Los Angeles herald., 1891-10-25
Three New Anecdotes About
the Explorer.
Billy Florence Tells About His
Reception in Paris.
AnAstOr House Incident Told by Hugh
Farrar McDermOtt.
An Incident of the Emin Bey Expedi-
tion Told by One of the actors.
Good Stories Characteristic
of the Man.
IBY A. B. scHANz. ]


"Yon know, gentlemen" said Billy
on this occasion, "that when Stanley
returned from his first trip, the one on
which he found Livingston, the America
Bohemian colony in Paris decided to
give him small but very select dinner
in one of the boulevard restaurants. l
was in Paris at the time, and on ac-
count of my having known Stanley
when he was New York reporter l was
put on the committee of arrangements.
/ wanted to do things right, of course,
and decided to put a few simple decora-
tions on the walls of the banquet hall.
$50 got lot Of flowers and wreaths,
and festoons and American flags, paper
of tacks and a hammer, and went to
work. Stanley had not arrived yet in
the city.
"Well, while 1 was up on a chair
banging away, the door opened sud
denly, and rather seedy-looking indi-
vidual lounged in.
Hello, Billy says he, what are
you doing?
sT knew l had seen the fellow some
where, but could not place him. So,
with my urhane politeness | replied:
Little dinner we're getting up for Stan
lev. How are things over your way"
t'Well, can't complain he answered,
slowly. L say, Billy, couldn't you get
me card for that dinner?
81 admired his nerve, but of course
let him down easy. Very sorry, old
man. said I but the table is filled;
couldn't do it, you know
'tThe stranger walked around without
saying anything for minute, and
looked at the table and decorations.
Then he came back to where | stood,
and said: L like the arrangements,
Billy, and if you can't get me a card,
why I'll come without one.'
"'Tes, you will = l shouted, jumping
from the chair, and added, impatiently,
Look here, my friend, don't you think
it's little cheeky for you to force your
self into company where you're not
wanted? and besides that, where in the
name of sense did you get the gall to
call me Billy, when l don't know you at
all?
"'Well, Mr.. Florence, replied the
stranger, 'I'll explain it. --,
Pm Stanley And we embraced"
x*x
The second anecdote was related to
me by my lamented friend, Hugh Farrar
McDermott, the ''unfrocked friar," the
American poet of love, and the most
genial soul that ever presided over our
petits diners at the Pot au feu.
"Soon after Stanley returned from his
first trip Mr.. Bennett ordered him to
the New York Herald Office to report for
duty. The explorer accordingly came
to New York, where all OF us were glad
to welcome him. / had not yet seen
him, when one afternoon 1 ran into him
in front of the Astor house. He had
lust come from the Herald office, and
walked along with most detected look.
"'Hello, Stanley, old man l ex-
claimed, grasping his hand, allow me
to congratulate you Jove, old fellow,
but you have made hit What makes
you look so blue, old man?'
"Stanley looked as if he would cry, as
he replied: 4 tell you, Hughey, it's
tough. / have no swelled head, but
after man has made such trip as
mine, he ought not be asked to report
to the city editor. That's what Bennett
ordered me to do, and just now the city
editor assigned me to the police head
quarters to do police news. tell you
what think; it's confounded shame
81 sympathized with him, and we
went into the Astor rotunda to drown
his sorrow. OF course | thought he
would resign, and after watching him in
silence slipping his brandy and soda, l
turned to HIM and asked: We'll, Stan
ley, what are you going to do about 1t !?
"'Do?' he replied, looking at me IN
astonishment. DO? Why, cover the
assignment, of course and he lett tor
Mulberry-street police station. The
ho nrHa n
don. Bennett had only desired to test
him, SO as to ascertain whether the ex-
plorer had acquired too much self
esteem for usefulness. Stanley stood
the test, otherwise possibly he would
never have been heard of again."
x*x
Ell. Glave, my old travelling COM
panion in the north, wentto Africa with
Stanley in 1883. He was then only
eighteen years old, and the evils Of the
African climate affected his youthful
constitution most disastrously. He was
reduced to a skeleton by the levers
which lodged in his system, and event
ualy became too weak to continue with
the expedition. Stanley left him among
the Bangala. the same tribe OF natives
who in III had fought him the most
savage DaUCle VI all IAO OhCO VI
the Congo trip. Glave had with him
one Zanzibar soldier, who formed the
garrison OF the new post as well as the
nurse of his emaciated chieftain.
AS Stanley left the village, he shook
the feeble hand of Glave, and with
something akin to brutality said ;
'Well, goodbye, my boy. l hope I'm
mistaken, but Pm afraid your flag will
be flying half-mast before long,"
But Glave did not die. On the con-
trary he grew fat and lusty, built him
self kind of primitive palace, and tor
the next four years lived very much like
one of the native kings, surrounded by a
host of loyal, faithful and admiring con-
stituents. Time went on, and one tine
day in 1883 one of his boys came running
excitedly to Glave's quarters and an
nounced that boat was coming up the
river. Sure enough large canoe just
rounded the bend. Another followed
and still another, and suddenly there
burst into view whole fleet of boats
and canoes, in the midst of which puffed
diminutive steamboat. Glave focused
his field-glass, and there, in the bow Of
the steamer, was his old chief, Stanley
now on his way to rescue Emin Bey.