Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-01-20
MIR. COOPER'S LECTURE
ON ESPERANTO

The following is an abstract OF
Mr.. Cooper's lecture on Esperanto
delivered in this city last week.
The inventor of Esperanto is DR..
Zamenhof, of Poland, modest, un-
assuming, scholarly man, who is
highly esteemed by all Esperantists
and whose address delivered at the
International Congress of Esperant-
lists at Washington, D. c., last Aug
ust is in itself sufficient to awaken
an interest in the language and to
convince every one of the Importance
of acquiring it.
The new language is simple in
structure and syntax. Everything Is
thoroughly systematized and the
rules have no exceptions. The spell
ing is strictly phonetls, each letter
sound being represented by one and
the same letter.
None of the other languages now
existing can ever become universal
In the first place, they are all too
difficult to be mastered without much
study and practice. Besides, there Is
too much rivalry among the nations
to make 1t possible for them to agree
on any national tongue for univer-
sal usage. Esperanto, language be-
longing to no particular nation and
vet to all nations, is the only one
which can become truly information
al. There have, indeed, been recent
attempts to invent universal Ian
guages (such as lido an Ro) purport-
ing to be improvements on Esperan-
to; but the later has now so many
, adherents and is spreading so rapid
} ly that It will doubtless hold Its
ground, and what slight changes may
eventually be brought about, will be
: made only with the consent and ap
Y proval Of committee Of Esperant
e lists appointed for the purpose.
There is no country in the worlt
e where the influence Of Esperanto i
4 not felt. There are about 70 per
n iodicals in the language 1900 vol
umes, to which new ones are con
stantly being added. Not only ar
e many important works in differen
languages translated into Esperanto
n but much of the very interesting III
l. erature of the Orient and OF the les
It prominent European languages ca
d be resd only in Esperanto; II one
j. not familiar with the origina
There are four million Esperantist
l. scattered all over the world and tn
l. number is steadily increasing. Th
d American Esperanto association ha
IS 5000 members and at least 5000
d persons in this country are studyin
1t the language.
re Esperanto is already OF great In
1t portance commercially, and In Lol
1t don, Paris and Berlin weekly exam
ve nations in Esperanto are held II
at stenographers to be employed In TO
z eign correspondence. 1t will not
IN long before consuls and others en-
n ployed in the diplomatic service wi
,g be required to pass similar examin
tions.
In Germany has recently voted $25
ms 900 for introducing the study OF r
er peranto into the schools. Franc
ge not to be behind her rivals, immet
be ately voted like sum for the pu
* pose. Thereupon Great Brita
raised 100000 for introducing {
N. study into the schools OF the Unit
Kingdom and like sum will
q, forthcoming from the coloni'
MARYLAND has passed law perm
ting the introduction OF Esperan
ICE into her schools, and other stat
Ia are contemplating the enactment
ne similar laws. The time IS not d
lot tant when instruction in this Ia
III guage will be demanded in eve
ns- school in the land, certainly In eve
III high school and university.
'Ie Esperanto, too, Is bound to beco
sus the language Of every Information
er- congress. whether scientific, polite
'ou commercial, industrial or phili
a thropic. In some cities, nota
os Dresden, Germany, even the poll
Gu men have a knowledge OF the i
III guage. Finally, Esperanto VIII
I'M one Of the most potent factors
'ne bringing about universal peace an
sra' feeling of true brotherhood amt
ON, . 80.