Rerieic of Reviews, IjIlfOG. 



ESPERANTO. 



ESPERANTISTS AT GENEVA. 



(Written while the Congress was in progress.) 



To obtain an adequate idea of such a gathering 

 as the second Esperanto Congress at Geneva, no- 

 thing less than a visit suffices (writes a correspon- 

 dent). Let no one imagine that the members are 

 there for amusement. From Monday morning they 

 have been at work : even before the official opening 

 many meetings were organised. The nations had 

 each to select their speakers, the Language Com- 

 m'ttee to settle exactly what could be done in the 

 time available, the organising committee to attempt 

 to satisfy the hundreds of people from all quarters 

 of the globe. All, however, led up to the formal 

 public opening on Tuesday evening, when the Vic- 

 toria Hall, which holds some 1800 people, was tilled 

 to its top gallery. And such a company I Not often 

 have idealists, artists, ordinary folk, labouring men, 

 and business people united thus in a common cause. 

 The entrance of Doctor Zamenhof was the signal for 

 a tumultuous welcome, and, quiet, modest gentleman 

 though he is, he must by now have learnt to enjoy 

 thit which can only be called a loving greetmg. 

 The president this year is Pastor Schneeberger, 

 whose opening speech of welcome was followed b> 

 one from the eminent linguist (whose seven lan- 

 guages do not, however, include English), Professor 

 Naville. 



Then Doctor Zamenhof rose, and when the shouts 

 of •• Vivu Zamenhof " permitted, began with a few 

 graceful words of thanks to the hospitable town 

 which had received the Congress. Continuing, he 

 said that he was really only there as a private man, 

 for the condition of his unhappy country had hin- 

 dered him from much active participation in the 

 progress made. With pathos he spoke of his native 

 town (Bvalistock), and the descent upon it of savage 

 hordes, who had put to death the innocent and 

 helpless. The Russians are not naturally cruel, he 

 cried out; the sole thing they desire is to be left 

 to pursue their way in quietness. War is horrible 

 at any time, but when the bloodshed and slaughter 

 is between those who dwell in the same place, 

 divided onlv bv racial and religious differences, it is 

 far more horrible, for then friend is arrayed against 

 friend, and even the women and children are not 

 spared. Dr. Zamenhof then spoke of the idea that 

 Esperanto is only a language Perish such a 

 thought, he cried ; if that w-ere true I would tear off 

 mv green star, and never speak a word of it again. 

 For twentv years I have fought and struggled, but 

 not for a language: it is for an ideal. I am bat- 



tling for the spirit of reciprocal helpfulness, which 

 shall ensure a better future for all mankind. 



The fervent oration had as fervent a reception, 

 and then succeeded speech after speech from the 

 various delegates • in the following order : — Bel- 

 gium, Bohemia, the Marquis de Beaufront (who has 

 been called the second Zamenhof) for France, Den- 

 mark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain (represented 

 bv a lady whose clear voice sounded admirably),- 

 Spain, Catalonia, Russia, Sweden, United States, 

 Bulgaria, Switzerland, Canada and Italy (also re- 

 presented by a lady). It is not possible to give the 

 various speeches in detail. The Finnish delegate 

 said that nowhere were there more fervent Esper- 

 antists than in his country, upon which the e\es of 

 the world had so lately been turned. The Spanish 

 delegate, a typical, comfortable-looking Abbe, re- 

 gretted that he was not a better speaker, when a 

 voice from the hall cried out, " Vi parolas bonege, 

 bonege !' causing hearty laughter. M. Cart spoke 

 well and forcibly on the delight Esperanto gave to 

 the blind; and M. Michaux gave a most delightful 

 finish by a witty speech in French. Telling about 

 a shop in which a phonograph was loudly perform- 

 ing, and outside which was a man who insisted that 

 the phonograph, which was trumpeting loudly, was 

 not a fact, but only an illusion of the senses, he 

 cleverlv led up to a declaration that the whole even- 

 ing in the Victoria Hall was a delusion and a snare, 

 and all the Esperanto speeches pretence; that the 

 foreigners had prepared their speeches, and told 

 them to everyone else; and that, in fact, it was 

 quite a cheat from beginning to end, and even the 

 Dane who had come to the hall straight from the 

 station had been coached in the train. Amidst 

 shouts of laughter from those present who under- 

 stood French, the evening closed at 11.30. 



On Wednesday evening the performance will be 

 in the theatre, when the programme will include " A 

 Letter of Recommendation,' by Max Maurey ; a 

 duet from -^ Figaro " ; '■ The Flower of the Past," a 

 drama of Edmond de Amicis, translated especially 

 for the congress; and several original songs, the 

 performers in each case being of different nation- 

 alities. It is a real misfortune that representatives 

 of Governments were not present, for this is one 

 amongst manv remarkable facts — of the national 

 delegates onlv one showed any difference of accent 

 and he in one word only, and there cou il be no 

 more conclusive proof of the suitability of Esper- 

 anto as an international speech-medium. 



H.R.N. —The fii-st attompt.s at Esperanto poetry 

 submitted to us do not seem to be of a partitularly 

 high-class variety. — .l.B. 



