On this day in 1904 Henry M. Stanley died.

Stanley is the Stanley of Stanley & Livingston, I presume.

Let us turn to The Boy’s Book of Explorations: True Stories of the Heroes of Travel and Discovery in Africa, Asia, and Australia; From the “Dark Ages” To the “Wonderful Century” (1909). (Link goes to Archive but pgs 247-8, when Stanley begins, are missing.)

For what it’s worth, Stanley’s bio at that infallible source is considerably different that what’s presented in my crappy old book. Psst: “This article may be unbalanced towards certain viewpoints. Please improve the article by adding information on neglected viewpoints, or discuss the issue on the talk page. (February 2020)“

Stanley was born John Rowlands. He had a rough childhood. Wikipedia makes it a point to emphasize that his mother was only 18 when he was born, and not married. Dude. He was born in 1841 in Wales. Shocking. At some point (?) he made his way to New Orleans and was more or less adopted by a merchant named… Henry Morton Stanley. When Stanley the Elder died, he left no provision for an adopted son. So John changed his name and– poof!– became the benefactor to his adopted father’s estate. Eventually he became a “war correspondent and travelling special-writer.” He had some adventures in Abyssinia. A fellow named Bennett telegraphed Stanley and commissioned him to find the missing Livingston.

Arriving in Ujiji on November 16, 1871, Stanley and his entourage were met by a crowd. “From the crowd that welcomed them Stanley

I’m sure you will be shocked to learn that that infallible source most strenuously insists that “the interview familiar to everyone” did not, in fact, take place.

Daily Reading May 10

• In Darkest Africa “Through the Forests” 16-Pt.II: 97-124 [Cannot find this particular selection. Perhaps read about Stanley at the book linked above?]

Okay. The Pocket University Library 16-Pt.II is Autobiography: Soldiers; Explorers. In the bio sketch we learn that none of that stuff in the explorer book or at Wikipedia is true. This sketch references a book published in 1895, The Birth, Boyhood, and Younger Days of Henry M. Stanley.

SCARCE IN FIRST EDITION FORMAT. This book describes the early days of Henry M. Stanley, the explorer who “found Livingstone” and carried on his work of exploration and abolishment of the slave trade. The author claims to be a childhood playmate of Stanley, who he says was actually a native of Ysgar South Wales named Howell Jones. Despite the fact that it is now widely accepted that Stanley was born John Rowlands in Denbigh, North Wales, this fascinating little volume depicts a tale of what might have been, purportedly written with “the kind permission of Henry M. Stanley” [preface]. This is one of the many early “speculations” on the Stanley’s formative years, arising out of the hero-worship which surrounded him. Whether fiction or fact, this book is both an interesting and amusing commentary on Stanley’s life. Item #15563 (London: Roxburghe Press, 1895).

I must say, yesterday when I saw what was coming up, I had no idea today’s Daily Reading was going to present so many challenges.