Courtrai on his return, and was full of enthusiasm on account of the successful consummation of that notable reunion. It seems that the spread of Esperanto in Belgium, except in the case of a few sporadic instances, is due to a series of letters which appeared in Le Petit Bleu from the pen of Lieut. Lemaire. At Antwerp one of the members has placed on the market, as a means of propaganda, cigarettes bearing the name and the green star of Esperanto as their special badge. At Ghent the group is almost entirely composed of University students, and on account of the vacation no meeting could be arranged, but S^o Cogen detailed the progress of the movement in his city. The old-world beauties of Bruges were inspected under the guidance of Lieut. Lenken, and a short call was made on S^o Witteryck, the publisher of Belga Sonorilo and the writer of an amusing book, Kelkaj Esperantaj Floroj, a booklet which is a very good substitute for the Humoraĵoj, now out of print.

The Secretary of the Liège Group is a Russian, who has conversed in Esperanto with Dr. Zamenhof himself. Amongst other things he explained how Dr. Zamenhof himself pronounces Esperanto. The phoneticism of Esperanto, he says, is not over-rigid, but allows a certain margin of variation in the case of the vowels.

The letter "o" is pronounced as in the North of England, the excessive roundness of the South country pronunciation being avoided. The "a" is also an open vowel, not always so open as the "a" in father, but never so close as the "a" in the pronunciation which the London Board School children make use of in the word "cat." "Estas" is pronounced as an Englishman would pronounce it if he had never heard of Esperanto; not quite so pedantically as "aystahs."

A separate paragraph is necessary for the Ladies’ Section of the Louvain Group. They are full of enthusiasm, preparing papers and reports as required by their zealous secretary, and arranging musical programmes and recitations for the social gathering which follows the educational course with a devotion and willing obedience which is simply amazing. These are the mothers of the future Esperantists, and if their example could only be followed in England, "Esperanto, the second language for all," would soon be no longer a watchword, but an accomplished fact.

Altogether, the visit proved too short, encouraging and hopeful as it undoubtedly was. Most of the Esperantists were young, guided and controlled by the elders, and manifesting a force that sooner or later is bound to produce a telling effect.

The "Spectator" on Esperanto.

The extent to which Esperanto is making way in Great Britain is often but imperfectly realised even by Esperantists. But every month affords fresh evidence of the steady progress which Esperanto is making among the more thoughtful and influential classes. The Spectator of Aug. 13th contained a long article on "The Want of an International Language," the significance of which it would be difficult to over-estimate. For the Spectator, as Mr. H. W. Nevinson remarks in the current number of the North American Review, represents "the British spirit at the very best." "It is," he continues, "a newspaper which is the source of true culture to the thoughtful middle classes, and is by them justly regarded as moderate and reasonable in its judgment. It is the highest literary authority in the English newspaper world, and it has declared itself emphatically in favour of Esperanto."

Taking as its text the discussion of the subject of an International language at the meeting of the French Association for the advancement of Science at Grenoble, the Spectator examines and dismisses as impracticable the various national alternative languages such as Latin, English, French, and Spanish. It then pronounces judgment in favour of an artificial language, and Esperanto especially, in the following terms:—

"By far the most promising is Esperanto. It is remarkably easy to learn, owing to its irreducible minimum of grammar and its extreme simplicity of vocabulary. As far as we have examined it, we see no reason why this really simple and scientific language should not afford to the tourist and the merchant exactly what they need for communication with foreigners. If Esperanto proves equal to its claims, and is universally adopted as the second language to be taught in the schools of the world, a great stumbling block to free communication between alien races will be removed."

Group Reports.

There are not many such at this time of the year. Dover, the most active just now, is fully reported elsewhere. Very sad news comes from Newcastle. Professor Gurney, the President, lost his life whilst mountaineering at Arolla. His loss will be all the more deeply deplored because in Great Britain so few university men of high standing have hitherto evinced so quick a perception of the advantages of Esperanto as has been shown by the heads of the French universities and the professors. In Brighton the gatherings are most successful; until a suitable location has been found Mr. Lambert receives the Esperantists at 8 o’clock on Saturdays at 59, St. Aubyns, Hove, and their full intention is to increase their membership largely and speedily.

The Plymouth Circle meets at the Ruskin Institute. Last season the classes were held only once a fortnight; the arrangements for the autumn are not yet complete.

The Forest Gate Group meetings will re-open on September 15th at the house of the President, Dr. V. G. Batteson, 39, Woodgrange Road.

A Photographic-Esperantist Group has also been founded in London. Information can be received from the Secretary, S^ro S. Maitland, 22, Maclise Road, West Kensington. The next meeting will be on September 8th.