The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-16

That lido. the revised version Of Espe-
ranto, is worthless and its cause lost
Is the opinion OF Prof. G. Macloskie. for
merly Of Princeton University, who is
attending the convention here. He be-
lieves that Esperanto is the true uni
versal language. He took issue with
Idoists in an interview for The Wash
ington Herald last night.
As one who has favored reform OF the
international language and was led by
my friend NJ Conturat author Of lido.
to put my hand 10 the latch. want 10
explain why I found IT impossible 10
enter in" says Prof Macloskie. II was
deeply convinced that a competitor with
esperanto must and ought to be a fail
ure. So far as lido IS concerned, II is
practically out Of business II has never
had a general congress. and is publish
ing very little literature.
It's chief work has been OF late the
endeavor 10 prevent people being Espe-
rantists'' he continued MY friend N.
Conturat should now return TO our ranks
and harmonic with our own love OF re-
form. am very sure that he and the
other Idoists viii be treated fairly and
generously.
As Good nS Latin"
'On the merits OF the case. I regard
lido as far inferior 10 Esperanto. Il has
degraded Itself by regulating the works
OF the accusative case and the argument
OF the adjective with TO the level OF
English and German. which cannot serve
internationally. Esperanto. however. is
classical language. as good as Latin
would be II we could clear II from all
Irregularities and puzzles OF grammar
and symmetry.
Having no Infection, Il has come TO
be language o. short yowels. Ike the
prattie OF children. This renders II short
but pulling and unfit for clear express
sion Of thought. Lincoln's speech. which
has been printed. took thirty-eight lines
in its English form; the lido translation
was shorter-only thirty-seven lines. I
am informed that the Sioux language Is
much more condensed-about twenty-sev-
en- lnes-whereas the Esperanto render
ms occupied forty-two lines.
Shortening usually means obscurity.
SO that we are unable 10 keep I'D with
the meaning and 20 nll the gaps in the
words. Esperanto Is not prolix. Vol
! lienne's translation Of the "Aenid" OF
/ Virgil succeeds IN following the thoughts
| OF the classical poet line for line through
the twelve books Of the great Latin poet:
yet the Esperanto lines are shorter than
the Latin lines As an old teacher who
was leading boys into the mysteries OF
Virgil several years before Esperanto
was born. and after reading all OF Vol
/ lienne's Esperanto Aenid during re-
cent winter. I can bear testimony 10 the
value OF Esperanto Cor such a test.
Calls lido Lost Cause.
Your Idoist correspondent is remark
able for inviting reference 70 either OF
two very important subjects. First. he
says nothing OF the success or nonsuc.
cess OF lido; his position Is. in fact. pa
/ thctic. and 81 Is we'll that the public
knows that this cause is as good as lost.
/ Tho other point is the one-tinae arEumen,
that the easiest language Is the best. This
was actually published at the initiation
OF lido. do not regard It as easier than
Esperanto. II I thought Il easier. J
| sHOuIu sun Sldnu oy esperanto as tnt
! winning cause and as having a grea;
future before II. Certainly II Is easy
enough FOR me and for everybody.
usually spend less than an hour IN teach
ing its grammar TO any friend. As 10 Us
words, they are nearly all known 10 YOU
before you begin the Language
In my judgment, the easiest is not al
ways the best in a matter OF this sort
The insoluble puzzle in all these Ian
guages lies in the adjective pronouns-
small words called correlatlves. which
abound in every page and cannot b
{ avoided"