New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-01
David Livingstone, the African
Explorer.

Ur. Livingstone was hfty-flyc years old
last March; born IN Blantyre, Scotland his
father small tradesman; earning his boy
hood-living as cotton-spinner studying
medicine during his leisure hours, and finally,
at the age of twenty-three, obtaining diplo-
ma. He went out to Port Natal as mis-
sionary under the auspices of the London
Missionary Society in 1910. Falling in with
the Rev. Robert Motiat, the father of African
missions, he became dOmiciliated in his
family, and after a brief acquaintance mar
ried one of his daughters. The young wife,
in more than one sense, proved to be the
complement of her husband. They had
both the same love for adventure, dislike oil
conventionalities, and fearlessness of danger.
But what he wanted in sagacity, she made
up in prudence, and whenever he was
tempted to throw aside the restraints of civ
ilized life, her womanly ways held him true
to his allegiance. Until 1862 she was his
constant companion, fearless fellow-traveler,
and devoted help-meet; and it will probably
be made apparent some day that her uneX-
pected death, on the 9th of March, 1862,
when she was planning to take part in the
lambert expedition, was the one irreparable
loss of the DOCTORS life.
Livingstone had been absent sixteen years
when he first returned to England. His COM
munications to the Royal Geographical So
ciety had already made him famous. lie
was received most cordially by men OF
science was honored by fellowships in va
rious societies and degrees from the universe
ties; had conferred upon him the freedom OF
the cities of London, Liverpool, and Man.
chester; was feted and toasted, dined and
lionized by the Guilds received the gracious
recognition of the value of his discoveries
from the Queen; made the intimate acquaint-
ance of his ardent admirer Prince Albert
and had voted to him by reclamation the
Victoria medal OF the Royal Geographical
Society. To one who saw him at that day,
there was little in personal appearance to
mark him as a man of distinction. He was
above medium height, erect in posture, with
black hair, dark eyes, bronzed complexion,
and jungle of unkempt moustache; his
manner awkward; his speech hesitating, as
if he had half forgotten his vernacular; his
voice husky; his clothes hanging loosely
about him !; and his tout ensemble exactly what
he was-a man who hated the conventional
ties ola London aristocratic circle, and lOnged
for the half-naked freedom of negro village.
But his friends would not let him alone.
He was a rare godsend for May Fair and
Belgravia. So they made great receptions in
gilded salons where he was to narrate his adj
ventures; held Royal society and Exeter
hall meetings that he might appear on the
platform; gave him field day at the British
association; compelled him to deliver lectures,
speak at missionary associations, and pray
at charity gatherings; and then, to the poor
mans utter disgust, Gin proof of which see
the preface to his travels,) forced him to
write book. No wonder that within a
twelve-month he joyfully turned his back
upon the green fields of England, nor that
his second visit home, five years afterwards,
was made almost rudely brief. Indeed but
that for the material aid that he needed, and
most literally received, in order to carry for.
ward his plans in Africa, he would probably
never have returned at all.
And now that those grand plans of 1856,
the making of Central Africa, the rival cot
ton field OF the United States the civilizing
of the black barbarians by means of steam
boats and wheelbarrows the opening of vast
regions for the sale of Brummagen beads and
Manchester drills are long gone, and theil
capital with them. Now that recent discov.
cries by other travellers have dimmed the
lustre Of the Scotch missionary; now thai
he has no wife to call him back, nor family
that needs his care, nor home made sacred
by associations, nor intimate friends to bic
him welcome; why should he come at all
The instincts toward primitive life, common
to humanity, are strong in DIR. Livingstone
We believe his long absence to have been
vOluntary.-BostOnG Globe.