New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-27
THE PRESENT CONDITION OF VOLAPUK.

A few DAYS since a Boston newspaper expressed
the opinion that the universal language Volapuk,
was of such character that people living IN
different countries could not understand each
Others writings. The newspaper added that it
was supported in this view by the best pathological
authority This ASSAULT upon Volapuk induces
Charles Il. Beale to take the floor. Mr. Beale
is secretary of the North American Volapuk AS
ISOLATION and an ardent admirer of the new
language In an elaborate letter addressed 10
The Boston Transcript he presents the reasons
for the faith in Volapul1 which is in him clearly
and with not little force.
Does such language meet great popular want
of all nations everywhere AS to this, Mr.. Beale
has no doubt whatever. "The needs of the present
generation he writes, shave called in no un.
certain tones for a system of international CON-
munication which shall be at once simple, sure
and scientific With the nations of the earth
bound together more closely than ever before
with our wonderful system of submarine cables;
with a vast merchant marine cleaving every wave,
is it to be wondered that the business man, the
traveller and the scholar should seek some more
ready means of communication with their fellow
workers in other countries than the slow and
aborious requirement of many existing languages,
which in themselves present sufficient difficulties
Many people, while admitting that such great
International want exists, hold that the best way
to meet it is for all those who are not acquainted
with the English tongue to acquire that staple &C
compiishment as soon as possible The English, they
argue, in the nature of things is bound TO be the
one great language of the future; why, then,
should not English, rather than Volapulz, be
generally studied? Mr.. Beales statement OF
what Voapul is and what it is not, is interesting.
lie explains that it is not intended to take the
place of existing tongues. 1t is intended, first.
as q means of written communication between
business men and others who wish to correspond
readily with people in foreign countries; second,
as means of spoken communication for travellers
in foreign countries third, as a means of communl-
cation for authors who desire to address the whole
world. Mr.. Beale passes from this explanation
of the aim OF Volapuk to a presentation of facts
going TO prove, as he thinks, that it is making
satisfactory progress 1t appears from the Year
Book, published by the French society for the
propagation of the new labOr-saving machine that
it has already enlisted the services OF 1000 books
and pamphlets and 600 societies; that more than
200 Students drawn from all parts of the world,
have received diplomas for proficiency in the
language that more than 500 business houses,
mostly in Europe, using it in their correspond
ence; that more than thirty magazines, represent
ing nineteen countries, are devoted to its advance
ment. But conceding that these statistics prove
that Volapuk is really making Roadway of a
certain sort, is it true that people living in diff
fercnt countries cannot understand each others
writings. The charge is grave one. If it is
sustained. Volapull may have future, but it
will be the future of unique curiosity and not
of a practical means to IA great end.
Mr. Ranlo no oh J,t-,r ,-ip
of test TO which Voapull was lately subjected.
Here is what he says this vital point:
An article was translated By DR. Boeger into
voapuk and sent TO leading stuaents OF the language
I'm some sixteen different countries with the request
that they translate il into their native language and
then send the translation to some Observation-Disclosures
with the request that he ptranslae into Voapuk,
original Volapuk translation, it could be Instantly
decided whether the language was Ineligible 70
more than proved the claims made by Volapuk en-
thusias,s. The last translatons differed in 30
material way from the first. and It was noticed that
in many the exact words of the first translation
were used in tho last II must be borne I'm mind
that these last TRANSACTIONS written by persons
OF different nGOnalities from The original transators
and hat the: hal never seen the Original translation
guage by another person from the>orgnal Volapuk
and that these translaiols were also of different
nationalitics from the original German translator
Mr.. Beale adds that he himself is in receipt Of
letters books and magazines in VOlapuk from
twenty-three countries, that they are all equally
Ineligible and that he reads them about as
readily as he does English. Mr. Beae writes
with much enthusiasm, and makes out good
prma face case for Volapul1 It is difficult to
read what he says and not believe that the
language has a good excuse for being and fair
chance of taking its place among the things that
have come to stay. 1t is true, all the same, that
a large number of level-headed people, who know
what they are talking about regard Volapuk rs
of no more practical to the world than the pigs
in clover. Now that Mr. Beale has spoken so
earnestly and at such length, we may expect a
| loud clap of thunder from the dssenters
c1o g Al. n