The Personal Life of David Livingstone: Chiefly from his Unpublished Journals and Correspondence in the Possession of His FamilyBlaikie, William Garden
Religion
The Personal Life of David Livingstone: Chiefly from his Unpublished Journals and Correspondence in the Possession of His Family
Blaikie, William Garden
Livingstone, David, 1813-1873
"He never liked to walk in the streets for fear of being
mobbed. Once he was mobbed in Regent street, and did not know
how he was to escape, till he saw a cab, and took refuge in
it. For the same reason it was painful for him to go to
church. Once, being anxious to go with us, my father
persuaded him that, as the seat at the top of our pew was
under the gallery, he would not be seen. As soon as he
entered, he held down his head, and kept it covered with his
hands all the time, but the preacher somehow caught sight of
him, and rather unwisely, in his last prayer, adverted to
him. This gave the people the knowledge that he was in the
chapel, and after the service they came trooping toward him,
even over the pews, in their anxiety to see him and shake
hands[50].
[Footnote 50: A similar occurrence took place in a church at
Bath during the meetings of the British Association in 1864]
"Dr. Livingstone usually conducted our family worship. On
Sunday morning he always gave us a text for the day. His
prayers were very direct and simple, just like a child asking
his Father for what he needed.
"He was always careful as to dress and appearance. This was
his habit in Africa, too, and with Mrs. Livingstone it was
the same. They thought that this was fitted to secure respect
for themselves, and that it was for the good of the natives
too, as it was so difficult to impress them with proper ideas
on the subject of dress.
"Dr. and Mrs. Livingstone were much attached, and thoroughly
understood each other. The doctor was sportive and fond of a
joke, and Mrs. Livingstone entered into his humor. Mrs.
Livingstone was terribly anxious about her husband when he
was in Africa, but before others she concealed her emotion.
In society both were reserved and quiet. Neither of them
cared for grandeur; it was a great trial to Dr. Livingstone
to go to a grand dinner. Yet in his quiet way he would
exercise an influence at the dinner-table. He told us that
once at a dinner at Lord ----'s, every one was running down
London tradesmen. Dr. Livingstone quietly remarked that
though he was a stranger in London, he knew one tradesman of
whose honesty he was thoroughly assured; and if there was one
such in his little circle, surely there must be many more.
"He used to rise early: about seven he had a cup of tea or
coffee, and then he set to work with his Writing. He had not
the appearance of a very strong man."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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