The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-10-06
DO YOU KNOW
ANIO3
NEW LANGUAGE GROWING PoPu.
LAR IT'S ADOPTION URGED
AS THE UNIVERSAL
TONGUE.
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF
EsPERANTIsT TO MEET AT
JAMESTOWN.
(By silas E. snyder.)

/ Know EbpeTdnlO!
If not you probably wifi some day,
for it is the instrument with which
scientists propose to batter down the
barriers Of nations that all men may
speak one tongue and be brothers.
It is worth while to give Esperanto
serious consideration before 1t is alb
solutely forced upon US, for 1t is no
fad, but a practical linguistic struc-
/ ture erected according to scientific
principles and, upon the true, funda'
mental laws of grammar. 1t must not
be COMPOUNDED with "voiapuk," which
never was practicable and which
passed into deserved oblivion after
a brief existence as a fad
Freshmen entering college this fall
may find Esperanto included in the
curriculum, before they matriculate
as senior and II this be realized, the
language will be taught in the pri.
mary grades Of the public schools as
is now being done in Switzerland. In
American colleges there are already
more than fifty Esperanto clubs made
up OF students and members of the
faculty, while all educational socte-
ties ana journals are devoting thought
and space to it. In Europe hundreds
OF thousands Of people speak, write
and read it and at the Esperanto
Congress held at Boulogue-sur.Mer in
1905, three thousand persons repre-
senting fifteen countries attended.
Even Japan has taken 1t up and its
Esperanto Association has Undertaken
a propaganda under the direction of
committee composed of three edi'
tors, professors from the imperial I'M
iyersities and high schools, and the
secretary of the Japan Foreign Trade
Association, with the result that a
grammar in Japanese character is
ready for the press.
BY special order the officers. of the
French army are studying the new
language and 1t is proposed that ev'
cry government officer Of the French
nation, whether of the army, navy,
diplomatic service Of other branch,
shall be able to read, write and speak
In Esperanto, as the government sees
in 1t the international medium Of off,
cial intercourse which is soon to be-
come universal.
! Canada, England, Italy, Spain, Rus
STA, swenden, Belgium, Roumania' Al
geria, and India, all have long ago
taken up the study and the most en-
thusiastlc Esperantists are the men
who have international business to
transact. In Germany trade workers
such as photographers and printers
have adopted the language officially
and It will be used in their congresses
and conventions.
In Spain the army has adopted 1t
and at valence a regular school is
kept for instruction Of military Off
GERS, while at Geneva, in Switzerland
thousands OF the population speak
Esperanto and delight in 1t.
Bohemia has sent an Esperanto sec
ton to the Earl's Court Exhibition in
London that has attracted great at
tention in England and the English
press is devoting columns Of space to
( its discussion and no word is said ex'
cent in favor Of 1t as the greatest
medium yet discovered for the promo
ton of the worlds fraternity.
At this rate we may soon look for
an Esperanto literature, for in &c
heva they are singing songs and act
ing dramas In the new tongue and an
Esperanto publication tells its devo'
tees weekly the news of the world
and the progress OF the language
while Freemasons, Christian Endeav'
orers and other societies of world
wide scope advocate its study for use
in the international congresses and
correspondence.
1t is, therefore, not to be thought
of that great educational exposition
like that to be held on the shores OF
Hampton Roads, near the city Of Nor
folk, Va, in 1907, in celebration OF the
three hundredth anniversary OF the
settlement of jamestown, should over
look the development and propagation
OF this. wonderful language, and, to
the end that Esperanto may be OFF,
ciaIIy introduced to the American
people the Department Of Congresses
and Special Events have invited the
Espenntists of the world to meet IN
international congress at the James
town Exposition, They will also be
invited to make an exhibit and will
he given special day and permission
TO draw up programme to suit
themselves. If the very bands play
in strange tongue on that day you'll
I,ro,,, Ito ISonaranfn
The study of the creation of Esper