Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-11-02
NAME WITH A MEANING.


1t is a far cry from the rae be-
the fishing schooners off the
coast of Nova Scotia to the League
of Nations, yet there is n slight
connecting link that brings the two
together In an unusual way. This
link is the name of the American
boat, Esperanto" and the interna-
tional auxiliary language that would
such a long way toward making
the League of Nations a success.
1t is significant that at the time
the good ship Esperanto" was win
ming laurels for the American fisher
men and, incidentally, having its
name spread broadcast throughout
the world, the French foreign office
reminding the officers of the
League Of Nations that the usual
language of diplomacy has always
been French whereas communica-
tons coming from the secretariat OF
the league are written in English.
The French are Jealous of their lam
guage and desire that it be continued
as the medium OF communication be-
tween nations.
But why should the French be thus
benefited and honored by the use OF
their language in international az
fairs? Any nation that can lay
claim to the international language
has a decided advantage in trade and
commerce. English is much more
universally spoken than French. yet
there would be objections on the part
Of other governments If an attempt
we're made to make English the In
ternational language. There will be
the same objection no matter which
spoken language might be chosen.
The ideal thing, 1t must be admit
ted, would be to have a world language
that could readily be used by all ma
tons, yet to which nc nation could
lay claim as being its own. 1t must
necessarily be a language hat can be
readily understood and spoken by all
nationalities. yet be identified with no
nation in particular.
Esperanto, the name chosen for
the gallant ship that now holds the
honors of the fishing banks. is the
name of an international, auxiliary
Language that has been invented so
as to be adaptable to all nations. 1t
has stood the test of many years and
is today used at international con-
ventions and for communications to
foreign countries by societies and
business houses with great success. 1t
is as readily spoken and understood
in China and Japan as it is in Amer
lea, England or France. In the city
of Brussels, Belgium, the policemen
speak 1t so as to be ready to con-
verse with people from all nations.
Spain has many Esperanto societies,
and so has Germany, Russia and Po-
land. In fact. the inventor of the
language is a Pole.
Every year delegates from practi-
cally all the countries of the earth
assemble in a great international Es-
~peranto convention and no interpre'
tiers are needed to make the speakers
understood. All the work is done in
Esperanto and no matter what the
mother tongue of the different dele
gates may be, through the use of Es-
peranto the speakers are understood
by all present.
During the war much propaganda
was sent put into the world in Els
peranto. 1t could be sent to any OF
the continents of the earth and
would be sure of finding readers
among all nationalities.
Perhaps the simplest thing about
Esperanto is that 1t is so easily learn
ed. The great objection to French
becoming the international language
is the dimculty that other national
tiles find in pronouncing it. English
is recognized as one of the most difi'
cult languages to learn. The sane
reasons apply In reference to al
other spoken languages. But wheth'
err it be an American, a Frenchman, q
ISpaniard, a japanese, a Russian Of
any one else. with Esperanto thu
learning is easy and can be accom
Iplished within a few months.
1t should be borne in mind hat
is not proposed to make Esperant,
a universal language so hat all othe
languages would be done away with
Esperanto is intended to be only al
Auxiliary language so that with one
) mother tongue and Esperanto on
can understand anyone else. no mat
ter what mother tongue the othe
= person may speak.
How would Esperanto become s
generally known through the world
1t would be accomplished easil
t enough. Let the council of the Lea
que of Nations advise and even in
} sist that Esperanto shall be one @