New Britain herald., 1918-06-22
STUDY OF RUSSIAN
 TONGUE ADVOCATED
Opportunities Await Student-
 Places in Commercial Field

Washington, June 22.--"Why not learn Russian? 1t isn't nearly so diff ficult as is popularly supposed, and Am erica needs for the war today and the commercial reconstruction after the war a large number of intelligent citizens who can use the language"
 Question. suggestion, and patriotic reasoning are made on the reSpOnSi- bility of the United States Bureau of Education. on the staff of which Dr. Glen Levin SWiggett has been con- ductine expert investigation into the possibility of cquipping larger num- bcrs of Americans with languages and information that will fit them to sustain and rebuild the fabric of in ternational relationship in the future.
 Dr. SWiggett says that all the as- sumption of difficulty comes because inquirers are normally confronted with the Russian alphabet and it's Greek letters the Russian grammar and it's many lenses, and all the par aphernalia of scholastic lore. He in inmates that the absorption of this has been altogether too difficult for the Russians themselves, because he cites the fact that hardly four per cent of the Russian millions ever got to the point of going to school to learn their own language. They can all talk it. though.
 proper method of acquiring the language as pr. Swiggett outlines it, involves only the simple process of learning a few of the simpler words and phrases that mainstay daily in- tercourse and thereafter absorbing some more. By dint of practice and a sound memory, which he considers no more difficult of exercise than is the American ear for the latest popu- lar song, a modest Russian voca bu- lary can be acquired. Then if it is desired. the books can be consulted and an ambitious young American can do more with the language than many Russians. Afterward he would have a career.
 Yet in spite of this ease, pr. Swig- gett finds that only 10 educational in stitutions in the United States at- tempt to teach Russian, and only three of those have courses that are designed to qualify students in the spoken language.
 How different the story reads for England,' he says. "Of 12 univer- sites reported, nine teach Russian. Of 41 schools of the type of Eton, TIuSDy, ana T1dIGOW, lU Ouer ana of 15 city school systems, all main- tain classes.
 "1 have no wish to make a, brief for the study of Russian for any pur- pose other than the establishment of ways and means whereby our nation may come to know modern Russia better, to create a way for the coming exchange of ideas, and wares that must be mutually helpful. That way lies through commerce, exercised on higher plane than the mere barter of products, for immediate and there fore selfish gain.
 T wish to call attention to Rus sia's great need for engineers Our technical schools should have their eyes on the man market of that coun- try. While related only indirectly to commerce, constructive engineering work is yet a great commercial as- set for a nation. and we should en- deavor to do our share in meeting Russias need in this respect.
 Let us now urge the immediate | study of Russian for commercial pur- poses. Our nation has a peculiar message for Russia, and possesses thereby a distinct advantage. This message can be delivered best by our l commercial representatives. We shall { need in consequence a large number of men prepared imme ediately to trade l with Russia on the unselfsh basis of fair exchange, and the spirit of , a l real conquistador of commerce.