The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-08-22 00:00:00

THE NEW EXPEDITION TO AFRICA.

Many of the leading American journals have published
comments on the new expedition into Central Africa to be
made by Mr. H. M. Stanley. under the joint auspices of the
Daily Telegraph and the New York Herald. The New York
Tribune writes as follows :

"The London Daily Telelraph announces that the
proprietors of that paper have united with Mr. James
Gordon Bennett in organising an expedition of
African discovery, under the command of Mr. Henry
M. Stanley. The purpose of the enterprise is to
complete the work left unfinished by the lamented
death of Dr. Livingstone; to solve, if possible,
the remaining problems of the geography of Cen-
tral Africa; and to investigate and report upon
the haunts of the slave-traders. For this difficult
and dangerous journey Mr. Stanley has displayed
fitness of a peculiar kind, and we cannot but feel a
pride in theselection of one of our countrymen, and a
member of our calling, for an honourable a task. 'He
will represent,' says the Telegraph, ' the two nations
whose common interest in the regeneration of Africa
was so well illustrated when the lost English explorer
was rediscovered by the energetic American corres-
pondent. In that memorable journey Mr. Stanley
displayed the best qualities of an African traveller ;
and with no inconsiderable resources at his disposal
to reinforce his own complete acquaintance with
the conditions of African travel, it may be hoped
that very important results will secure from this
undertaking to the advantage of science, humanity,
and civilization.' Mr. Bernett, has, noadoubt, entered
upon this work with all that lavish liberality in the
promotion ot daring and adventurous deeds, and that
keen desire for the laurels of his profession which have
long been admired in him. The exceptional journalism
which, not content with recording history, must needs
make it, has seldom been more signally illustrated
than in this new African adventure, and its success
will be applauded by none more warmly than by Mr.
Bennett's rivals in business."

at nehool during the brief period of their scholastic' Me
so irregularly,—in consequence of this, it was impos-
sible to secure any satisfactory progress. The report
to the Committee of Council also stated that last year
about 800,000 children were pt esented for examination
in the six standards. If these cialdien were kept at
school regularly, there would be something like
125,000 or 130,000 in each standard. Now, what was the
actual result? It was almost inconceivable and it
filled him with great shame when he realized it, that
only 15,000 passed. Such a state of things was most
unsatisfactory and discreditable, and until they could
get a more regular, uninterrupted attendance from I
the children to their schools he VIDA afraid they '
would not be able to wipe away the disgrace which
existed among them. That was the reason of so
many grown-up persons reading and writing so im-
perfectly. They were sent late to school, where
only there two or three years, and no more, and what
they were taught was forgotten and passed away.
These were very serious problems not only for state's-
men and clergymen, but for every man who wished
well of his country. Whether a better system of
things was to be brought about by the adoption of
an uniform system of compulsion, after the Prussian
model, which absolutely required the attendance of
every child at school for a certain number of years, or
until he had reached a certain standard of attainment,
he did not know. lie would rather that the work
were done by the voluntary and enlightened self-in-
terest of the parents, who ought to sacrifice something
for their children's education. If parents would not
make the sacrifice voluntary, he really thought the
State ought to step is lorasperemptis and bring to a
higher level the present inadequate and miserable
amount of culture and education. (Cheers.)