Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-25
STORIES. OF STANLEY.
The Great Explorers Friendship for
Livingstone's Daughter.
AN INTERVIEW WITH BISMARCK.
Annoyed Out of Amiability by the Persist.
ent Visitors at Cairo.
NO MONEY MADE ON THE EXPEDITION
WRITTEN FOE THE p1srArcH.l

There is something curious, and at the
first sight unaccountable, in the interest
which Henry M. Stanley takes IN Scotland;
though in truth Scotland takes quite as
much interest in him. The problem is
solved, however, when Wa remember that
David Livingstone, typical Scot, was the
pro1imate cause of his first visit to Africa.
Itwas sLivingstone,or or Livingstone's fate, ,that
made Stanley an African explorer. The
Livingstone link, as it may be called, still
survives in the person of Livingstone's
daughter, Mrs. Bruce, who resides in Edin-
burgh. She and her husband. Mr.. A L.
Bruce, are among Stanley's most intimate
friends. 1t was due to his friendship with
them that when the Royal Scottish Geo.
graphical Society was established in the end
of 1884, Stanley came to Sc otland and de-
livered brilliant inaugural addresses in
Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee.
met him frequently at that time, and
still retain vivid impressions of the man
and his racy talk. I we'll remember the
zest and humor with which he described an
interview be had had short time previously
with Prince Bismarck in Berlin. Their
conversation had turned on certain negotia-
tions on African affairs, in connection with
which there was q suggestion that on the
one side there had been something very like
hypocrisy. There did not seem in Bis
marck's view to be anything Objectionable
in that. Putting his long pipe, and glanc-
ing at Stanley with twinkle in his eye, he
said 81 love hypocrisy"
ALLEGIANCE TO AMERICA.
During the same visit I had an oppor-
tunity OF observing delight. ul instance of
that hauteur which Stanley sometimes as
sumes with signal effect. The incident
occurred at a small luncheon party in
private house. The conversation turned on
nationality and the hostess, not aware of
the delicate ground she was treading on.
said to her guest: "But Mr.. Stanley, I
thought you were q Welshman." Stanley
drew himself up, as he knows we'll how to
do, and dropping the corners Of his mouth,
replied with great dignity: "Madam, I am
an American"
An intimate friend of the explorer, who
visited Stanley few weeks ago when he was
in Cairo, gives me the following interesting
information concerning him:
"Stanley is looking extremely well, and
is, indeed, in splendid health and spirits.
So lar is he from being dismayed by his re-
cent experiences that he is quite ready to re-
turn to the heart OF Africa OIL the smallest
persuasion. There is something extraordi-
nary in the fascination which Africa seems
to have for those who have once explored its
darkest recesses. Stanley is evidently more
than ever under the spell of the Dark Con-
tinent. The trials OF his last expedition
have told on him. Whan he was in Edin-
burgh five years ago his brown hair was
variegated with ominous straw-colored
patches, indicating a stage of transition.
His hair is now as white as snow, and, as it
is thick and woolly, and close cropped, it
has all the appearance of wig especially
as bis comparatively youthful face is not
exactly in keeping with his venerable locks.
His hair would make him man of 60 at
least, though he is now only in his 48th
year.
WORKING ON HIS BOOK.
"While in Cairo, Stanley worked hard at
his book every day from morning till night.
He usually began work at o'clock in the
morning in his own rooms and wrote on till
dusk, denying himself to all visitors, and
leaving his desk only for the necessary pur-
pose of taking food. He complained Bit
terly Of the persistent attempts made every
hour OF the day to break in upon his pri-
vacy. One forenoon. when called at his
rooms found in the hail his London pub
Usher. his secretary, and a tavorite black
bov, who. acted as his servant. asked how
Mr.. Stanley was, and was told in reply that
he had been greatly exasperated and was in
anything but an amlable temper
I'm explanation or in proc of his chiefs
state Of mind, the Secretary told me how q
Reuters telegram had arrived for Stanley a
short time before, and how the black boy,
afraid to face his master, had fixed the tele-
gram on the point of a long spear, and,
opening the door stealthily, had pushed it |
into the room until it came as the boy
judged right under Stanley's nose. The
boy was either anxious not to disturb his
master or was afraid of being met with a
growl; perhaps both. When Stanley alter
ward told the story to me asked him what |
he did.
"'oh.' said Stanley, Il lay back in my
chair and laughed for about quarter of an |
hour
CONFIDENCE OF HIS STAFF.
rPerhaps the most striking testimony to |
Stanley's personal character and influence |
is the regard in which he is held by the |
officers of his staff, DR.. Parke, Mr.. Nelson |
and Mr.. Stairs-the men who crossed Africa |
with him, and whose lives he held so long
in his hand. Their confidence in him is ua- |
bounded. DR.. Parke's deliberate belief was
that no man but Stanley could have led the
expedition through the country with success.
1 trembled, he said, for the lives of all OF
US during Stanley's long illness in the for
est on the Upper Congo, because l knew
that, if he died, there was little hope ior u.s.
when he was asked whether be was pre-
pared to cross Africa with Stanley again,
he replied: Yes, certainly, with the most
entire confidence Nelson's feelings were
the same. He had implicit reliance on
Stanley, yet in certain way he disliked or
dreaded him. The reason of that was his
conviction that if Stanley believed that the
life OF any member Of his staff formed an
obstacle to his mission, or interfered with
his success, he would INTERESTINGLY sacri-
flee him. Indeed, Stanley's sense OF duty
OF doing that which he had undertaken to
do-is consuming, almost beyond belief.
He avowedly makes Wellington, and Hora-
ito Nelson and George Washington his
models in that particular; and he is never
tired OF extolling their example. Referring
in one OF his letters to the case of an officer
in the American army who had shrunk from
taking a certain fort, out of regard for the
lives of his men, he said: His duty was to
obey orders, whatever the result; he was
told to take the place and he should have
done so.
TREATMENT OF THE BLACKS.
The confidence which Stanley's staff felt
in him was shared by the Zanzibaris, vino
formed his escort. They loved him and
trusted him implicitly. He was always
much more anxious about them and their
com orts than about himself. When food
was scarce he was more concerned for his
men than for himself or his staff. He man
aged them splendidly, often leaping and
dancing at the head Of the column to keep