686 
their part to adopt the English as an alter- 
nate world language, provided some neces- 
sary reforms were made in spelling and 
orally to make it more phonetic and con- 
formed to the classic Latin and Greek. 
This is a very reasonable and fit concession 
to be imposed, and ought to be undertaken 
in our own behalf without regard to the 
propaganda. If, by some such concessions 
as these, the support of Germany, and per- 
haps also Holland, Scandinavia and Spain, 
can be won, the adoption of the English is 
assured ; and we cannot too soon convene 
an international conference. The Ger- 
mans are handicapped by a Gothic eye- 
destroying alphabet and an unmusical vocal 
speech, and are conscious of it. This is 
their opportunity and ours. The claim of 
the French as the established language of 
diplomacy is recognized in Europe, but, de- 
clining even there, would be outweighed 
even though supported by Russia. Oppo- 
sition would be likely to come from that 
quarter, if from any; or from a possible 
coalition of all the rest against the leader. 
But fortunately this is a case in which there 
is no compulsion. No nation need be 
bound by any recommendation of the con- 
ference, if it thought it could do better to 
stand out. In brief it is the counterpart of 
the decimal metrical system; the advan- 
tages and drift of any action would be 
toward uniformity sooner or later. Profes- 
sor Mahaffy is out in a very pronounced 
opinion as to the need of rectifying English; 
while Mr. Havelock Ellis, I perceive, is 
quoted as favoring French as a second 
choice. 
My own idea about the manner of calling, 
and the composition of, such an interlingual 
conference is that, by virtue of her much 
greater foreign commerce, marine interests, 
including telegraph, postal, consular and 
diplomatic intercourse, the initiative would 
properly belong with the mother country. 
Any such call from her would be sure to sug- 
SCIENCE. 
(N.S. Vou. VI. No. 149. 
gest some antagonism, and, most likely, also: 
she would be asked to content herself with 
one vote on behalf of Britain and all her 
colonies, and attempt might be made to 
link in the United States. I have no idea 
that representation according to aggregate 
population would be acceptable. The most 
feasible plan will be by nations, or groups 
of nations, the offshoots and colonies not 
being reckoned, except in the single case of 
the United States, which, if expedient, 
could speak for Canada, too. The position 
of North America is one of peculiar free- 
dom from jealousies and entanglements, 
and if the mother country will for this oc- 
casion graciously let her full-grown settled 
daughter appear in the foreground there 
will be less friction to encounter, and the re- 
sult will be the same in either case. 
There is a certain fitness aside from its 
expediency. American lexicographers and 
philologists have done more for the im- 
provement of English in a hundred years 
than the British. Besides, the number of 
universities and students and the literary 
output are now comparable in volume, if 
not in quality, with the older nation. The 
ultra-conservatism of British publishers is 
shown by an unwillingness to handle books 
by American authors using the abridged 
spelling of certain common words where the 
right of argument is on our side. Again, 
in Asia, especially in China and Japan, 
which are now open to Occidental litera- 
ture, science and arts, we are side by side 
with the British and opposed by French 
and German influences. If I am rightly 
informed, Japan is most anxious for uni- 
formity; in fact, would accept readily a 
common tongue, and prefer the English. 
The part to be played by these islanders of 
the far East in international affairs cannot 
yet be defined, but their alliance in these 
bonds of peace, civilization and learning is 
worth cultivating. 
As a rough outline of the composition of 
