A LANGUAGES AND LETTER-WRITING. CCORDING to the Revue Universitaire some of the sittings of the French Parliament have lately assumed the appearance of a pedagogic conference rather than an ordinary budget discussion -in fact, some of the teacher members might have supposed themselves to be addressing old scholars, who in listening to them were charmed to have had aroused reminiscences of youth and its delights. The burning questions of modern or classical teaching, the injustice of the support of the Lycées by the State, whilst colleges must depend upon local support, whether women teachers should have the same status as men, whence recteurs should be recruited, and so on, usurped a large part of the time usually occupied by money affairs only. Perhaps someone will kindly respond to a delightful letter I have just received from Medan, Deli, East Coast of Sumatra. Mr. A. de Bruin, Chinese interpreter, who has studied English for years, and reads scientific and other literature, is so afraid of not writing correctly that as soon as he has finished a letter he tears it up when he reads it over. He says: "In as big place as London, with all sorts and conditions of men amongst its inhabitants, it must be possible, I think, to find some person or other who considers it his duty to assist a poor fellow-man, and to protect the English language against ill-treatment at the hands of a stupid Dutchman." I feel sure anyone responding will find pleasure in the correspondence, especially if they desire interesting information about affairs in that little-known quarter of the globe. To parents who may be desirous of sending their daughters where they may study and practise pure French, and at the same time get some knowledge of French cooking, dairy work, care of poultry, etc., I would strongly recommend the home of two ladies in Normandy, about midway between Paris and Granville. The little estate is in beautiful country, some distance from a town; but the ladies have a little pony-trap, and their terms are moderate. Further particulars will gladly be given by a lady who has tried the experiment with success. There are many English people who would prefer this arrangement to sending their girls to convents. A young Norwegian of good birth, who speaks English fluently, and can teach Latin, German, History and English Literature, earnestly desires an au pair engagement for June, July and August. He is recommended by an English rector and the Norwegian Consul. The Directeur of the Maisons Universitaires32, Rue de Vouille, Paris-intends to take ten boys (and possibly girls) to a country house in Saint Valery for the Easter holidays. The cost will be about £2 per week. ESPERANTO. The Esperanto meeting of March 17th was a great success. Though unable to be present, the Duke and Duchess of Connaught were patrons, and the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress presided. In the course of his speech the Lord Mayor said that he retained a delightful remembrance of the Guildhall meeting in 1907, when he received the foreign visitors as the deputy of the then Lord Mayor, and as he could not speak the eighteen languages of his audience, and was perhaps the only Englishman present who did not know Esperanto, he had been very ably translated by Mr. Mudie. He referred to the necessity of comprehension between the various nations in order to avoid war-that most futile and ferocious of human follies-and said that time had only deepened his admiration of those who practise and preach Esperanto as a supplementary language. It was very appropriate that their meeting should be connected with the King Edward Memorial Fund, for King Edward had probably done more than any other single man to promote peace. I have no space to give the programme or the names of the devoted helpers. The authorities of the City of London School kindly lent their fine Hall for the meeting. A full account will be found in the British Esperantist (3d. British Esperanto Association, 133, High Holborn) for April, together with a most important communication from Dr. Zamenhof relative to the necessity of the election of delegates with voting powers at the forthcoming Congress at Antwerp. As already mentioned, the Congress opens on August 20th, and those intending to be present are advised to send in their names and apply early for apartments and places in the theatre for the performance of the special national play, "Kaatje." Applications should be sent to Dr. Van der Biest, 76, Minderbroedersrui, Antwerp. The actors and actresses of the Royal Netherlands Theatre, though it is their full season, have already started learning Esperanto so as to be fully prepared. La Revuo contains chapters twelve to fourteen of Exodus, by Dr. Zamenhof, and the first act of a comedy of Alfred de Musset ("Do not Dabble with Love"), translated by H. and G. Stroele, and a fine appreciation of the late Charles Meray, of Dijon University. At Grenoble, Esperanto is taught officially in the secondary and primary schools, about seven hundred and fifty children following the course. A similar movement is proceeding in Bordeaux. Lille put Esperanto on its curriculum some years since. With such continuous progress it is rather amusing to read in Chambers's Journal that Esperanto is as dead as Volapuk. As an antidote the Documents du Progrès gives a series of interesting statistics, with comparisons between 1903 and 1909; and a valuable pamphlet (3d. a dozen), entitled "Esperanto in 1910," has just been issued by the British Esperanto Association. DIARY AND OBITUARY FOR MARCH. PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF THE MONTH. March 1.-A new French Cabinet was formed under the Premiership of M. Monis. In the Union House of Assembly at Cape Town General Smuts gave a general outline of the proposals of the Government for South African defence ... The leader of a band of outlaws and twenty-two of his followers were killed on the Indian frontier by a British force ... The Departmental Committee on Accidents in Factories and Workshops recommended that all young persons under fourteen years of age be strictly prohibited from cleaning machinery in motion. March 2.-The invitation from the Chief Burgomaster of Vienna to the Lord Mayor of London and the City Corporation to visit Vienna next September was accepted A Con ference was held at Leeds at which an agreement as to the working hours in the provincial and Irish printing trades was arrived at, subject to confirmation by the men's unions. March 3.-Lord Crewe was seized with sudden and serious illness... Sir Edward Tennant was raised to the Peerage and appointed Lord High Commissioner of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland ... The text of Sir G. Kemp's Woman's Suffrage Bill was issued Mr. Birrell spoke in favour of Home Rule for Ireland at the Oxford Union. March 4.-The sixty-first Congress of the United States ended, after a turbulent sitting, without voting on the Reciprocity Bill, but President Taft immediately called an Extraordinary Session of Congress to meet on April 4th for that purpose The Chinese Government officially notified the Russian Government that they no longer desire a revision this year of the Treaty of 1881... The Jubilee of the emancipation of the Russian serfs was celebrated in St. Petersburg Titian's well-known picture, "A Man in a Red Cap," was sold to an English collector for £30,000. March 6.-The Under-Secretary for India stated that provision in the Estimates of the Government of India for £1,000,000 would be made in connection with the King's visit. March 7.-Lord Morley received the seals of the India Office to enable him to take Lord Crewe's place during his illness ... The Prime Minister informed a Welsh Liberal deputation that after the Parliament Bill is passed Welsh Disestablishment will take first place in the Liberal programme. March 8.-The Free Church Council at Portsmouth passed unanimously a resolution in favour of Welsh Disestablishment. March 9.-It was announced that from April 1st the rate of postage on letters from Southern Rhodesia to the United Kingdom and the Empire will be a penny for every oz. Mr. Borden's amendment to refer the Reciprocity agreement to the electorate was defeated in the Canadian Parliament by 111 votes to 70. March 10.-A Select Committee of the House of Commons passed the preamble of the Bill for the deepening of Southampton Water... The decision to adopt Greenwich time in France came into operation ... Mr. Hull, the Finance Minister The Russian of South Africa, made his Budget statement police confiscated 30,000 copies of the last edition of Tolstoy's collected works. March 11.-Mr. Haldane received the freedom of Haddington in recognition of his twenty-five years' representation of Haddingtonshire in Parliament The Turkish Foreign Minister made proposals to Great Britain on the question of the Persian Gulf and the Baghdad Railway south of Baghdad The sensational trial of over thirty persons of the Neapolitan Camorra, charged with being concerned in the murder of Gennaro Cuoculo and his wife in 1906, began at Viterbo. March 13.-Lord Rosebery spoke at the Mansion House on Scottish Industries ... A farewell luncheon was given in London to the Rev. Dr. Jowett ... The report of Admiral Sir R. Henderson on the coastal defences of Australia was published ...The bulk of the Russian troops left Kazvin, in Persia. March 14.-The annual meeting of the Association of Chambers of Commerce opened in London under the presidency of Lord Brassey. It resolved that the Declaration of London ought not to be ratified in its present form Mr. Edward White, the nominee of the Municipal Reform Party in the L.C.C., was elected Chairman... The Bishop of Hereford spoke at Bristol against the tied-house system. ... March 15.-The Associated Chambers of Commerce passed a resolution in favour of the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the whole question of our fiscal system... Mr. Augustine Roche (N.) was returned unopposed for North Louth. March 16.-Mr. Asquith returned to London Mr. Redmond made a significant speech in London on Home Rule The Council of University College School decided not to admit scholars from the London County Council Schools... Mr. Gokhale introduced a Bill for the extension of primary education in India. It was accepted by the Education Minister ... The delimitation of the Franco-Turkish frontier between the French Soudan and Tripoli and between Tunis and Tripoli was successfully arranged. March 17.-Sir Edward Grey spoke in London on the Arbitration question... Dr. Crozier was enthroned as Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland ... The Italian nation celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the proclamation of the Italian kingdom. March 18.-The Lords and Commons committee for entertaining representatives of the Dominion Parliaments at the Coronation sent out fifty-eight invitations:-To Australia eighteen, Canada eighteen, South Africa twelve, New Zealand eight, Newfoundland two ... The Chinese reply to the Russian Note of the 14th was handed in... In consequence of the withdrawal of Radical support Signor Luzzatti tendered the resignation of his Cabinet to the King of Italy. March 20.-The Legislative Council at Calcutta passed the new Sedition Meetings Bill ... The Bill for making railwaymen's pensions retrospective passed the French Chamber of Deputies M. Stolypin, the Russian Premier, tendered his resignation to the Tsar The Court of Appeal reversed the judgment of Justice Ridley's Court, which awarded £12,000 damages against Sir John Benn, of the L.C.C., and gave judgment for Sir John Benn, with costs in both courts. March 21.-The King received at Buckingham Palace a deputation of the Bible Society, who presented an address in connection with the tercentenary of the Authorised Version of the English Bible Field-Marshal Sir Evelyn Wood was appointed Constable of the Tower of London. ... March 22. Mr. Alfred Parsons was elected a Royal Academician The annual meeting of the Association of Municipal Corporations was held at the Guildhall... The Empress Maria, who had been in consultation with the Tsar, requested M. Stolypin to withdraw his resignation... President Tait explained that the presence of American troops near the Mexican frontier was only a precautionary measure. March 23. It was announced that a peerage had been conferred on Mr. Haldane ... Mr. W. Joynson-Hicks (U.) was returned unopposed for the Brentford Division of Middlesex M. Stolypin refused to withdraw his resignation, though persistent efforts were made to induce him to do so. March 24. Mr. Harcourt and Lord Esher were appointed Trustees of the proposed London Museum Mr. Haldane, speaking at Fakenham, said he reluctantly left the House of Commons in order to work for Liberalism in another place ... A letter was read from Mr. Chamberlain to the Unionist Committee in Birmingham, in which he criticised the Government... An anonymous gift of £1,000 was made to Manchester University for the promotion of medical research The German Emperor and Empress visited the Emperor Francis Joseph at Vienna. March 25.-The report of a Departmental Committee, appointed by the Home Secretary, on the admission of alien immigrants into the Port of London, was published; it recommends the establishment of a receiving house for immigrants at Tilbury Dr. Armitage Robinson was installed Dean of Wells The Bessemer Gold Medal was awarded to Professor Henri Le Chatelier... The Army Estimates passed the French Chamber... The Mexican Cabinet resigned... Over one hundred and fifty girls, mostly Italians, were killed in a disastrous fire which broke out in a blouse factory in one of the "sky scrapers " of New York The German Emperor and Empress visited Venice. March 27.-The celebrations commenced of the fiftieth anniversary of the establishment of United Italy; the King delivered a speech in the Capitol and opened the Exhibition of Fine Arts in Rome M. Guchkoff resigned the Presidency of the Duma Our national drink bill for 1910 was published. The total was placed at £157,604,658... Russia presented an ultimatum to China Two Imperial Decrees suspended the sittings of the Duma and the Council of the Russian Empire from March 25th to 28th, with a view to passing the Zemstvo Bill. ... March 28.-Both Houses of the Russian Parliament resumed. Three interpellations challenged the action of M. Stolypin in advising the Crown to enact the Zemstvo Bill by Ukase The Russo-Chinese difficulty was settled, China making concessions to Russia ... The Form and Order of the Service for the Coronation was published. March 29.-A great meeting took place in the Albert Hall, London, in commemoration of the Tercentenary of the Authorised Version of the Bible, at which the Archbishop of Canterbury and Mr. Asquith spoke The Capitol house at Albany, New York State, was damaged by fire to the extent of over a million pounds. March 30.-The German Imperial Chancellor, speaking in the Reichstag on disarmament and arbitration, said, in his opinion, schemes of disarmament or limitation of armaments were impracticable, but Germany had been able to fall in with the suggestion made by Sir Edward Grey that England and Germany should exchange information about their shipbuilding A considerable number of Asiatic troops were drafted into Albania... A constable who went to a village in Eastern Bengal to arrest two men was shot dead... Replying to a deputation from the United Kingdom Alliance, the Prime Minister repeated his pledge that temperance legislation should be among the first-fruits after the passing of the Veto Bill.. The hearing of the petition against the return of Mr. Mathias (L.) for Cheltenham was concluded; counsel for the respondent admitted that the seat could not be retained The battleship Monarch was launched at Elswick. March 31.-The Lötschberg Tunnel, which will provide the shortest route from North-west Europe to Italy, was successfully pierced... A protocol was signed between Peru and Bolivia for the arrangement of difficulties between the two countries... The receipts of the financial year ending March 31st were £203,850,588, and the Budget surplus will be about £5,500,000. BY-ELECTION. March 9.-Polling took place in North-East Lanark :-- March 16.-Lord Courtney of Penwith raised the question of alleged torture and extortion by police in India. Lord Morley replied. March 20.-Discussion on the Territorial Army March 22.-Discussion on affairs in Persia. March 29.-The Referendum was further discussed, but its consideration was indefinitely postponed. March 30.-Lord Lansdowne's motion for an Address to His Majesty with respect to the introduction of a Bill to reform the House of Lords was agreed to. March 31.-The Revenue Bill received Royal Assent. House of Commons. March 1.-Parliament Bill: debate. March 2.-Parliament Bill: Mr. A. Chamberlain's amendment was negatived by 365 votes to 244, and the second reading was carried by a majority of 125. March 3.-Supplementary Civil Service Estimates. March 6.-Supplementary Estimates. March 7.-The Revenue Bill, which was carried by 253 votes to 182. March 8.-On the Vote on Account, Mr. Balfour opened a debate on the Baghdad Railway and the Reciprocity Agreement between Canada and the United States. March 9.-Revenue Bill in Committee. All-night sitting. March 10.-Supplementary Civil Service Estimates. March 13. Mr. Murray Macdonald's motion deprecating the growth of expenditure on armaments was rejected in favour of Mr. King's amendment on the subject of international arrangements for disarmament. Sir Edward Grey made a pronouncement in favour of a Peace Treaty with America, which roused the House to great enthusiasm. March 14.-Mr. Haldane made his annual statement on the Army Estimates. March 15.-Army Estimates in Committee. March 16.-Mr. McKenna introduced the Navy Estimates. March 17.-The Report of Supplementary Supply was agreed to. Mr. Churchill's Coal Mines Bill was read a second time. March 20.-Navy Estimates in Committee. March 21.-On the Report of the Vote on Account, various subjects were discussed, specially accidents in mines. Working miners are to be appointed as inspectors. March 22.-Army Estimates in Committee. March 23.-Consolidated Fund (No. 1) Bili. Second reading. March 24.-Revenue Bill: The four remaining Government clauses were agreed to, and the consideration of the new clauses was postponed. March 27.--Revenue Bill; progress reported. March 30.-The Revenue Bill was read a third time. March 31.-The Shops Bill, introduced by Mr. Masterman, was read a second time and sent to a Grand Committee. Unionist majority PARLIAMENTARY. House of Lords. March 1.-National and Local Taxation; Lord Crewe promised a Departmental Committee. March 2.-Lord Balfour's Referendum Bill was read a first time. March 6.-Reciprocity Agreement between Canada and the United States: Lord Morley replied to questions. March 8.-The Declaration of London was debated. March 13.-The debate was concluded, the motion for a Royal Commission to report on it being withdrawn. March 14.-The Perjury Bill passed through Committee. March 15.-Children's Employment Act of 1903 Amendment Bill read a second time. |