The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-06

and measures
 The idea of a world language is, of course. not new. We have had Volapuk (1S7s), Esperanto (1SS7), and since then seven or more arti- ficially constructed tongues for world use. A simplified form of one of the languages now in wide use, with a minimum number or characters and each character standing always for the same sound. with no unnecessary inflec- tions and irregularities. so that it could be learned with a mini mum of effort, would naturally have great advantages over an artificially constructed language.
 It seems clear that the alpha bet adopted should conform to the following requirements: CD Every sound in the language should be capable of expression by it. CD Every letter or combination of let ters should have but one sound
  !. characters should not exceed the number now in use, so that they could be put on any typewriter or linotype machine. (3) The accent should be given in printed words. This could be done by some de- vice, as by leaving a slight space before the vowel of the accented syllable when it is not on the first syllable. 65) Words having the same sound with different mean- ing and often different spellings should be changed so as not to du plicate each other in sound. This should be done in the interest of clarity of oral speech, and might be accomplished by introducing an additional letter. (e) Double let ters should be replaced by single ones, as runer for runner, except when both letters of double con sonant or vowel are plainly heard in ordinary speech.
 Dr. Collins suggests other means of reform, but leaves the question in tentative form for professional re- formers to work over and thresh out
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 Asked how Parisians could show their appreciation, sheroic French gunners said: "No better way than to send us pinard, meaning wine. Breathe it not to the prohibitionists lover here"
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 President Wilson commuted the deatt sentences imposed on two American sol diers who slept on their post of duty in France. However, the next offenders may not escape the firing squad.
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 Racial antagonisms are bad enough but when they are aggravated by empty stomacls, it is no wonder that things have come to bad pass in the dual mon- archy.
 Women are requested to wear Made in-America" clothes. It isn't necessary for them to show their affection for France by demanding French gowns.
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 Just because so many people are con centrating their abuse on slackers does not necessarily mean that the street masher is going to be overlooked.
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 Now that the third Liberty Loan has gone over the top," American prima donnas and motion picture stars may return to their usual vacations.
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 At any rate, President Wilson has bought enough bonds to take care of him in his old age, if he doesn't care to dc newspaper or magazine work.
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 It is said that Mother Pickford never did like Son-in-Law Owen Moore, winch may account tc some extent for the rapid progress Doug" made.
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 Explosive pencils have been found al army cantonments. The explosive foun- tain pen is not always the work o1 Hun conspirators.
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 There are still a few unwary individ. uals in this country who bet on fixed horse races and then tell tale of woe to the police.
 Nashville has a newspaper war whicf is using up practically all the "poison gas" two editorial sanctums can manu- fracture.
 It really doesn't matter if the British Tommy" calls Ypres 'Wipers," so long as he defends it with the utmost gallan. try.
 Judging from the agility with whicf Clemenceau inspects trenches there is $ great deal of fight left in The Tiger.
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 Arthur Brisbane is one of the few newspaper men who can get his edi torials published on the front page.
 
 LIKE MT.UKE SAYS