The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-01-11
AIDED BY CONFLICT
WAR HAS CAUSED THE SPREAD
OF ESPERANTO.
Instead Of injurlng II, New Interest
Has Been Aroused In the Language
Spreading Rapidly in the
Far East.

At the outbreak OF the European
war Esperantists everywhere feared
that the struggle would have an ex-
tremely unfavorable effect upon tho
progress of the international Language.
Great was our astOnishment therefore
when 1t gradually became apparent
that just the opposite was true re-
marks the writer OF letter to ths
editor Of the New York Sun. The first
important event that took place was
the official recognition that Esperanto
received from the government OF Ger
many, which published an Esperanto
translation of the original documents
relating TO the war ana caused IL 10
be widely distributed among Esper;ln-
lists in the neutral countries. THIS
was followed by series OF publlca-
tlons In Esperanto that history VIII
show formed an important part OF Ger
many's campaign of publicity In neu-
tral lands. A few months later the Es-
pcrantlsts In France organized so
ciety devoted TO spreading an exact
knowledge Of the French side OF the
world war.
In all Of the warning nations ana IN
the few countries stlll at peace there
has awakened n new interest In Es-
pcrnntO, and II is now being studied
by many who were not even aware OF
It's existence few years ago. This
is particularly true OF the soldiers OF
all the countries mt war, prisoners OF
war and those intcrned In neutral
lands. In the intenment camp NJ
Uarderwyk, Holland, for Instance
where there are several thousand Bel
| gians and French soldiers, hundreds
have already begun to learn Esperanto.
| and this is also true OF another lmpor-
tant camp at Zeist, where Esperanto
Is said TO be spreading like wildiire.
But the most interesting reports OF
our progress come from the far East
There is now large and fourlshlng
society In China that has made thou
sands of Converts" TO Esperanto; ana
Japan Is much better represented than
in former years. This Is remarkable
In view of the dissimilarity between
Esperanto and the language OF the
Orient. | translate paragraph from
letter received some time ago from
a friend In that quarter of the globe.
Mai. II. l.. Bush, who Is stationed at
Manila. Major Bush writes: Last
May and June travelled through
japan and saw many beautiful places
and beheld many wonderful scenes; IL
is n beautiful anC interesting country.
In Tokyo | met many fellow ESpcrnn-
lists, who were very hosptable ana
who did everything they could to make
my visit happy one. They guided
me and treated me ms n guest, ana |
made some very good friends" Major
Bush now goes on to say that the Jap
oncse Esperantists hOnorcd him high
" MS nm American soldier and that IN
recognition Of this at meeting OF tn.
Jarnnese Esperanto association he
was presented with nm ancient Japan
csc sword. He continues: Esperanto
was n great help 20 me In Tokyo; II
gained me friends, through whose
kindness was enabled to see much
more than | could possibly have seen
by myself. have always believed In
the practical utility of the language
and am now certain OF IT,"
A language whose advocates are as
widespread MS the Esperantists mus
necessarily possess great commercial
advantages. Business men In Ger
many, France, Russia and England
are now making active use of II, anc
will increasingly continue TO do so
A significant indication of the tendency
Of the times is afforded by the recent
decision of the common council, Guild
hall, London. that whereas, Englnnt
and her allies are preparing to act II
concert in relation TO future CONNER
cial affairs, II Is highly desirable thai
one language be accepted ms CONNER
cial language. to be taught In nj
schools" And the resolution, whicl
Ihave freely translated from an Esper
anto version. goes on TO recommend
for consideration the languages of th'
allies, English, French and Russial
and Esperanto.