New-York tribune., 1890-06-29

This is characteristic record Of the crOwnine
achievement of a marvellous career MIR. Stanley
writes his book very much he marches through
Africa-wth the rrestiblc energy Of an imperiou
will Cairo his first halting-place after IN
return 10 Zanzibar with Emin. lie hired hous'
and set himself 10 work, and in two months thes'
volumes were completed. For the weary and eN
hausted explorer, who had been three years on
the Congo and the Aruwimi, the Nyanzas and Tho
Ruwenzori enduring the hardness like patient
soldier" the toll and drudgery Of SO arduous a
literary undertaking had only potent fascination
CONCENTRATIONS, lionizing and feastine would IN
evitably overwhclm him upon his return tc
Europe, ana the responsible work Of recording
the history of the Relief Expedition, on which
the cyes of Christcndom had been fastened must
be- begun and finished without day delay. Mt
Stanlty's energy is consuming flame H. was
December when he reached the Indian Ocean, ana
to-day these volumes issued simultaneously IN
five or six languages If ever an author hao
GOOD excuse for procrastinatiop ana seh-ihoui-
gencc this jaded leader of the forest march was
entitled TO a long holiday; but he could not rest
until the work was done
Mr. Stanley's privations and adventures IL
quest Of Enlin, and lbs mountain ana "kc
discoveries on the way to thc sea- n"'c
been rccounted ia detail 40 many tunes
in this journal tndI ll NOulu w
task 70 present in narrative form AN outline OF
the contents of these volumes. The story oi MS
aponizinp march through uninhabltabie Will
derness his meeting with Emin. his return to the
Aruwimi for the misma aged and denoralized rear
ruard his third arrival at the Nyanza. his mill
tary preparations for the rescue of the Europeans
imprisoned in Wadelai, his exploration oi Ihc in'
jestic snow-capped mountains of the kuwehzoi'
and his successful retreat TO the sea is lahlii !"
all readers 1t is unnecessary in referring 10 MI
Stanley's book TO do more than to llius'fa'e .nc
manner and spirit in which he has coulpiieu l-'
chronicle of one of the nobleSt and most unseInsh
of relief expeditions. The manner is peculiarly
his own, vitalized with energy. rapid i'll action'
keen and incisive in style. and sef-relaht ana
authoritative in tone. The spirit is noble ana
macnaniInous, the most generous appreciation
being shown for the efforts of all who aided him
in his work. and the most indulgent charity tor
those who embarrassed. crippled and deserted hlni
and especially for the vacillating and ungratefnl
Governor of the Equatorial Provinces
Mr. Stanley has written many works OF travel,
but never before has he succeeded in producing
ANYTHING remarkable for literary form ana hhlsh.
These volumes have descriptive passages OF sihgu-
lar excellence: the style is trenchan', vigorous
and clear; and the literary workmanship Is
markedly superior TO that of any of his previous
work Mr. Stanley is deficient III humor Inc
grim sarcasm with which he regards the mex
nlicable inaction of the leaders of the rearguard
is the closest approach to humor which Is mace
Only a man of action who was terrpiy Ill
earnest could have led his followers three time
through the tropical wilderness between the congo
and the Nyanza, and he could have had no eye
for the rrotesque If his narrative IS not lumlned
by flashes of humor neither is it narrowed and
confined by any traces of literary pedantry. His
nature has been deepcned by scifcommumon i'll
the solitude of the wilderness and in the over
shadowing presence of the majestic mountain
monarchs of the Nyanzas. He returns 70 clNlliza-
ton after accomplishing work which no otler
man living could have DONE with lerNcnt SENSE
of gratitude for Divine mercy which is entirely
free from can't. Constrained, he says, at the
darkest hour to humbly confess that without
Gods help was helpless. vowed vow in the
forest sotudes that would confess Ills ald before
men, A silence Of death was round about
me; it was midnight; was weakened by Illness
prostrated with fatigue and worn with anxiety
for my white and black companions, whose tate
was mystery. In this physical and mental
distress l besought God TO give me back my
people Nine hours later we we're eXultlng with
n rapturous Joy. In full view of all was the
,ong-lost rear column 1t is easy for d man
who writes in that spirit 10 do justice to the
living and the dead, TO those who thwarted and
almost fatally embarrassed him, and TO those
who failed to appreciate his agonizins labors and
heroic selfsacufce.
The most impressive passages of these admir-
able volumes relate TO the Central African forests,
which are rivaled only by the Amazon woods.
This belt includes a compact area of 3?l,O5'
square miles OF primeval woods Mr.. Stanley
quotes contemptuousy Professor Drummond'S
description of the forests of tropical Africa as
confirming that charming writer's own estimate
of himself as "a minor traveller. possessing Dnt
few assets lie asserts that the description
given by the tourist in Nyassaland bears no more
resemblance to tropical Africa than the tors OF
Devon or the moors of Yorkshire or the downs
Of Dover represent the smiling scenes OF England
of leafy Warwickshire, the gardens OF Kent and
the glorious wales OF the isle. The eSSlitiai
features of this wonderful forest area arc 'lvIdy
portrayed in the following passages;
Now let us look at this great foroH, not for a
scientific analysis of its woods and p. sductons, but
10 get real idea of what 1t is ike III covers such
"a vast area il is SO varied and yet 50 Uniform
i'm its features that il would require many books
TO treat of it properly. Nay, II we regard IL 700
closely legion Of specialists would DE Needed
We have no time 50 examine the Duds ah', thc
flowers or the fruit, and the many marvels Ol
vegetation, OF to regard the fine differences pe-
tween bark and leaf In the various towering treeS
around u.s. or TO compare the different cAuuatiOIs
in the viscous or vitrifed gums. or which drip IN
milky tears amber globules, or opaline pasuls,
or TO observe the industrious ants winch ascend
and descend up and down the tree shafts, whose
deep wrinkles of bark are as valleys and ridges 10
the insect armies or TO wait for the furious strus
gre which will surely ensue between them and
Wonder army of red ants. Nor at this time do
we care to probe into that mighty mass oil dead
tree brown and porous as a sponge, for already
it is a mere semblanoe of a PROSTATE log. WltnM
il is alive with minute tribes. III would charm
an entomoloeist Put your ear to il, AID you
hear a distinct murmurous hum. II is the stir
and movement of insect life in many forms, match
less in size glorious in color, radiant IN livery,
rejoicing in their occupations. eNul,ant in their
fierce but brief life most insatiate OF their kind,
ravaging, foragng, fighting, destroying, building
and swarming everywhere ana exploring every
thing Lean but your hand on tree. measure
but your length on the ground. seat yourself on
fallen branch. and YOU will then understand what
venom fury. voracity and activity breatheS around
you. Open your notebook, the page attracts a
len Inn hl,,.n mr.