New-York tribune., 1875-02-16

raised from the floor by sticks anu grass '"0
lighted ON The outside opposite the door, ana
servant lad slept within to attend to his masters
wants in the night. -
On April 80. Chitambo. the native chief, came
early in the morning to pay visit OF respect, a"u
was shown into the doctors presence, Dut no was
obliged 70 send him away asking him to come again
on the morrow when he hoped to have more strehgth
10 talk with bin. He was not again disturbed. ih
tbo afternoon he asked Susl to bring his watch to
the bedside and place it in the palm OF his hand'
while he slowly turned the key. SO tho hours stole
On tin nightfali. The men silently took TO their
buts. Others, whose duty it was to keep watcn,
sat round tho fres all feeling that tho end was not
far off The doctor spoke several times during the
evening but remained for the most part In quiet
doze. Soon after midnight he called for the medi-
cine chest. and selecting some calomel' ne
said to the attendant in low fecoie
voice: "All right; You can go out
now.y These were the last words no
was ever heard to speak. About o'clock in tho
morning. the men were aroused by the watcher,
who thought that the sufferer was no longer alive
They passed in and looked toward the bed. Or.
Livingstone was not lying on it, but appeared to DO
engaged in prayer. They drew back instInctiyely
for a moment but soon came nearer. DR.. Living
stone was kneellng by the side of his bed His body
was stretched forward, and his head buried in his
hands upon the pillow. For momeat they watched
him He did not stir, aid there was no sign Of
breathing One of them then advanced softly, and
placed his hand upon his checks 1t was sufficient; ;
Livingstone was dead; life had been extinct for
some time, and tho body was almost cold.
Thus perished man whose claims to be classed
among the most heroic spirits Of modern history
will not be called in question by any who value
rcsolute will, dauntlesS courage, and tho habit OF
devoted self. sacrifice as the supreme elements Of
human virtue. But the heroism Of DR.. Livingstone
the heroism Of conviction, not of romance. Tho
faculty of imagination was not predominant IN Dl3
nature. Nor did he posse IS the Burning enthusiasm
which sometimes prompts to the accomplishment OF
greai enterprises. The practical elements were
strongly blended in his composition. with blt o
slight tincture of the ideal His ruling motive was
the of duty. Apart from all personal aims, he
had the consciousness of a high mission, which iG
was the great purpose Of his life to fulfill. Lie thus
wrought patiently and pobly, as "ever in his great
task-masters eye" faithfully persistlng in his work
till the final summons of death. The true essence
of his character finds an impressive illustTa-
ton in the following extract from his diary " In
this Journey havo endeavored to follow with un-
swerving fidelity the line Of duty My course has
been an even one turning neither to the night hand
nor to the left though my route has been tortuOus
enough All the hardship, hunger and toll wero
met with the full conviction that was riSl in per-
severng to make complete work Of the explora-
ton of the sources Of the Nile. Mine has been o
calm, hopeful endeavor to do the work that has
been given me to do, whether succeed or whether
fail The prospect of death in pursuing what
knew to be right did not mako me veer 60 one side
or the other. / had a strong presentlment during
tue first three years that should never live through
the enterprise, but it weakened as came near to
the end of the Journey and eager desire to dis
cover any evidence Of the great Moses having visited
these parts bound me, spell-bOund me, may say !;
for if could bring to light any thing TO confirm the
Sacred Oraces, should not grudge one whit all the
labor expended. | have to go down the Central
Luaaba, or Webbs Lake River then up the Vest
ern or Youngs Lake River, to Katanga head-waters,
and then retire. pray that it may be to my native
homcp FrOil this point Of view, tho discoveries OF
Dr. Livingstone in Africa form one Of hls least i'm
portant services TO humanity. His rare example OF
dsinterestedness and purity of character devotion
TO noble aim, and strenuous energy OF action, con-
stitutes more precious legacy than tho measure
ment of mountains the tracing Of rivers to their
source.