The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-05-01
International Lnngnnge.

IN view of the admitted importance OF an
international language, 10 is worth While ID
inQuTe somewhat into the accomplishments
of NOapuk, the only one in the long array Oh
similar inventions which ever came INTO
practical use. What is the status OF fOlapuk
today Has II fulfilled It's promise, is II lad,
or - 10 an efficient, active agent IN pracllcai
relations, proved capable aud worthy OF IN
creased adoption 90 meet the alleged need :
The excitement with regard ID NOlapuk sub
sided three years ago. mat was natural, for
the novelty OF the subject was over. IhOu-
sands who were moved 10 inquire about 10
were satisfied with careless examination OF
its nature and purpose, and proceeded 40
further i'm their Investigations. III offered
them no money, and in no oihrr way seemed
suited 90 their indy dua. needs. But enough
were found 10 SEE the value and importance
of NOlapuk 10 form themselves into national
association for the Use and propagation of tac
language ami subordinate state ASSOCIATIONS
were organized. These have been active
agencies IN NOiapuk's interests. nave neid
two annual conventions. the ltest at Cnau-
tauqua last August. The language has ieen
"A Boston Evening High school study for three
successive winters. There are numerous clubs
devoted 10 the study of NOapuk throughout
the states Three monthly magazines have
been publishcd in NOlapuh-One at Boston.
anO,hera ~. Louis, and the third at Portland.
Greg, while fourth Is about 10 De published
IN Chicago. \ series of popular lessons lh
weekly succession. was commenced last DC
tOber, and published c0ncurrentiv IN hume
rOus newspapers rom cape BieiOn 10 taIi-
iOrnia Inc outcome OF all this activity has
been The familiar ling OF many thousand
persons with the written language, ana very
recently in Chicago, Boston, Worcester and
Rochester. the clubs have commenced To- prdc-
lice speaking \Olapuh with special reference
10 its use during the Columbian Exposition.
This, very Briefly, is NOlapuk recent history
in America.
similarly the work has gone on throughout
the world. Tie Nolapuk Academy IS an M
teruati0na association. rs delegates last
met in convention during the Paris EXp0si-
ton. and used N0lapuk As the deliDerdtiYe
language al their sessions. Alexander John
Ellis was present and tr.umpnaDtly said:
THAT settles the matter; \Olapuh Is living,
spoken tongue
The statistics of N0lapuk, as presented by
lis prominent e&p7nents, are interesting and
AMAZING Not less than J,OO1OOO Of persons
have studied il, probably many more ttbe
estimate being based on asceftalned sales OF
over J,0o0, 900 grammars). More than 200
business houses use the language in their In
ternatonal correspondence and account keep
in. The photography OF its literature in-
clndes several hundred titles, embracing
every phase Of literature which is found IN
national tongues, history, romance, poetry,
religion, and science. Theatre PLAYS have
been written and performed in N0lapuk. The
language has been used for municipal and
public carrier announcements, aud II IS 10
uncommon sight in the marts Of commerce IN
European centres to see the sign, ~ o!4puA
spoken here
Amid all this growth OF Nolapuk there has
been much ridicule used toward IL. Probably
its chief antagonIsm has been aroused De-
cause of one radical miscOnception concern
ing it, 10 wit. that il assumes 10 replace The
languages of the earth. ManiiesLN 1t can
never do that; certainly it makes no Oacr 10
do that lis utmost proposal. lis utmost de-
sire is 10 act az handmade to al languages;
10 afford busy people the means OF quickly
attaining a power 10 hold direct intercourse
on exactly equal terms with all who have
similarly prepared themselves. lis office is
no more ambitious, no greater, and yet Is
great Volapuk offers 10 equip man IN
few weeks study with power 10 be inteili-
lahle 20 and compchendins al nj mankind
who chose 10 likewise study Nolapuk. Ii has
patiently demonstrated its ability 10 do this,
and within no inconsiderable range las won