600 
CHARACTER OP LIVINGSTONE. 
Thus ends the record of the mortal life of Livingstone, 
and a few words of appreciation of his character and 
labors, will fitly close this volume. He was pre-eminently 
one of those almost ideal characters which appear but 
seldom, and whose greatness is of a kind that is instinc- 
tively recognized by the force of sympathy, without the 
need of analysis or labored eulogy. The unwavering 
faith of the Christian missionary, the ardor of the enter- 
prising explorer, and the sagacity of the practical philan- 
thropist are rarely to be found in the same person. But 
they were harmoniously blended in Dr. Livingstone, com- 
bined with a child-like simplicity, an intuitive knowledge 
of character, a tenacity of purpose that nothing could 
shake, and a singleness of aim to which circumstances 
were made inexorably to bend. In electing to be rather 
the pioneer of Christianity and commerce in Africa than a 
local missionary, we have evidence of his range of vision, 
of his carelessness of immediate results, and of his entire 
conviction that he had a work to do which none else could 
accomplish. To discover the unknown regions of Cen- 
tral Africa, and solve great geographical problems, was in 
itself an honorable ambition. With him it was only a 
means to an end. Dr. Livingstone cared little for such 
exploits in comparison with his noble aspiration of open- 
ing that continent to the light of religion and civilization, 
and extirpating the slave trade, which is the main hin- 
drance to that beneficent consummation. This done, or 
done in part, his life work would be accomplished. • It was 
for him to open a pathway through the wilderness, along 
which others might advance and reap the fruits of his 
arduous labor. 
The career of a man so enthusiastic, single-minded, and 
irrepressible, while to himself one of life-long hardship 
and perils, of strenuous effort and constant discourage- 
ment, is to all the rest of the world a fascinating ro- 
mance. The imagination is spell-bound in following Dr. 
Livingstone from the mission station at Kuruman across 
