Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1872-09-28
DR.. Livingstone.

Sphinx, who hollis unsolved her retj- |
cent mysteries in the heart Of the
torrid zone, or keeps silence amid the
girlled SHOWS Of the boreal regions.
Again and again the eager explorer
spcosnters suffering, hardship, and
danger, in the prosecution Of geo
graphical research and we follow
with fascinated interest the pathway
Of the latest daring adventarer, who
has penetrated into that mysterious
region known al the interior Of Africa.
In the scorching silence Of that burn.
ing cline we have imagined the lost
traveller Livingstone wandering in .
labyrinth of vegetation, rank, and
luxuridds navigating unknown rivers
listening to the Turing voices of murky
and murlnurous seas or pressing on,
under vertical sun---attached b,
mild eyed narbarians. toward the Nc.
cret sources Of the mysterious Nile.
The reports concering him have been
so conflicting and unreliable, that
while many supposed his bones were
whitening IN the shining silence 0f.the
slmmer-land, others gave credence to
the idea that he was passing days Of
lndolent enjoyment, and nights of
vOluptuous iepose, in the swinging
hammock, content to l0iter away years
IN the researches. which had become
to him the prominent object Of exist.
ence. Happily these spec,ilations have
been set lit rest by letters from the ex.
plorcr himself-letters, a. touching in
their batfos az they are brave and de.
tsriiiinrd in their mahliness. The au-
thenticity of these was ut first ques
toned, but confirmation of their
gphuineness has been rectived from
reliable sources aud we rejoice in the
personal safety of the long-lOst travel.
er. whose valuable statistics fprOmise
d
extended information regarding that
hitherto almost unknown country
southern central Africa. The system
of fountains converging into four
large rivers, though mentioned in
Hrrodolus, and partially spoken of by
subsequent authors treating of the
mysterious sources of the Nile, had
never been Systematically. explored.
Livingstone seeins to have followed
their line drainage with indefatigable
and persistent perseverance lalthough
he cOilfesses that almost every step
of tile weary, sultry way in pain') for
some four or five hundred miles, leset
by dangers and difficulties innumer.
able; aud, finally, when almost in
sight Of the geographical part OF his
MISSION forced to return without it's
tuIl accomplishment. There is some.
thing grand in the heroic and uncom.
planning endurance Ut this man.
Separated from the dearest ties Of
humanity [; associated for years with
naked and bsrbsrous savages, kept
only FROM taxing his life by the gilt.
trring baubles he bestowed upon them,
or the ultimate hope Of richer rewards !;
disappointed and wandering for DAYS
under blazing sun, farther and
father from his kind--we can imagine
the supreme felicity of that moment
when the American Aag--for the tirst
time seen IL those r,arts-greeted his
hungry eyes. Events which had I've.
come history to us were to him news
of thrilling interest. The political
changes sweeping over Europe the
successive events following our own
disnnion aud reconstruction the al.
filiation Of foreign nations heretofore
seeming almost as remote an Africa
itself; and. above all, and dearest of
all, the central joy of hearing directly
from family and friends-revived bis
bodily health, 30 that in writing to
the gentlemen who had generously
instituted the, seach for him, he init.
mates . desire to finish his work, III
spite Of his sore longing for reunity
with his family. Such a man q
David Livingstone is a gift to the age
He belongs to no nationality; and 4
an American citizen il SO fortunate al
to have bsen the means of rendering
him aid in his hour Of need, it ia lik,
largesse bestowed upon a prince. Tn,
proud obligations remains with th.
giver-an honor to him and HE for
ever. In the closing paragraph o