The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-10
A LANGUAGE FOR ALL.
A WONDERFUL INVENTION OF <NoB-
soURE ITALIAN PHILoLoGIsT.
me Romantic Story OF the Discovery OF Pc
duoohi by New York Physician Trav-
elling In Italy.

This Ia the story OF n quaint bngual
eonccIt, imported in embryo from Italy
b. an American. and developed by him
into q system OF oral and written COM
municauon which he holds as basis
OF solution for the great problem. which
yolapuk has failed 10 solve. OF a univer-
sal or international language language
nat shall meet the ideal Of being easily
sttainable. having but few sounds, and
only those common 30 every human tom
sue. and with a written form that shall
be already familiar 70 every civilized
race on earth.
New York physician was ascending
tie broad marble steps OF the Cathe-
drai al Milan, one morning two years
go. when a stability dressed man accost-
Cd him. In the purest Tuscan, whose
Dquld tones Tell upon the ear In grateful
contrast TO the harsh 1argon of the
Nuancse, he asked the American II he
wished % employ a guide.
1T is not my business, SIR" ne hasten
"a 10 add. as though ashamed Of his
position but ] am compelled to adopt
bis means OF earning my bread. Never
the.ess. you will find me a competent
guide sir. for the Cathedral and / are
old friends. For months i have been a
student OF its wondrous beauties. Che
sguOrs me creda-"
i don't understand Italian too we'll"
began tho American, when he was in
terruptcd by the other. who said in good
English.
Then We VIII speak your own Ian
fdage, sir; it IS all the same TO me-
lie was engaged at once. In the tour
OF the Cathedral that followed. the guide
proved himself TO be a man OF culture
sld learning.
"Tell me-" said the American. as they
came forth again into the sunlight, "hoW
SC happens that man Of your attain
mcnts does not get on better I'm the world.
Have YOU any bad habit that interferes
with your success in lifeY'
eyes. sir; 1 have was the unhestat-
ing answer. Il am a confirmed philolo-
gst, and for q poor man you know
Shat IS fatal"
II can hardly agree with you there"
returned the American, FOR l am addict
"a 20 philology myself, and don't believe
that I am any worse for g."
"A philologist" exclaimed the guide.
rs his eyes M up with a sudden glow.
"Ah. ! understand" he said presently,
with a tinge Of melancholy in his voice;
"phnology IS with you a diversion; with
me q IS q ruling passion. We have
proverb az Florence which says: non &c
fortuna per gli uomim di lettere 0here
IS no happiness for men Of letters) How
well know its TRUTH"
Come and take colazione with me-"
said the American, land tell me some
thing OF your life and work. am deeply
Interested in the subject that IS dear TO
YOU"
They went 10 the Cafe Bin, in the
Galleria Vittoria Emanuee, and over the
deieuner that followed. the INDECENT
uhilomath unfolded 20 his host an idea
for a universal language which he had
conceived a few weeks before. lie had
given II only a few hours Of systematic
thought, sufficient, however as he said
TO confirm his faith in fits feasibility. In
q nutshell. his idea was 10 construct a
language from the diatonic scale or the
seven vocal sounds Of music, namely,
do. re, mi. IA, sol. Ia, 81 In committing
the words 10 writing or print he would
make use Of none Of the established
texts, but employ the music staff plac-
ilg each sound where IT belongs accord
irg 10 the universal system governing
the music score. With pencil and paper
be illustrated his idea, writing out the
conjunction Of the verb 10 make, which,
for example, would be ia. Then he point
"a out the advantages OF language con-
sfructed upon this plan. 1t would con-
tain only seven sounds, its written form
would be one already in use among civiliz-
cd people. and # could be written with
the rapidity OF shorthand; in fact, phono-
graphy would be its only written FORM
a .f.sr kgf no
ga IN half an hour The doctor was
greatly impressed with the altogether
new and unique notion. TO his mind it
suggested boundless possibilities, and he
advised the Italian, whose name was
Silvio Peducchi to pursue the develop
ment Of II. After leaving Milan and con-
uuuiug his travels in Italy, he wrote TO
Tcducchi. again urging him by all means
not % permit the idea TO perish.
on return Of post the doctor was sur
prIscd with a bulky package OF manu-
script. embodying a lengthy exposition
of the proposed new language, and
vocabulary of some two hundred common
words which Peducchi had formed from
the seven particles OF the diatonic scale.
he said be had accomplished the entire
work I'm a single night. Enclosed was
letter, written I'm italian, Of which the
following Is "a translation:
CORA AMIGO:
] send you in the accompany
irg documents the last but shattered
hope Of a blighted life. After returning
So my miserable lodging from the pleas
amt cafe. where we had colaZiOne, l
falt kndled within me the fire Of a new
ambition-inspired by the faith you ex-
pressed I'm my plan for a universal Ian
ruage. and your advice TO nurture that
child OF my brain. / resolved TO work
night and day, until between the covers
Of a hook I had presented TO mankind
the realization Of my ideal But fate
had decreed otherwise. The seeds OF
consumption implanted by my ancestors
are already bearing their fatal fruit, and
are long the Angel OF Death will reap
his harvest a few hours OF unbroken
toll cause me 90 cough as though my
fran body were a kennel OF baytng ours
cannot go on with the work. ! can
Give YOU no stronger token Of my esteem
fban 10 send these documents. OF which
Won may make such use as you see TT.
1f lis nv earnest desire that the glorious
c.qception Of which they are the germ
nav be carried TO perfect fruition. With
extreme gratitude and highest esteem,
I'm sir. yours very sincerely WIN
rafm grasp OF the hand.
SILVIO PEDUCCHI
p ST you deem me worthy, should
Dr. exceedingly grateful for the receipt
nom you Of such a sum as you misht
ts pleased TO send.
He-e was d plight for physician
travelling for his health. Charged by
dying man 10 undertake the develop