Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-02-22
FRENCH SCIENTIST
AND MANUFACTURER
Advocates Greater Recognition of the
International Language u. S. Gov
eminent Might Lead in Thus
Advocating World Democ-
racY.

1
M. Ernest Archdeacon, we'll known
scientist and manufacturer of France
wrote to the recent Congress of Els
perantists in Philadelphia in which he
advocates greater recognition and use
| of the International Language by the
American Government.
Let me preface my pleas by citing
a few internationally well-known
writers.
"Montesquieu Q72S) 'Communica-
ton between the peoples of the world
is now so great that they certainly re-
quire one common language
"Tolstoi $4,000 in a letter referring
to Esperanto writes: Its east is so
great that, receiving six years ago a
grammar, dictionary and some Esper-
anto exercises, succeeded after two
short hours, if not to speak, at least to
read the language. The efforts which
any European, giving some time to the
study of Esperanto are so little and
the results obtainable are so great
that one cannot refuse to make the
attempt
"In the United States you have
about 120 societies regularly regis
tero 1, and very many independent Es-
perantists. l cite these figures to
show how an important center already
exists for the propagation of the in
ternational language among the war
ring nations. To this / must add, at
the risk of repeating, the undeniable
though not generally understood fact
that one, after only few hours of
study, can easily read the language,
and after tw weeks to speak it
sufficiently we'll to be unerringly un-
derstood.
1.-The ship captains of all countries
use to great advantage the crude and
primitive system of sea-talk known
as the international Signal Code If
fairly presented it is scarcely credible
that the nations of the world would
not at once realize the unreasonable
benefits from the use of Esperanto
the practical and wonderfully simple
instrument for direct conversation.
1.-THE practically of Esperanto is not
merely a thing yet to be proven, but
has been completely and convincingly
shown in nine international con-
crosses wherein thousands of Es-
perantists of many nations have gath
cred Therefore, l repeat in conclu-
sion, that it is quite a fitting oppor-
tunity for progressive America to urge
upon the world the value of that in
strument for civilization-Espera
Therefore, l believe instruction in Es-
peranto should be made obligatory in
the United States and the nation
should use the prestige which il has
with the allies to urge that they re-
quire in their respective schools
armies, etc, the same duty.
"Already many documents have
come to us from all countries show
ing that the study of Esperanto j:
quite common among the soldiers il
! the trenches. prisoners of war and in
termed soldiers, and they have pu
their knowledge to good use, too, II
many and many a case.
THE United States is now con
structing a gigantic airship feet which
will soon display the Star-Spangle6
Banner throughout the whole world
and after the war these numberless
American aeroplanes viii fly across
whole continents-from one city t6
another in the space of a few hours
There, also, on account of the divers
ity of tongues, Esperanto will be fol
the United States a thing of absolute
necessity