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 I prefer to be prepared for the very worst rather than bolster myself up with false hopes and too optimistic anticipations. I suppose that at first but very few persons will find so marked an advantage from the acquisition of this language that they will be willing to waste over it even one hour of their time; that the great bulk of my readers will give little or no attention to my work, and not readily make up their minds to enter upon its study; some may think it will not pay them for their trouble, others may fear to be considered as “visionaries”–a reproach that, in our days, most people look on as being a disgrace, and of which, more than anything else, they stand in dread. What shall be done then to encourage this vast mass of indifferent and undecided people, to give them an impetus to study this new language?

If our looks could penetrate into the souls of these lukewarm persons, no doubt we should behold the following: that while on general principles there is no one opposed to the introduction of an International Language, but, on the contrary, would be greatly pleased with it, yet each one wants this great change to be effected without the least inconvenience or sacrifice on his part; that all of a sudden he should awaken some fine morning and find the whole wide world speaking this new tongue. Were this to be so, then the most indifferent would haste to master it, because to be deterred by the slight labor of learning a language which possesses so many excellent qualities and is already known by the vast majority of the world, would be but a big piece of childishness.

Desirous of offering the public a work already finished and through which, without the faintest effort or sacrifice on any one’s part, the desired result could be achieved, as above set forth, I have made the following arrangement: The present pamphlet will be sent to all parts of the world, and I only ask that each reader into whose hands it may fall, instead of giving