Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-07-31
Ane.her "spIrl.n IIumnur E,no..n

About twelve years ago, says the Rutland
Herald, THE Eddy family" attracted TO the
little town OF Chittendtn in this county a
large number OF visitors to witness the so
called Standardization" Of departed spirits,
red, black, blue and gray. There was Honto,
an Indian girl Santum, noble red man
George Dix, the pirate; girl spirit that
breathed melodiously on a mouth harmoni-
con, while the aforesaid George Dix bawltd
through speaking trumpet great many
people went TO Esprit Vale, az it was call.
ed, attracted thither by the well written de-
scr iption OF its alleged miracles in the New
York Graphic, the work OF Col. Henry s. Or
cult, man of 30 much intelligence and liter
airy skill that skeptics believed him at that
time nothing but an accomplished Bohemiant
skiltully working a mine OF sensAtionaism
for good salary. Among the other visitors
at Spirit Vale" was Madame Bavatsky.
described by Olcoit as the daughter of Rus
sian general, OF Georgian or Circassisn stock.
Madame Blavatsky was conspicuous in Oh
colts letters she always saw more miracles
than anybody else she posed as a seress and
olairvoyant in her own hereditary right. and
there seemed 70 be so good an understanding
between this fascinating Russian sybil and Oh
colt that there WAS strong suspicion that they
were cOnfederates in playing on the horn OF
humbug to make the duped crowd dance for
their common profit and amusement. Finally
the Eddy family quarreled and spirit Vale"
was deserted. Olcott aud Blavatsky went to
New York and founded the 'theosophical So
ciety," 30 called. After that Blavstsky and
Olcott and other distinguished disciples went
to India and pitched their tent in Madras. A
shrine was built in the headquarters OF the
society. and there would appear the astral
form OF the mahAtma Koot HOomi, otherwise
known as "the Master" and sometimes rs
"Oristofolo." The 40. called 'shrins" WAS the
scene of mummeries and mountebAnk tricks
similar TO those that drew so many people so
long to Esprit Vale" The miracle work ing
Is thus described:
'If theosoph wanted questions Of vast import or
small answered, he wrote letter and put 1t In the
shrine II would disappear, sometimes immedi-
Ately, sometimes not, and an answer from Root
Hoomi would be found occupying the place. Now
sud then a letter from the Brothers' would drop
from the ceiling, or suddenly in conversation the
Bhvatsky would say she felt that Koot Hoomi was
answering some point IN dispute, enough, q
letter would turn up in some unexpected place Of the
character she Indicated. Another fayoriie perform
ance was for Nine. BlAyatskY to tear a cigarot
cigar paper in two, having marked II in peculiar
fashion, or tied 1t with hair. and then TO dispatch 1t
TO distant place, where the iDquirers would bo told
to look for IT, and where they would sometimes ind
it, sometimes not. The BAvAtsky's household man
ager, Nine. Conlomb, quarreled and rebeed, aud
nnAlly let the public into her confidence. There
were traps and sliding panels and concealed cracks
in ceilings false back TO the Shrine etc made by
the male Conlomb, who was expert carpenter
The astral koot HOOm was ingenious arrangement
Of masks, bladders wigs and muslin. The phenOme-
ma were Juggling tricks carried out by confederates
The Conlombs we're parleyed with for a while, hut
hnAlly, driven to the wall they published lot Of
letters from Nine. Bavatsky, proving all they said
aud more"
In these letters BlAvAtsky calls her assist
ants and lecturers ''our familiar mufTs," ''our
domestic imbeoiles," Olcott is fondly refer
red to AZ an idiot, and by pet name so gross
that the publishers Of the letters would not
print it, and the consequence was that BIavat-
sky was obliged to leave India for Paris The
strangest part OF the whole business ia that
Olcott, who was ten years ago believed TO be
an able confederate OF the Artful Russian
countess, was really sincere believer and
the womRn's abject dupe. That a man OF his
unquestionable intelligence aud literary skill
should for 80 many years have been the dupe
OF this impudent adventures is only another
proof that man may have a good deal OF in
tellect and learning and yet be 40 credulous
az TO act like an imbecile Olcott has follow.
ed this woman, like faithful hound, for a
dozen years, and would to-day be her pet
idiot and domestic imbecle" had il not
been for the accident of the quarrel between
the adventures and the confidential manager
OF her naturalization machinery, puppet
show and post office.