The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-06-04
srANLEY's NEW ANECDOTES.
He illustrates the Ignorance About
Africa Twenty Years Ago.

Africa Twenty Years Ago.
1t Is twenty-one years since Henry M.
Stanley's celebrated book. Through the
Dark Continent was printed. 1t told the
thrilling story Of his journey through AZ
RIGA. in which he made his boat survey OF
Victoria Nyanxa and followed the Congo
from its upper waters to the sea. new
edition Of the book Is about to appear and
Stanley has written a long preface for II,
in which he tells of the remarkable
changes that have taken place In the reg
ions described in the book. He has sent
the preface to the Geographer Wauters OF
Brussels and the first installment Of 1t
has appeared in lie Movement Geographi-
que in advance OF the appearance of the
book. A few extracts from this part OK
the preface are reproduced here. Obvious
". Mr.. Stanley's exact languages cannot
be given. as the extracts are translated
from the French:
"As a striking instance of the general
indifference In Great Britain to all had
written about Africa In tha year 1878
(when his book appeared) remember an
interview between two members OF. the
Council Of the Royal Biographical Society
ana myself The gentlemen were calling
on me, and one Of them. observing my
manuscript map of the Congo hanging on
the wall and the annexation had made
along the rivers course, turned to me with
the remark:
".How long do you think 1t will be
before a white man sees Stanley Falls
again"
.'.Perhaps two or three years. replied.
1.-TWO or three years" he exclaimed.
why. expected to hear sou say nifty
years at least
FIFTY years. said 1. I am ready to
wager that within twenty years there will
be no part Of the continent hundred
Hhnt sr-J1 ri f,son, tSoasv Az
plored.'
81 accept the wager and win make the
sum $50, IL agreeable to you.' said my
caller
.rhe bet was made. the twenty years
have at last expired. and though ! do not
pretend to ssy that have won the bet.
I do assert that my prediction has been
almost completely confirmed by the facts.
1.-The same year Sir Rutherford Alcock,
president Of the Royal Geographical So
ciety remarked In his annual address that
/ had expressed the opinion to him that
II sufficient money were expended Africa
would not only be explored but also paci-
fed and civilized. l did not think there
was anything surprising In the statement.
but Sir Rutherford must have thought II
worthy OF reproduction or he would not
have mentioned IL. / speak OF the matter
only TO show the prevailing ignorance IN
all circles at that time Of matters relating
TO Africa.
Seven years later l was introduced by
canon Of Westminster to a well-known
bishop. and as ] was talking to him about
the Congo he smilingy remarked:
"ThIs Is all very interesting. but TO tell
the truth, l do not know that should be
able TO fnd the Congo on the map.
''You may imagine my surprise. All the
newspapers OF the country had been print
ing every day for year news OF one
sort or another about the Berlin confer
ence and It's results. aud.1 certainly sup
posed that prince of the church would
know something about IL. But his tndif-
ference TO the large events that were pass
Ing in Africa was so great that lie did not
even know the name of the Coneo.'-New
York Sun.