somewhat excessively it may be) in the matter, he has had the pleasure of corresponding with thousands of persons, from China to Peru, and of visiting hundreds abroad. He has derived an almost incredible amount of pleasure and information from the one fact that he is, what all should soon be, an Esperantist.
FOOTNOTE:
[5] See Cover for list of principal works.