THE GROWTH OF A LANGUAGE 357 



good reasons for believing that it had been reduced to half this number 

 by 1648. It is therefore not putting the case too strong to say that it 

 required almost two centuries for Germany to recuperate from the 

 effects of that terrible scourge. It is the most impressive lesson the 

 world has received on the folly of war; but for this one, the history of 

 the world would probably have been widely different. There is a sense 

 in which a detriment of this kind can never be made good. Spain's 

 linguistic losses at home may be ultimately restored and more than re- 

 stored by conquests in her colonies. Conversely, Germany has thus 

 far not been successful with her over-sea possessions, partly owing to 

 bad management, partly owing to climatic and other unfavorable con- 

 ditions. 



English is the coming language. And it is coming rapidly; for 

 while it is difficult to learn thoroughly, in the matter both of style and 

 of pronunciation, it can readily be acquired with sufficient correctness 

 for all commercial and practical purposes. 



