Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-27
VOlapuk.

NOlapuk.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
In the summer of 1887, among other more or
less important items of European news, ap-
peared the announcement that great and en-
thusiastic convention was being held in Munich.
1t was gathering Of the advocates and adher-
ents of a new international language-a uni
versal' language as it was unfortunately called
by some. This new medium of communication
as many learned for the first time, was STYLED
"Volapuk," or "wOrld language" and was
made up of root words derived from all the
principal modern languages. 1t already had
been received with such favor that it numbered
nearly million people, in all parts of the world,
among its adherents.
The first impulse on the part Of every one was
to smile at the absurdity Of adding another to
the list Of languages in use, when the tendency
OF the age seemed to be rather to diminish the
number by the disuse OF those least impor tant
Moreover, history had taught us that every
language was the result of growth: that each
one had been built up by the varying exigencies
Of human life through the development of civ
ilizatiOn; that its use had extended with the in
creasing power Of the nation whose thought it
bad unfolded. and we thought how unspeakably
poor and weak must an artificial invention of
this sort be in comparison with any one of the
mighty vehicles of thought which modern or
ancient culture has built up for its expression
Such was our feeling here in America when
popular attention was first attracted to the sub
ect Our antipathv was increased by the idea
so widely disseminated thai this 'universal''
language was intended to supcrsede all other
languages now in use, an idea perhaps origi-
mated by some Over-zeaious Volapukist and
eagerly seized upon by those who wished to
show the absurdity Of the project. But as tho
advocates OF Nolapak presented its claims to
our public they assured us that it was designed
not to supersede, but to supplement existing
tongues; that il was intended only as a medium
Of communication between those who spoke
habitually only languages unknown to the other.
We were assured that it possessed none of tho
formidable difficulties of pronunciation and in
tricacies Of infection and construction found in
all existing languages. and could be learned
in small fraction Of the time required for the
study Of the easiest existing national tongue.
All at once the public curiosity was aroused.
Lectures on the subject, especially those given
by Col Sprague OF this city, were eagerly at
tended, manuals of VOlapuk instruction were
for sale everywhere for a few weeks or so every
body was talking about it, and then some other
novelty came to the front to absorb the public
attention. Volapuk literature gradually disap-
peared from the windows of the booksellers
and it was generally believed that the fad
was at an end. 1t had been like the blazing out
OF meteor and seemed to disappear ~ quickly
from view.
Nevertheless, although the artificial enthusi-
asm died away. the practical use of vOlapuk has
steadily increased and the number of its I'D.
herents has constantly grown. If its object and
value could be thoroughly understood its.use
would be much more widely extended
Volapuk, a. it has stood for the last Ave
years, ID . complete, adequate medium Of ex-
preston for all the varying phases Of human
thought, as its abundant literature has 80 thor
oughly demonstrated. Its simplicity and reg
ularity detract in no way from its practical
| value. Nor Is there any foundation for the
convention which accepts Vohpuk a. o syno-
nym for harsA and unmeaning jargon. AZ q
spoken language it 10 not unmel0dious in com
parison with other unfamiliar tongues. Ever
| in poetry and lofty description it has disclosed
| wondrous possibilities.
The universal adoption Of such medium o.
International intercourse, like the telegraph
the postal union and the speedy interconti
| mental communication afforded by tho ocear
| steamers Of the present day, would do much
10 bind the nations in closer relations Of com
meres and friendship, and by bringing about ,
better understanding between the different PEG
pie Of the earth voald greatly help in tn
realization Of 10 dream Of an unbrokcn, uni
vsrsal peace. =. D. FsxxcH.