AMERIKA -rrrVV^^^1 AMERICAN ESPERANTISTO ^"~ H -----' ESPERANTIST La Monata Bulteno de la Esperanto-Asocia de Norda Ameriko The Monthly Bulletin of The Esperanto Association of North America Centra Oficejo - 134o New York Ave., N. W., Washington, Dj C, U. S. A. Vol. 4/7 No. Sj____________________________________________________July, 1934 EDITOR'S NOTE The writer, at rather short notice, has been asked to get out this issue of our Bulletin and will do the best he can. First place is naturally given to the Toronto Congress which, it is hoped, will be largely attended. Send $3.00 to Mr, D. R. Pook, 277 Salem Street, Toronto, Canada, for a mem- bership card and badge. If a naturalized American citizen bring papers with you; Passports are not needed. Your Congress ticket will show the purpose of your entry into Canada. If you cannot attend, send your proxy to someone in whom you have confidence. PROXY _________________,_, 1934. Know all men by these presents that the undersigned does appoint ••_____________ to be my proxy to vote for and in my place at the meetings of the 27th Annual Congress of the Esperanto Association of North America, to be held July 2nd to July 4th, 1934, at Toronto, Ontario. Signed___________________,______________ Witness___________________________ If you cannot come, send your $3.00 to Mr. Pook to help out on the expenses. Samideane Via, H. B. Hastings. THE TORONTO C 0 H,G E E S S The Congress will be opened at 9:30 Monday morning, July 2nd, by President Hetzel. Greetings will be extended by the Mayor of Toronto. Business meeting at 2 p.m. and Spertulara Kunveno at 8 p.m. with addresses in Esperanto. Tuesday, at 9:30 a.m., Business Meeting, 2 p.m., Outing, 8 p.m., Public Meeting. Wednesday, July 4th, 9:30 a.m., Election of Officers and appointment of new committees, 2 p.m., Committee Meetings and Outing, 7 p.m., Official Banquet. Headquarters, King Edward Hotel, Toronto. Telephone: Lloydbrook 3733. Congress Tickets, $3.00; Banquet Tickets, $2.00 Address: Mr. D. R. Pook, Secretary-Treasurer, 277 Salem Avenue, Toronto, Canada. , ON TO TORONTO (From the Chairman of the Executive Committee) Again we are going to meet in an annual Convention, to make important deci- sions and pass resolutions which are factors in the life of the Esperanto Association of Nofth America. This time we meet in the beautiful city of Toronto, Ontario, and are thus giving our Canadian friends an opportunity to have them realize the fact that they are part of our North American Association. This year will be of special importance. The Twenty-seventh Annual Conven- tion should mark a very distinct milestone in our Esperanto history. During this Convention, election of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Chairman of the Executive Committee will take place. It is, therefore, imperative that an administration be elected which will show the way for our movement with an energetic and determined leadership. It should be an adminis- tration of vision and not only have ideals, but also practical ideas to carry for- ward the banner of the Green Star. I have been in Toronto twice and have spared neither time nor effort to arrange this Congress and our Toronto friends are most eager to do their share for a truly successful Convention. Come to the Congress{ Lend your personal support in mapping out our agenda for the coming year or years. If you cannot come, do not fail to send your proxy or give it to a trust- worthy delegate who you know will be present. I regret very much that for very serious business reasons, I was not able to be present at the last two Congresses. This time, however, I shall be there and I am coming with a number of concrete plans which, if adopted, may assist the Associ- ation to again emerge from the past years of struggle and hard times. I need your support in my proposed plan. The least support multiplied by the many friends of our language, which we have in North America, is all there is required to strengthen out movement and to carry out our program. Let us all look forward to harmonious cooperation at the Congress with a practical and clear vision for a bigger and better Association. Gis la revido en Toronto, Port Lee, New Jersey June 14th, J?34^ ) airman, Executive Committee. jL ■th, i?34.^ S U k V O J £ Another Message from Thomas P. Gaines An Esperanto Exhibition at the Chamber of Commerce, Colorado Springs, Colo., June 1st, led to a new local club and a Summer School of Esperanto at the Y.M.C.A. Three of the 11 new officers are old samideanoj ''Jimmis" Stevenson, teacher and violinist, Cliff Robbins, auditor, and Wm, Loud, membership and convention chairman. Mr. Loud is the son of our old leader, the late Dr. Loud, Astronomy professor at Colorado College, New Esperantists include Miss Ruth Harper, organiser and pianist, Mr. Kenneth Robinson, song leader and cornetist, Miss Corey, rec.seo,, Mrs. Roberts, cor. sec, Mrs. Sundquist, cefkantistino, Mrs, Lyons, director of Current Events Discus- sion; Mrs. M. Bachus, social director; Miss Dorothy Hoscroft, publicity manager. Excellent new members are available for positions yet unfilled. A total of over 100 heard my talks at the Exhibition, Unitarian Church dinner, and Mrs. Bachus home. Others giving me great help were Rev. Hurley Begun, the Y.M.C.A., Y.W.C.A., Chamber of Commerce, Mrs, Matthews (the Bahai teacher), Dr. Garth, the Public Library officials, the Gazette, and the Telegraph, and my remark- able young Persian friend, Dr. Mehdi Kahn Nakosteen, also others. And a letter of introduction from Wm. Plampin of San Antonio, Texas, started all the activity at Colorado Serines. Now the Toronto Congress demands our attention. The dynamic Chapters will have at least one representative each there. Virtually I gave up my office of Gen. Sec. last January when I left Washing- ton. Since then the work has been done by Miss Sallie Poole, Mr. Joseph Leahy, Miss Jane Schiffman, Miss Aminda Kruka,(Treasurer), Mr. Hugh Shatford, (Editor), Asst. Secretary Gerry Small, Mrs, Walters, Miss Lenna Pedigo, "Our Max,! Villareal and a few more fashingtonians, aided by a mighty helper, Mr. H, B. Hastings, a Bostonian living in Washington temporarily. "VIVU Villareal"J Our publicity director personifies " pep, perseverance, fervoro, imagination and HARD WORK. If only each Chapter had a Villareal 1 In Colorado Springs, "Jimmie" Stevenson reminded me-of Joseph Leahy of Washington, Both are soul deep Esperantists, faithful workers, liked and respected by all who know them. If you visit Pikes Peak country this summer, look up Jimmie Stevenson, 610 N. Pine Street, Colorado Springs» If in Washington, call at the Central Office and see Joseph Leahy diligently taking care of thankless tasks day after day. During July, mail will reach me c/o General Delivery, Portland, till July 6, then Seattle. f.f.G; Those who fear that Esperanto as spoken by those of different nations will degenerate into dialects may' be interested to know that the Radio station in Lyons recently tried an interesting experiment. Seven persons of various nationalities each spoke a few sentences in Esperanto, and listeners were asked to guess their nationality. Only two listeners correctly guessed the nationality of four. English Esperantists are arranging to attend the World UEA Congress in Stockholm via airplane. On the bulletin boards of the High School and Public Library, Colorado Springs, Colorado, recently, the following bulletin occupied prominent space:-- "BELIEVE IT or NOT., ESPERANTO, THE WORLD LANGUAGE, IS NOW BEING TAUGHT FREE TO GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES IN OUR NATIONAL CAPITOL BUILDING IN WASHINGTON, D. C, WHY? COME TO THE MEETING AT THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND GET THE FACTS. YOU MAY BE SURPRISED." ONI LAO P,_A_JL' While thanking other helpers (though omitting many names for lack of space), let us not forget the generosity of Mr. William L. Newsom, of the Capital City Commercial College, who, for nearly a year past, has paid the rental of our head- quarters in the heart of the city of Washington, And let us not forget to thank the local committees of the Toronto Congress, who have worked long and hard to make the Congress a success. THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS HAVE BEEN ORGANIZED: BREMERTON, WASHINGTON, WITH MR. WAYNE JACKSON PRESIDING. LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA, WITH MRS. FLORENCE HACKETT PRESIDING. THE ESPERANTO CLUB OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, WITH MRS. SINA J. BATHURST CLINTON, IOWA, WITH MISS MARY SMALL PRESIDING. ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN, WITH MRS. RHODA P. BARNES. LIMA, OHIO, WITH MR. J. H. DAVISON OF SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL PRESIDING. ISFANDIARO ESPERANTO KLUBO OF WASHINGTON, D. C. Esperanto ce la Universitato de Virginia. Our Samideano Conway Brawner of Alexandria, Virginia, sends us some news of Esperanto in the University of Virginia. On one occasion an instructor of French told his class about the language of Rumania. He said, ."the language is very interesting. I don't know how to tell you about it, but it sounds very much like Esperanto.6" A demonstration of the extreme facility with which Esperanto imbeds itself in the mind came as the result of an experiment in hypnotism. A student who had had several lessons in Esperanto was hypnotized by a fellow student. While in the hyp- notic state, I, knowing that he was an excellent student of French, provided the stimulus, "parlez vous Esperanto?" to which he immediately responded, and began, in English, to tell all that he had learned about Esperanto. Another friend, recently elected to the honorary fraternity of Phi Beta Kappa, has systematically studied the entire Kengott Esperanto grammar» A letter I received from France was half in French and half in Esperanto, so I took it to my French instructor who began to read the French to me.- All went well until he struck the Esperanto. At.first.he did not seem to notice the difference and began to translate the Esperanto, After a few words he hesitated, puckered up his lips, wrinkled his brow, and tried to continue. He managed to read a few more lines before declaring that "this was the fiercest French he had ever read>" On being informed that he was reading Esperanto and not French, he was so elated that he ex- claimed, "mon Dieu, I should learn the language'," He further remarked that while he had never studied Esperanto he had heard of it and was always impressed by the great enthusiasm displayed by the Esperantists for their "dear language." "Koncjo." "UNCLE SAM DELIVERS MAIL." The Washington Daily Herald of June 17, 1934 prints the following! "UNCLE SAM delivers mail I A letter written in Esperanto, mailed from a little Bavarian town, and without the name of the one for whom it was intended either on the envelope or in the letter, has just been received and delivered. The communication was received recently by the Civil Service Commission, which, because of its strange language, was turned over to examiners to be deciphered. No one was able to read it, until it was finally turned over to Ernest G. Dodge of the Esperanto Association of North America. He read the letter easily and found it had been meant for him all along." Mr. Dodge is President of the Washington Esperanto Alliance. RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY Regular readers of Amerika Esperantisto are already familiar with the work of that benefactor to Esperanto, Fenton Stancliff, of Akron, Ohio. Many have profited by a study of his analysis of the Esperanto language. In recent issues of the bulletin we have seen the results of his research into the order of frequency of Esperanto correlatives, and to the frequency with which Esperanto letters occur (super-sign letters are less than 2%). A vast amount of further research is planned by S-ro Stancliff, and he appeals to E.A.N.A. for assistance, not necessarily expert. First on the list of projects is an inquiry into the various meanings of "de" and "al". We appeal to all Esperanto enthusiasts to offer a small portion of their time for the necessary reading and listing. Write on a post card to S-ro Fenton Stancliff, 1106 Big Falls Avenue, Akron, Ohio, a list of books in Esperanto which are for a week or two available to you. S-ro Stancliff, directing the research will assign one or more books from this list in his reply. Naturally, he wishes to avoid duplication of work. Full details will be sent to workers by the director, who will give proper credit to workers when he assembles and publishes the results. - H. S. - OFFICIAL ESPERANTO EMBLEMS: A green star with narrow gold border and gold E in center. For coat lapel: 40^, with safety-catch pin: 50?!. Address Miss Jane Schiffman, c/o Central Office. F.A.N.A. 1934 U.E.A. E.A.N.A. MEMBERSHIPS RECEIVED MINNESOTA ST. PAUL - PROFESSOR HENRY L. WOLTMAN. (I) CALIFORNIA VENTURA - CALVIN C. COPE. (II) NEW YORK BROOKLYN - ANTHONY WEKKER. (ll) BUFFALO - FRED L. WEISS. (I) WASHINGTON, D. C ADELBERT DRYER. (I) PENNSYLVANIA PHILADELPHIA - LEMUEL J. McCAULEY (I) OHIO LIMA - J. H. DAVISON. (XI) "*~"~ ' FACING THE FUTUBliT""' ~™~*~" In times of difficulty we need to face facts. On a solid foundation we can build! but until that is reached anything we try to erect is bound to totter. Letters recently received, show that our members wish to know the facts regard- ing our financial situation. In blunt terms the facts are that we owe about $2,000., and that we have nothing to pay with, except a quantity of books, some, of which are old and unsalable. Our assets have been rated as $4,000, but in this estimate books were reckoned at more than $2500, and some think that $500 would be too generous an estimate. Other items are unpaid subscriptions, a very dubious asset, as every publisher knows, and office furniture, set down at over $100, but of very uncertain worth. If the deduc- tions suggested were to be made our net assets would be something less than zero. This showing, though serious, need not dishearten those interested in the success of our movement. It indicates, however, the absolute necessity of a pay-as-you-go policy, and of its corollary "If you can't pay, don't go". The Washington group have managed during the current year, to reduce the old in- debtedness by about $15 per month but it is felt that wherever the headquarters may be located, whether in Washington or elsewhere, the city of its location should have representation on both the Finance Committee and the Executive Committee. Widely scattered committees seldom are willing to spend $40 or $50 to come to a meeting and it is difficult to translate all business through correspondence. It seems to be the sense of the Washington Group that if the headquarters is to remain in Washington, Mr. E. G. Dodge, President of the Washington Society, would add strength to the Executive Committee; and that for the office of General Secretary, no better man could be selected than Mr. Joseph Leahy. June 18, 1934. H, B. Hastings. UNUAJ AJOJ La unua societo "Klubo Mondlingvo" en Nurnberg Dec. 1888. (Gi estis antaue Volapukista ■Klubo) La unua Espe ranta standardo 1905 (ce Boulogne) Gi estas nun en la Internacis Esper- anta Muzeo ce Wien. La unua stato kiu reprezentigis sin ce Esperanta Kongreso, estis Belgujo (ce Cambridge 3a Kong. 1907) La unua stato, kiu enkondukis oficialan instruadon de Esperanto en lernejoj estis la stato Maryland 1908, La unua klubo en Ameriko estis en Montreal. La unua Esperanto gazeto en Ameriko - "La Lumo" en Montreal. REPORT OP A SELF APPOINTED COMMITTEE Four years of depression have left their mark on many good causes, and hopes that a few years ago seemed near realization, have in many cases, been abandoned. The E, A« N. A. has seen the failure of some of its hopes, and at the Chicago Congress those who had guided its financial and publishing policies were glad to allow others to assume the burden» The former Secretary worked hard, without compen- sation' and with only such assistance as could be given by a member of his own family. No man who has to earn a livelihood can give three-fourths of his time to purely altruistic work, and the E. A. N. A. is_ an altruistic work. Without funds for paying a bookkeeper accounts were not always kept in due form, and many letters were perforce unanswered. When the Central Office was trans- ferred to Washington the treasury was empty, and, as already reported at Chicago, the Association was owing more than $2*000.00. Esperantists, like other missionaries, need to be optimists, and sometimes their optimism may lead them astray. Perhaps this has been the case with our officers in recent years» Our magazine was printed at a cost much greater than the receipts» The officers, during this trying period, no doubt hoped that times would improve and justify the expense incurred. But with a deficit of $40.00 or more per month, it does not take long to accumulate a considerable debt, and some even suggest- ed bankruptcy as a means of relief» But the newly elected Treasurer was of Finnish descent and she felt that it would be a stain upon "nia_afgro1' if this method of cancelling debts were adopted. Accordingly she advanced money from her own modest means to meet some, pressing pay- ments. Other members of the Washington group put their shoulders to the wheel. Some who were out of employment gave freely of their time as typists and stenographers, and a few contributed money, so that in one way or another not only has the associ- ation been kept afloat, and the deficit stopped growing,'but there has been an actual reduction of the old debt by about $15 per month. This is, real progress. The writer, a temporary resident of Washington, is a member of the Boston Society and desires to pay tribute to the loyal service of the Washington group» Wishing to help them in their self-imposed labors for "nia afero1*, he prepared a circular to the membership telling of some of their difficulties. As stated in the circular itself, this proceeding was entirely unofficial} but the Finance Committee, whose members lived hundreds of miles apart, apparently found itself unable to hold meetings, or give counsel or to furnish any financial help. When a man is drowning, it is not feasible to wait for a committee a thousand miles away to act, but it is considered perfectly proper that the one nearest at hand should at least toss a life preserver to the unfortunate to help keep him afloat; so the writer felt no compunction in making an attempt to keep the E. A. N. A. afloat until its plight could be made clear to the membership. Accordingly» in late February, after consultation with Mr. Joseph Leahy, an earnest "pre-war* Esperantist and wise counsellor, and with our Treasurer, Miss A. J. Kruka, a circular was prepared and sent to about 250 members of the E. A. N. A. who constituted at that time the PAID-UP membership. The expense of this circular and the responsibility for it were assumed by the writer. With the exception of those just mentioned none of the Washington Esperantists was consulted, the writer feeling that they had already done more than their share. To this circular, 25 persons replied» of whom seven regretted their inability to help* Some were pathetic in their expressions of regret. Up to date the following sums have been received: California: Esperanto Club of Long Beach, $5.00, M. E. S., $5.00 ... $ 10.00 Florida: Dr. DeV,, 2.00......................................... 2.00 Illinois: D.A.S., 1.00; Mr. & Mrs, A.E.R., 3.00 .................. 4.00 Iowa: N.D.McC.s 1,00; F.H.B., 2.00........................... 3.00 Maine: M.W., 1.00............................................. 1.00 Massachusetts: E.L.S. (Books) 10.12; Mr. & Mrs. A.E.B., 2,00; M.fi. 1.00 13.12 Maryland: E.W.W., 1.00........................................... 1,00 Mew Hampshire: R.S., 1,00.......................................... 1.00 JV8W lOI*KS Dm C • M* » XO «00 • ••««««•••o««»$«$e«««««««««««#««««««*«e0«'t> X0 • OU Ohio: G.B.W., 10.00.......................................... 10.00 ^QniUSyXVŭnjL& * JP • Xj* lie g X © 00 • 0et©#«e*»##«)»i»»»««»««t #•♦••*_• #*#«o»»e*»* X « (JO Wisconsin: Esperanto Club of Milwaukee. 10.00 ........».,.,.,.,.»0. 10.00 Total from 17 givers in 12 states .•»•»......•.........«,..,........ $ 66.12 Washington, D. C.J E.G.D., 10.00? F.G.C., 10.00.................... 20.00 Total $ 86,12 (Beside the above, conditional pledges amounting -to $20.00 have been received) From the above sum there have been paid as follows: Instalments on printing bills of previous years................... $36.00 OX T. ICG JuXjp © US 6 fiM4i(4(fiaiMia«i(t'4)fiHtiti4i*iiiM*iititiiMiii O • UU Postage and other minor office expenses ««..«8..................... 7.12 To aid in issuing Amerika Esperantisto............, .«..«.*.......« 8.60 Payments on small debts incurred previous to last year's Congress.. 29.40 Total $86.12 Expenses of sending out the circular letter are not included in the above account as they were paid by the writer. The amount received, although not large, represents real sacrifice on the part of some of the senders. We quote from some of the letters. A saaideano in Illinois writes: "I too am in debt and cannot contribute until these debts are paid. Here is a dollar for postage." Another, in New York, sends ten dollars and this message: "Vi entreprenas dificilan kaj malagrablan aferon. Mi laudas la Vasingtonan grupon pro ilia malavareco .... La nova epoko devas esti spagu-kiel-vi-iras' a epoko." A lady in Maine, nearing the age of 70, sends a dollar and writes: "Our bank failure has crippled us badly • • • « I have been an esperantist since 1908, and have always responded to every call for money, though of course I could not give large sums. I wish that I might do more, for Esperanto has done much for me . . . ." An Ohio samideano encloses $5,00 and writes: "You were right in letting us know of these conditions which we would not have known otherwise." From a member in New Hampshire comes a dollar and the word, "I certainly feel you are taking the right attitude in not going into bankruptcy." A California member sends a dollar out of scanty means, and wishes to express "Sincere thanks for your efforts in behalf of the Esperanto movement." Three members of the Boston Society send 1.00 each, and one writes: "Your most excellent letter deserves swift response and good success. The cause is deep in my heart." One samideano "73 years young", says: "Success to the Washington group and to Amerika Esperantisto in its present form .... a good job at small expense." Mr. and Mrs. R. of Illinois write: "Esperanto must go on , . . . Better times are coming." A member in California encloses a welcome gift of $5.00 and writes: "We cannot let you loyal ones carry the entire burdens." The Milwaukee Esperanto Club, though still carrying a burden from the Milwaukee convention of three years ago, sent $10,00 to help in "wiping out the indebtedness of E. A. N. A." Other cheering messages were received which we have not space to give. We wis to thank every one who has aided, and to express the hope that others may be led to contribute. H. B. Hastings, 1525 0 St., N, W. , Washington, D. C.