The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-20
A LEGACY OF SUNSHINE.
The Late Paul du Chaillu, the Ex-
plorer, a CHEEKY Soul.
Melville Phelps. in New York Mail and Ex-


Melville Phelps. in New York Mail and Ex-
press.
Seeing that death was inevitable to Paul
du Chaillu, IL seems just as well that the
bolt should have struck the gentle little giant
when IL did. He died the other day when
there was no thought in all the world Of
disturbance of the paradoxical friendship
between the United States and Russia. Such
a possibility, i am sure knowing him as
well as did. would have been a great grief
TO Paul-the name by which ne insisted
that all his friends should call him. For
Paul Jared forth into Russia a couple OF
years ago with the same spirit which ami.
mated Caesar when he adventured into
Germania the spirit which led Paul him.
self almost half century before TO dash
into the terra incognita of Equatorial At
the Cars dominion. yet he STROBE into IL
sure of discoveries and at the outset grap-
pied with the Russian tongue as obsta-
Gle that must be overcome before his new
field Of exploration lay fair before him.
He was an old man with the vision OF q
seer; an ancient who loathed old age and
delighted in the companionship OF youth.
So he loved Russia among all the elder
nations. and his last letter TO me from St
Petersburg was a paean in her praise, q
prophecy OF her might
feel confident that Paul Bellonf du
Chaillu-he would not thank me for spelling
out that middle name-succeeded in life be-
cause he looked out upon IL with kindly
eyes: A nondescript genius was Paul; not
at all brilliant or scholarly man, deep In
no department OF learning, ungffted with
the ''antiseptic' style, unprepossessing in
personal appearance. and yet--and yet the
genius of friendship presided at his birth.
ringed the halo of a sunny temperament
around his dear old bald head and crowned
him perfect cosmopolite.
He had no famiiy--those African wives
he boosted OF were myths-but in every
large town in the United States. England.
France, Belgium or in Germany, Paul du
Chailu had a home TO welcome him. No
a -k W N ~ =
of human love In the little mans heart,
and IL kept overlooking 10 the Gay OF his
death. Saturnne men like the late Anthony
j. Drexel would begin 10 smile when Paul
hove in hight: children danced around him
until he quelled their laughter with his
roar OF the gorilla; birds futtered near him,
and even the beasts of the forest
But let me illustrate the rare quality and
extent of his happy nature.
There may be pleasure IN the painless
woods, during an hour or two or Byronic
solitude; but what man would care 10 i'm
mure himself in the untrodden wilds OF an
African forest for two years? Before he
was yet a man Paul did that and enjoyed 80.
too. The natives round about him were not
a loyable sort. yet he made friends of them
all. Nor stopped at that he found In his
travels baby gorilla, abandoned by It's
mother. think he told me; and he took IL
TO his hut and adopted IL.
From Paul's description. that infant sim
ian would be about the last living thing
on Gods earth that one would care 20 take
unto his bosom. PAU. youth OF eighteen
or So took IL. however. and nursed II. and
fed IL and had serious thoughts OF array
ing IL i'm fine linen. In a word. he learned
20 love the little beast. which was pink
white and altogether uncanny.
II came back to the hut one day" he
told me- land. what you think? No g'rillei
/ called and called, and then something hit
me on the head. i looked up; there he sat
on the rafter. dead drunk, He was holding
my last bottle OF brandy in his hand. the
empty bottle, and suddenly he threw IL az
me- the little imp. and fell screening from
his perch"
Then. added Paul du Chaillu: Poor little
fellow: al, how / loved him."
Isn't IL small wonder that such q man
should have gone bftheiy through life. en-
joying every day and hour Of IL In all parts
of the earth, and leaving. as an inpalpabe
legacy for many thousands. the memory OF
mis- sunny smiie7