ESPERANTO

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21648, 5 December 1935, Page 17

ESPERANTO

TO i TBS IMTOB 07 TKS 7USS.

Sir,—ln an article on "Basic English" in "The Press" of Saturday. November 30, Esperanto was subjected to & tirade of scorn and vilification which must not pass unchallenged. Esperanto and the vast number of followers and advocates of this auxiliary international language are periodically subject to these narrow-minded so-called "authorities." To men and to all Esperantists the world over, these tirades are : helping more the cause of Esperanto than the controversialists and bitter opponents can imagine. The sciences, art, and music in all times have met with bitter opposition. In fact, any movement or cause,' if it deserves any support, should meet strong opponents, no matter how bitter their attacks are. When the immortal maestro Handel was producing his oratorio. "Esther." and other works in London and other English centres, the outcry against him and his works was full of scorn and bitterness. Yet he survived all those attacks and was crowned with laurels, and the bitter i opponents became his best friends. The • eame can be said of Mayerbeer, Wagner, and some of the greatest literary men the world over. Esperanto will celebrate its golden jubilee in 1937, surviving all opposition and bitter attacks and scorn by the yard. As to "Valapuk," it had a short life towing to its hard and almost brutal construction, and great difficulty in pronunciation. It never had a million adherents, according to Mr Ogilvie, author of "Basic English," and if to his estimate of 30,000 Esperantists all the : world over, is added two more noughts, making it 3,000,000, he will ; : be. nearer the truth. Yes, Germany I: she also banned Christianity, freedom of speech, and the press, etc. Never- , theless, there are even now a great tnany advocates of Esperanto in pre-pent-day Germany. The name of Dr. Zamenhof will be perpetuated with the greatest honour and respect. The Esperanto world congresses speak for themselves. At these more ' than 30 nationalities meet and discuss ! Important matters in one language— I Esperanto, which all understand without the aid of any interpreter. Men like Tolstoi, Professor Max Muller; the medical profession, arts, sciences, tod music, and even the cinema sponsor Esperanto, showing that Mr OgilJje and his ilk can do no harm to the Esperanto cause. Yet they might do barm to themselves and to the cause ■M "Basic English."—Yours, etc., E. D. BERNSTEIN, t. December 4,1935.