LIVINGSTONE AND THE PEOPLE _ Snt,—In his review of the
new volume of the Cambridge Empire History Mr. H. V. Hodson commented on the recent centenary celebra- tion of Livingstone's first sailing for Africa, and concluded that not much general interest was taken in it. Our evidence is that people in the " ninepenny seats " as well as readers of the Round Table were interested.
It might be useful to record the following facts, remembering that the Centenary took place in war-time. Her Majesty the Queen graciously sent a special message in connexion with the London celebration ; three Cabinet Ministers addressed public meetings ; the B.B.C. allocated ninety-five minutes of its precious time to the event ; the main newspapers and weekly journals had leading and special articles ; three new books were published about Livingstone, one of which sold out ; three thousand people crowded Glasgow's largest hall for a Centenary meeting, and many hundreds of smaller celebra- tions in churches and halls were held throughout Britain.
All this to celebrate Mr. Hodson's " drab missionary "!—Yours
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