The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-12-19
SPANISH
And Portuguese Should Be
Taught in Order to Be
Ready for Increase.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Portu-
guese, as well as Spanish, should be
taught in the schools. OF the United
States, in order to prepare for in
creased trade relations with Latin
America after the opening of the PAN
ANA canal. declares William A. Reid,
an investigator of the Latin-Amtrican
conditions, in special report to the
Southern Commercial Congress. Por-
tuguese for Brazil and Spanish for
the other countries of South Africa
are described as the key to CONNER
cial success on the southern CONT
nent. with these two languages
says Mr.. Reed, THE young American
business man will be in position to
transact business with twenty Re-
publics Of South America" In other
words, he will be able I'd take advant-
age Of the Astounding commercial OPP
portunities of the next few years.
Mr.. Reid points out that even now
many North American business
houses. are greatly handicapped by
lack of men with working knowl-
edge of Spanish to handle correspond
ence from the. Latin countries The
first essential Of profitable foreign
relations of any kind Is mutual I'M
derstandlng, and THAT involves knowl-
edge Of the language. TO establish
successful business relations with
people we must know something of
their language, customs, manners, and
life" If the business men of the
United States are not equipped lin
guistlcally for commerce with Latin
American countries, they can not ex-
pect to secure their share of the trade
that will result from the opening of
the Panama canal.
The Latin-American has been quick
to learn the value Of acquiring the
foreigners language. English is
taught in many OF the puAlic schools
of South America, and in some of
them II is obligatory. "on being in
troduced to the president of the Per-
vivian states says Mr.. Reid, Il was
surprised when / heard him address
me in English; in Bolivia leading
cabinet officer spoke TO me in perfect
English; meeting a Brizilian con-
gresham at Rio noted his excellent
command of the English language;
likewise in all the Latin Republics
tho English language is frequently
heard" This alertness il OCCURRING
foreign tongue is one ,nalcation of the
culture and progress that prevail
over the southern continent.
That educators are awake to the
Importance of commercial Portuguese
and Spanish as school subjects is APP
parent from various items of infor-
nation received at the United States
Bureau of Education. In the Con-
tinuation school at Boston both Por-
tuguese. and Spanish, 1t is announced,
are to be taught this year. Spanish
Is already taught in many colleges
and universities in the United States,
and recently emphasis has been laid
upon the requirement of the lang
-uage for commercial use.
Another indication Of the growing
interest in Latln-Amtrlcan affiaifs-
this time cultural rather than com
merciaI-is the formation at Wash
ington of the spanish-Amerlcan Ath-
enaeum for the promotion of the
study Of Spanish, an undertaking in
which men and women of information
Ial prominence are active, This asso-
citation intends, to issue aGjournal
both in English and in Spanish.