ESPERANTO NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8361, 22 February 1913, Page 8

ESPERANTO NOTES.

AN INTERESTING EXPERIENCE. (By W. L. Edmanson. F.B.E.A.J ikmio three years ago, having heard of the new international language Jtsperanto, I took up the study, having not the slightest intention ot ever finding any use for it except from an educational standpoint; but lound in it a most interesting and absorbing subject tor spare evening study- tvhilc at school, i made several earnest attempts to mastei Latin and Trench, but while X could got through a translation without uiucn trouble, still the inability to use it practically was always a stumbling block, lor. try as I might, no Frenchman could ever follow more than tho most ordinary words which fell from my lips, but wiln Esperanto everything was different, and a new vista opened np. 1 iound that from, a small nook, I could acquire the correct and accepted pronunciation and grammar, and translate the Euglisn idem into the new language with certainty anti facility. But most pleasing was the delight in finding myself in Loudon, and a visit to Paris pending. Attending tho London Esperanto Club s meeting, there was no difficulty to find a Parisian from whom all imormation about Paris could be obtained, and was so obtained, for nobody could possibly bo kinder to another, than these Trench people were to us. They arranged, to meet us at tho Paris station, and lake care of us when there, which they did most thoroughly. it was about 8 o’clock in tho evening when wo arrived at tho Clare St. Lazaro, just getting dark and raining. We could speak to no one, and none to us, and we felt so completely lost that had it been possible, we would have taken the train back cn route for London; but during our reflections, I was touched upon iho shoulder by a young woman, the wile of the gentleman f had met at tho London Club. She had recognised my Esperanto badge, and greeted mo in Esperanto. Then 1 knew we were at home, and a load of anxiety was lifted from my shoulders. She took us to a hotel, explained our wants to the proprietor, and summoned a servant who “spoke English and understood American.” And such English; quite as bad as my Trench. After settling down, our new friend, talking fluently in Esperanto, took us through a maze of underground railways to one of the outlying quarters of Paris, where was being held an Esperanto club meeting. The members crowded round us, myself and my daughter, anxious to see what a New Zealander was like, and what language we spoke, what colour wo were, and all the other queries which the Trench can put to perfection. They chatted amongst themselves in Esperanto—for they uo French in the club meetings—and, I had very little difficulty in following their conversation. i ventured the question as to how my New Zealand Esperanto sounded, and they replied, in every case, ■that they could not detect any dilferanoo of phrasing, delivery or pronunciation from the European practice. This, to my mind, was wonderful, for X had learned it ail from a book over tho fireside ono winter, without tutor or other help, and found I had no difficulty in carrying, out tho practical two of my studies, even in the heart of Europe, where languages aro numbered by tfie score. On the following morning, there was awaiting at tho hotel, a member of the club, wno was deputed to care tor us during the day. and each succeeding day this was repeated, so that in a week wa had seen practically the whole of PariM ia company with a Parisian who wnSd speak no word of English, and we no worn of Trench fit to be heard. On the 26th of July—it was last, year—i attended a meeting of the Parts Oroup. in the Sorbonne, and was introduced by the president to representatives of nearly every nationality in Europe. They gave mo a royal reception, and the president •declared that my presence proved that there was no such thing as distance amongst Esperantists. for there they had a. visitor from the other end of the world as much at home as if he had lived "round the corner.” The subject for discussion that evening was the female suffrage, and X can assure you that argued it out with some "ginger in their phrases. The same old threadbare arguments were wound out, and the same old results arrived at. and all in a language we rarely ever hear of in New Zealand, and yet .Russians. Germans. Spaniards, Greeks,. Servians. Trench, English and Australians were there, and none know from whence the other came, exceot by personal acquaintance. VV Uen 1 say that they expressed their joy at meeting me and hearing my Esperanto, it is not from any personal vanity.-but bo satisfy my readers that if they ever decide to take up the study and have the opportunity of using it, they may be sure of a "ood reception on the Continent and of being able to find friends everywhere So whom they can talk as freely as at homo. ' There ia no subject more capable of welding tho “entente oordiale” into a permanent alliance than this question ot international language, for tho thousands of Trench people, as well as large numbers from other countries, visit England annually merely because they know they will not bo mere “strangers in a strange land,” but they will meet others like minded, and all striving to bring about that' peace on earth and good will towards men for which every true Britisher so truly hopes. Statistics could be supplied which would astound most people as to the number of people in every country who have learned, and are learning Esperanto, and of tho efforts being put forth to advance fha great cause of a better understanding amongst the nations, for it is confidently believed that if the soldiers of the world could speak to each other, they would never shoot at each other, anil tins is my conviction after mixing with many thousands interested in the subject; particularly the soldiers themselves. who, invariably, detest the horrors of their profession, and would much prefer to bo at some more peaceable employment. Can we in New Zealand not help in tho great movement? Mr 11. E. Parrish, official International representative of the Californian Chambers of Commerce, during the present year has toured through twenty-two different countries in Europe and Africa, In each of which he has delivered, lectures on California as the land for emigrants, using W other language but Esperanto. It is interesting to hear that be reaped considerable pleasure from this unique experiment. On his return Mr Parrish will make a propaganda tour of the States, where his testimony to the utility of Esperanto will certainly win many friends for the cause.