Stanley Africans.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 12 January 1892, Page 3

Stanley Africans.

Q'Ems was Mr H. M. Stanley styled I>y the London papers after his last remarkable tour through Africa— * Stanley Africanus. The mere sight of a man who has dared to-do the deeds he has, is worth much, still more to heav those tales of danger and pluck told by the lips of the man who led, and lucky are those people who are able conveniently to aV«end his lecture. Unfortunately we can hardly expect a visit, as even a Minister of the Colony has asserted that this town is an " isolated " place, but though this is only an instance of the reckless statements made by a " labour " Ministry, we are not surprised that a getleman of world-wide fame, making a flying tour through our country, is unable to give us a call. H. M. Stanley is an example of -what a man can do without any of the aids of fortune and interest, if he •will only avail himself of the time and opportunity which is said is offered to every one, once in. his lifetime. " Taffy was a Welshman," and so is H. M. l tanley, he having been born at Denbigh in 1841. His proper name is John Rolands, but on leaving school he emigrated to New Orleans and was adopted by a Mr Stanley, whose name he assumed. His benefactor soon died and left Stanley nothing but his name, and then commenced in real earnest his most remarkable careeiv He took part in the American Civil War, having curiously fought for both South and North. He next became a contributor to the New York Herald; then he served as Lieatenant in the American Navy in Asia Minor, where he was captured by brigands, and escaped with only his life. He then acted as war correspondent for the Herald in the Abyssinian war, and after that, during the Spanish revolution. Gordon Bennett then ordered him to 14 Go and find Livingstone " which opened up the series of remarkable travels through Africa with which all are pretty well posted. It is a great record for a poor Welsh boy to have been entrusted with such responsible positions, (in which he has proved the wisdom of his selection) and to have been feted in every city, and presented with the freedom of the city of London, and to have been married in Westminster Abbey. Nothing has shown more clearly how the honours of the world can be .unlocked by anyone who has the will dRI the strength to unlock them. All\honour to pur-visitor for bringing the&e facts so clearly before us. In pursuing his way through the dark mysterious paths of an unknown country, •'. M. Stanley showed no more determination than when he decided to prepare his account of his travels, for his publishers. Directly he got to Cairo, he refused to go out, except once or twice to dine, until he got b.is copy ready. He shut himself u|p in his bedroom from early morninjg till late at night. Be rarely went jont except for' a stroll round the .garden. He said of himself, " I have so many pages to write. I know that if I do not complete this work by a certain time, when other and i imperative duties are imposed upon me, I shall never complete it at all. When my work is accomplished, then I will talk with you, laugh with you, and play with you, or ride with you to your heart's content; but let me alone now, for heaven's sake." During his writing he was necessarily annoyed at interruptions, and when his black boy, Bali, approached his den, the least he expected was, to have the inkstand thrown at bjs head. He no longer ventured in. One day he orginated a new way of Raving his head ; he had a telegram to deliver, so he inginiously fixed it on the end of a long bamboo, and getting the door just ajar, he poked it into the room and bolted.

Mr Marston in Scribner's thus sums up his estimate of Mr Stanley's character :- His^ conversation, frequently impassioned, was always elevated and pure, carrying with it the conviction of truthfulness and earnestness of purpose; his conception of duty high and noble; his scorn of everything sordid and mean strong and withering ; he is truthful and sincere, and without a tinge of envy or malice. He is generous even lavish in his gifts: notwithstanding his iron will his heart is as tender as a child's. That his mind is imbued with a reverential belief in an ever-ruling Providence is constantly exhibited in his conversation .

Stanley has said " I am not what is called superstitious. I believe in God, the creator of the Universe. . . . . For all the human glory that surrounds the memory of Darwin and his wise compeers throughout advanced Europe, I would not abate a jot or tittle of my belief in the Supreme God and that JDivine man called His Son.

JjCause and Effect — " My little boy, s JiP died "when he was only two ninths old, just after he had been ■fccinated."— " How very sad I Bad Tie-been baptised ?"— " Yes, sir ; but if"was"TKe vaccination as carried him off, sir." , Naval Note— The [shibboleth of international courtesy in these days of big ironclad fleets ihould snrelv