The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-03-07
Honors to Stanley in London.


A special from London to the New
York Herald says: Last evening Feb..
y Henry M. Stanley dined with His
Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales,
and after enjoying the hospitalities of
st. James Palace, proceeded to the meet
ing of the Royal Geographical Society
at st. James Hall where he delivered
lecture before an immense assemblage.
Over 5000 persons were present, includ-
ing the principal nobility and nearly
every distinguished parsonage in Lon-
don associated with science, art and lit
erature.
All the tickets were special and COM
plimentary, and the invitation SO ex-
tended was eagerly availed of, so that
the spacious hall was thronged. The
Prince of Wales was accompanied by
Prince Louis Napoleon, ex- Prince I'M
perial of France. The son of the Khe-
dive of Egypt and Midhat Pasha also at
tended the meeting, testifying, by their
presence the appreciation with which
Mr.. Stanley's great geographical sue.
cess is regarded by the Royal family of
England. a
Mr.. Stanley, on appearing on the plat
form, was received with immense cheer
ing, the whole assembly rising to greet
him. Standing before this vast audi
ence, which represented the wealth and
culture Of England, his breast blazing
with decorations received from Kings
and the Chiefs of the Republic of Sci
ence, the gallant explorer silently bowed
his acknowledgements of the honors ten
dered to him. e $50 4es.
On rising to deliver his impromptu
lecture, Mr.. Stanley spoke with clear,
firm voice, and with a most happy mix
ture of hnmor, sarcasm and pathos,
gave graphic description of his won
derful journey across Africa. For two
hours he held the attention of the as
semblage without wearying his hearers
in the least by scientific or prosaic Ian
guage. Although speaking without the
preparation usual for such occasions,
Stanley sketched sections of the scenes
and events of his journey, dwelling
sometimes on most interesting details,
and evoking the heartiest applause. He
told of the bloody and desperate battles
for life with the hostile and cannibal
nations; of the terrible cataracts that
threatened destruction to his'whole par
ty, embarked, as it was, in. frail canoes;
of the horrors of famine that so fre-
quently proved as fatal as human ene-
mics; of his rescue by the white men
from Embonia, where his weary and
famished followers were brought to the
verge of utter despair, and his final and
fortunate arrival on the Atlantic coast
at the mouth of the great River Congo.
His description of the return of the
survivors of the noble band of natives
who had accompanied him across the
African Continent to their homes at
Zanzibar was one calculated, and did
not fail, to touch the sympathies of his
hearers. When they arrived on their
beloved island Of palms and mangroves,
and to their wondering families, they
kneeled down on the sea-shore and
kissed their native sands in transport
of joy and thankfulness. sss
When Mr.. Stanley concluded his lee
ture he was greeted with prolonged APP
| plause. When the cheering had sub
sided the Prince of Wales addressed the
assemblage in short speech filled with
compliments to Stanley. The praise of
the Prince of Wales was regarded as
unusually significant. The distinguish
ed African traveller and explorer, Sir
Samuel +. Baker, followed the Prince of
| Wales in brief address After CON-
plimenting Stanley on his great achieve
ment, he said only an African traveller
| could appreciate Stanley's great work.