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dwells with whom communication could be had by means of any of these tongues.
All these attempts are based upon the pleasure that their appearance is likely to cause to the world and upon the unanimous sanction upon which they unhesitatingly rely; but this unanimous sanction is the most difficult of all things to acquire when we take into consideration the utter indifference of the world at large towards these productions of the pen; attempts that do not carry with them any return of profit, immediate and palpable, and which reckon solely upon one’s good will to waste one's time for the benefit of the public. The vast majority of people do not bother about such things, and those who do take any interest do not think it worth their while to learn a language which no one understands except its inventor. “As soon as the whole world, or perhaps some millions of people, take it in hand to learn, why, then, I’ll do the same.” For this reason, appealing to so limited a class, the language finds no adherents, and dies at the hour of its birth. If; notwithstanding these difficulties, a language, say, for example, like Volapük, has obtained a certain number of adherents, it is only because the notion of a universal language is so attractive and so elevating, that it finds always enthusiasts, who, not considering the probability of success, are willing to sacrifice their time in order to contribute towards the realization of so lofty an ideal. But the number of such students must be always limited, for the world, cold and indifferent, will not give up its leisure solely to be understood by a mere handful of people, and this last attempt, like all that have gone before it, is destined to disappear after a time, leaving no fruits behind.
For many years have I pondered over the question of an International Language, but not believing myself to he more capable nor more energetic than my predecesors, whose works had borne no results, for a long time I contented myself
