The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-06-20
DISTINGUISHED rHEOsoPHIsT
Conversion of a Smithsonian Pro-
lessor TO Mysticism-----His
Prophecy concerning the
Future

eNicS HfO -SoSoPAg. Ut. OOutS +
the president OF The Washington branch
OF throsaPbIsIs in this country. He is
one Q! he 5,st knoxn OF the scientists
who have D en- connected with the
Smithsonian institution since It's found
alton. Although he Is a comparatively
young man. he Is an acknowledged au-
thouty upon the subject of ornithology.
Professor Aga~siz. before his dea b.
paid him the compliment OF saving
that be WAS the best informed scientist
mon that subject in tue country. de
first acquired This repu alton IN this
branch uf study while holding The poi
tim OF SURGEON in the United State>
armv. lie obtained through political
Undue ce detail 1T serVic- at w .shing-
ten. For four or i've \ ears he occupieu
desk IN one Of The quiet hooks Of The
Smithsonian. He wa not upon the
pay rolls ui that ms tuition. hut he han
full command of its study and he was
assisted by it, D. flu ncr. IN the publlca-
ton of his works Aftrr n lime, som
army friend- became JEALOUS Of The r. y
utation IN 4 be WAS making. ann suR-
geStei To the war department that the
surgeon was ON fancy dutv at Was ing
ton. and THAI he was bring unduly ia
vored. He WAS order, Il tO Join hi
regiment in New Mexico Thu was n
great biuw to hBn rs he was Obliged To
give M his studies anu quief life al the
capital He did west for a short
time. but he soun after resigned and he
came hi o1 master. Since that time
h- has made n ure and more of a rrpu-
tation IN literature and in the field If
scientific research. The fact that he
has be ONE convert TO any system of
mysticism is more surprising TO his IN
innate friends than even TO those who
are merely familiar with his scientific
and Literary Work.
He has nearly all his fe been a ma
terialist.' For several years h. EaS a
pronounced advocate of sgno>ticism.
Few understand the means employed
to convert the doctor, and he is silent
upon that subject He j. one of the
best known figures in Washington so
ciety, or rather has been. he goes out
now very little. and appears to zoe thor
Ougbly satisfied with the Joys IF the
new life found by him in the study ana
practice of theosophy. He is quite tall
Five years ago he was considered one
OF the haDdsOmest men in Washington.
He is a regular featured blonde. with
clear blue eyes, a good complexion, and
the air and grace of a man of the world.
The lower part of mis- face. few years
ago, was ornamented with a neatly
trimmed blonde card and a trinity
twisted yell " mustache. He used To
be elaborately careful in his dress, and
had a most gallant reputation amone
the ladies who were fond of many ad
'rers. To-day his dress is careless
his trim beard has grown to almost pa
trIarchal length, his clear blue eye now
has a dreamy looK of mysticism, the
gaze of an opium-eater He has ioI
years been an inceSsant smoker of cigar
cites. Both of his long. l. an hands are
stained yellow on the inside with the
juice of cigarettes. Two years ago be
visited Europe. During that time be
was received by all of the prominent
scientific people in London. PARIS and
Berlin. Huxley and Others made quit.
a social lion of him during his LoI don
stay.
The doctors development as theo-
sophis did not become generally known
among his friends until he returned
from this European trip. About year
ago he became actively ide titled with
the organized theosophist. To DAY b.
appears 10 be one of the most contenteo
of men. IL his belief is a dslusion. il il
most happy one for him. for il CON
so.es him for .the loss OF society ana
friends. His conversion to this doe rine
of mysticism does not appear TO have
affected his standing as q scientific man
His writings are still in demand. as they
were before it became known tn n.
had departed from all orthodox paths
/ saw the doctor the other day, aud
asked him II it was true that he had
said that he could project his spirit from
his body. and that he could appear 10
people at a distant place while his re.
body was at another7 He said that
this was tree He said further that the
ability of experts in theosophy to pro-
ject their astral bodies had become so
wei established that IL was no longer a
subject for discussion. The doctor
said. with a great deal of emphasis. that
there WAS perfect revolution of public
sentiment now going on upon this sub
ject. and with that in view he wished
TO place a certain prophecy upon the
record. MARX this" he said, ''Eithin
one years time there will be a perfect
mad rush OF people to the front seeking
to claim the originating OF this doctrine.
/ know that II Is not now considered a
sound or reasonable doctrine and that
people who believe In II are generally
regarded as cranks. But you will see
within the tim / have mentioned an
entire change in public opinion upon
this subject" DR.. Coues fellows the
example Of all of the theosophists by
declining TO talk very much upoa the
subject Of his bell ( or his experiments.
He says that he is satisfied, and that at
the present time the public is not edu-
Gated up to the standard of appreciat-
ing the theosophist's doctrine. lie and
his fellow-experts occupy at the present
such a superior plane that all the rest Of
humanity appears very small and mis-
guided. What NAV be the opinions OF
the people who dwell in thislower plane
regarding the select few who d well IN
the upper plane is matter of supreme
indifference to the latter. aN -
DR.. Coues refused to discuss the ex-
periments which have been made by
experts ia projecting their astral bodies.
Perhaps the questions were irreyerent
from the standard of theosophy. The
possibilities of theosophy should not
escape the attention Of newspapers pro-
prietors A first class expert would be
'ery useful in a newspaper office. With
his physical body anchored in a first
class ONCE he could project his astral
hOdu nj n Craat advaufaua into those