THE SPREAD OF ESPERANTO

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 793, 16 April 1910, Page 15

THE SPREAD OF ESPERANTO

A CHAT COLONEL POLLEN. Colonel Pollen, President of the British Ji'sper.into Association, an English gentleman who takes a lively interest in ivew Zealand, b.v reason of his many relation's resident in tho Dominion, has returned from Christchureh, whero he has bc-on looking up his friends —liisporantists and otherwise. As soon as he arrived in Christohurch, he began to make inquiries about the progress of Esperanto in that city, and was informed that somo. interest was taken in it at one time, but it had died out. Colonel Polien retorted that it could not have-died out, as he received a lot of letters from Espsrantists .in Christehurch,- and part of his business was to look up his correspondents.

"As' a matter of fact," said the Colonel, "there is not the community of interest in New Zealand that I was led to expect. They do not get together as I.hod hoped, which is realjy one of the objectives of Esperanto. The distinction between classes, too, is. noticeable more than I supposed. -I was told "that, everywhere in the colonies everyone was a 'hail fellow well,mot'.until "he was proved otherwise. That is not 50.,.. One feminine won't have anything to do' with the other feminjno—umphl It is the same all the world over," said tho Colonel, smiling knowingly. . . Colonel Pollen addressed a meeting in Christchureh on Esperanto, at the conclnsion of which it was decided to form an Esperanto Society. He found the Enbbi of Christchureh, the Eev. J. A. Uernstein, a keen Esperantist, and there were, others who were v/01l- up in the language. "J would like ■to say . this, that I was delighted to find that they spoke Esperanto in the same-'tone, and using the same accents, as we, do in B'iropa.-and- America.. • Speaking ■ übont. America, reminds mo to mention that wo are holding" our next Esperanto Congress in Washington. Tho American Government . has' placed certain Government buildings at our disposal, and tho Chamber of Commerce has intimated that it will accord delegates an official welcome. No fewer than 42' distinct nationalities will be represented—all those of iiiirope, and delegates from Japan, India, Berma, tho Punjab, Persia, as well as other countries remote from western civilisation. I will be there—that is the resson that I hnvo to bo off bo soon, as I must got back to England to prepare for my American trip." While in Christchureh the Esperanto flag was flown from Warner's Hotel, where Colonel Pollen stayed. Out of idle curiosity he accosted a policeman in the Square, and asked him what the flag meant. "I don't know," replied tho constable, "but I hear tho hotel is chanoinj? hands;.perhaps it's something to do with that!" . -: . ■.:..' .

Colonel Pollen explained that the. design of. the , Esperanto ilag . was a Tjaso of green with a white square in tho upper pole corner, having a green star in the centre. The flag was. symbolical of hope-rthe etar of hope, and green tho colour of hope—hope that at one timo or other a perfect brotherhood shall exist between tho nations by means of education and an international language.