The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-05-15
ANECDOTES OF STANLEY
TRAITS THAT HAVE MADE HIM
GREATEST OF EXPLORERS.
His Mastery of the Art OF Managing
the Untutored savages of the
Dark Continent.

| tht Sututorcu buNukcs VI tHt
Dark Continent.
Probably nothing has contributed more
largely to the wonderful success of Stan
ley than his mastery of the art of manag-
ing that ohild-man, the untptored saw
age. The many fights that Stanley has
had with the natives of Africa have given
rise to the utterly erroneous notion that
he is indifferent to human life, and that
he has even shot down natives in pure
wantonness. All students of his work
know that he never fired shot at ma
tive unless he was driven to it by the dan
gers that threatened himself aud his OK
petition. When II. H. Johnston, who
wrote the first book, after Stanley's, on
the Congo, was about to start up the
liver the great explorer said to him :
"Pat native, slap him If you will with
the open hand, but never strike him with
the clenched fist, and never shoot until
you are first attacked and escape seems
hopeless
Herbert Ward tells o story illustrating
Stanley's readiness of resources in dealing
with crafty savage trying to ovemeach
him. When the explorer reached STAN
ley Pool on his last expedition the big
Bateke chief Ngalyema, who figured con-
spicuously in SANKEY'S book on the
Congo State, came to him demanding a
big present on the ground that some of
his carriers had taken bananas from his
plantation. Stanley had good reason to
believe the willy ivory trader was lying,
and he did not propose to fall into his
trap. Almost any one else would have
told the chief he was prevaricator, and
there would have been an angry discus
sion and bad feeling on all Sides but that
was not Stanley's way. He at once sum-
moned all his men into line and walked
up and down in front of it with the
chief, asking him to pick out the cul.
prits. Ngalyema said he could not do it.
"Now look here, Ngalyema," said
Stanley, show can pay you for stolen
bananas unless you give me proof that
my men have stolen them; and how can
punish thieves unless know who they
are? Wait minute"
Stanley withdrew into his tent and
presently emerged with piece of chalk.
"See here, Ngalyema, he said, "this
little thing in my hand makes a white
mark on the black skin. Take it. The
next time you catch my men stealing
your bananas you mark the thieves on
the back with this piece of chalk. Then
l will know who the thieves are. and can
punish them, and l will pay you for the
bananas they have stolen"
The chief was not quite empty handed
when he went away, for he had the
chalk.
There are men who have served with
Stanley who do not like him, for he came
to believe them inefficient, and he has no
patience with incompetency. But,
though they complain of his harsh and
supercilious treatment, they one and all
bear testimony to his kindness to the ma
tives. SIN his dealings with the ma
tiyes," writes Braconnier, she is invar-
ably kind, merciful and polite. He
palavers with them. He respects their
customs, their religions and their tradi-
tions. There is not an atom Of truth in
the accusations of cruelty against him. +"
The same policy has guided Stanley in
his dealings with the semi-savages who
by hundreds have been in his service as
! porters. A more rascally, ungovernable
mob than the crowd of Zanzibaris who
have sometimes followed Stanley leader.
ship could hardly be conceived. 1t is a
fact that on one occasion, at least, the
| jails Of Zanzibar were emptied to supply
Stanley with the porters he required.
But he has always sought to have his
men regard him as kind, considerate
father. They have involved him in
many dilemma, and he can be very
severe when necessary; but in his career
he has never executed but four of his
followers, all in his last expedition.
Besides being strict disciplinarian
and master in the art of bending the
natives to his will. Stanley owes his sue
cess in large part to his remarkable
organizing and administrative ability.
He never undertakes mission in Africa
without having it clearly understood be.
| fore he consents to act what his actual
orders are and what are to be the limits
of his discretion. This done he fulfls
his duty at any sacrifice, and bends every
resource to its accomplishment. But he
never undertakes more than he has
| promised to accomplish.
During his founding Of the Congo
State he made it point never to push a
mile forward until he had thoroughly or.
gained the mile behind him. Some.
times he was confronted by difficulties
that seemed insuperable. Then he would
retire to his tent to think the matter
over, and the chances were nine in ten
that in few hours he had hit upon some
way out of the situation. He was never
chummy with his subordinates, nor even
ordinarily sociable, when his load of care
was heavy, though at rare intervals he
would be delightfully."- entertaining in
conversation. He had the confidence and
esteem of every man who ever served
under him, but they did not love him.
One of his Lieutenants wrote of him
"He lives apart from us. would never
think of asking him for reasons. Some.
times he would say to me, Strike your
tents; we start in ten minutes Had /
been foolish enough to say, Where are
you goingN he would have answered.
Mine your own business, not mine"
Father Schynze, the Catholic mission.
airy who returned to the coast with Stan.
ley and Emin from the south of Victoria
Nyanza, draws this graphic picture of the
commander:
STANLEY is leader, commander. He
keeps strict order. At sunrise shril
whistle, sounded by Stanley himself, or
ders everybody to take his place in the
caravan and march. He maintains the
strictest discipline, and his men know
him. Scarcely has the last sound OF the
whistle died away before all stand ready
to march, with their burdens on their
shoulders. Stanley lights his short pipe,
and, armed with a long cane, walks at
the head of the caravan, followed by
boy with parasol, his servant with a
Winchester rifle, and Wangwana who
leads his ass. Then follows the caravan.
l a -. L = 4 4