The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-22

BLAvATSKY.
These were specimen eccentrics Of the
| charmed circle. There were scores of others
| equally interesting but less known to the
public, and there was always a new senSa-
! ton to be had in the way of curious discus
sion by those who sought and gained admis-
sion to this lady's parlor
Every imaginable ubiect in earth, in the
| heavens above the earth and in the pro-
| foundeSt depths below was discussed there
with curious mixture of wit aud philoso-
ply that is by no mears to be found in the
huge volumes of Isis Unveiled" That
| book is declared a marvel of erudition, but
1t Is difficult reading, whereas the talk was
so seasoned with Attic salt as to be fairly
| fascinating
This wit was as often directed at the holy
things and the holy men of Buddhism as it
was at those Of Christianity, which latter
Nine. BlavatSky never tired of attacking.
For there were among her friends several
who, like O,Donovan, the sculptor, took a
| malicious pleasure in rousing her temper,
and this was not a difficult thing to do.
The tall sculptor was by no means the
least interesting in the company when be
was there, which was often. He commonly
disdained to sit like other mortals in a chair
and smoke the cigarettes that every body else
there smoked He would perch himself on
|
| pipe and poke malicious fun at whatever
happened to be the subject of discussion till
a downright quarrel was imminent, when
| he would turn the current of the lady's
wrath with joke 1t was by no means the
least enjoyment to be had there.
1--WE keep five clocks here" said Col.
Olcott once. Zone for America, one for
Europe, one for Africa, one for Asia, and
| one for Oceanica, and they are all right !"
In consequence it was seldom or never time
to go home, and guests were always belated
in that house.
There is no doubt that Nine Blavatsky
would have spoken disrespectfully of the
multiplication table" if she had been
fundamentally inclined. She did actually
and openly revile the law of gravitation.
| Nothing that is generally accepted as
automatic commanded her respect, but, on
the other hand, the most outrageously i'm
possible things that could DO presented to
the consideration of a conservative mind,
educated in Western schools, were the
foundation stones of her faith. No doubt a
| great proportion of the interest that was
manifested in her teachings came from the
| weird effect OF thus putting everybody
mentally upside down. Alice was doubtless
intensely interested by her adventures in
| wonderland.
The circle is thoroughly shattered now,
| and it would be hard to mention any group
of associates of ten years ago the members
| of which are more widely scattered to-day.
Nine. Blavatsky, after travelling again
| through India, Is now settled in the West
end of London, editing the new theosophical
| magazine, Lucifer. In this work She is
ass ciated with Mabel Collins, the novelist,
and Mr.. Kelghtly the delegate, who comes
to America for the convention tomorrow.
| Col. Olcott, who has been back and forth
between England and India, is just now in
1 L ~
after nine months tour among the branch
societies in India.
Gen. Doubleday is living in New York at
ease on his half pay. Wimbredge, who
went to India, is settled in Bombay, where
| he has made fortune out of a brass finish
| ing establishment. Judge has Travelled
! through South America, the West Indies.
! Mexico, Europe and India, and is back in
| New York practicing law.
Wong Chin Foo is an impecunious Bo-
hemian in New York, who startles the
Chinese community occasionally with some
eccentricity sufficient to attract the notice
| of the Associated Press Linda Dietz re-
| tired from the stage and has disappeared
| from public view. Maud Lord has contin-
ued her mediumistic performances, travel
| ing through the country. Sotheran has
been to England and returned as a represent
alive Of the great Sotheran book firm of
London. BY dint Of the hardest kind of
work he has established an enviable fame as
cataloguer Of Libraries. The Slevitches
are living quietly in Hoboken, Mr.. Shevitch
having borne leading part for some years
| in the Socialistic agitation.
Countess Paschkotf, after her attempted
suicide, his not heen heard of on this side
| the Atlantic. Whether she completed her
| tour around the world nobody here knows
Walter Paris, who, with Wimbridge, estab
lished the Tile Club, left New York, and,
| after some vicissitudes, obtained an Art
| Professorship at tine Woolwich Arsenal,
position he still holds. O'Donoyan oscillated
a while between Europe and America and
at length settled in New York Harrisse
was still pursuing the placid life of a Hay
tian diplomatist the last time l saw him,
which was two or three years ago.
Edison, the electrician, was another of the
group, but only an occasional visitor. So
was DR.. Pancoast, the RIGA eccentric, who
recently dropped fortune into the Chesa-
pease In search of treasure which he had
located by occult means.
Since the breaking up Of the Lamasery
and the fitting to India of Olcott and Nine
Blavatsky with two of their friends and
fellow.members, the Iheosophical Society
had been hardly anything more than n name
here. II is true that its membership has
increased and that from time to time the
efforts of Gen. Doubleday and of Mr..
William Q. Judge, the two members most
enthusiastic Oh the subject, have resulted in
meetings at which there have been discus
sions. These discussions, however. are OF
little general interest. No eloquent and
gifted apostle such as Nine. Blavatsky hos
come TO take her place. No one has been
able TO lead hearers into wonderland, and
theosophy seems likely 20 remain "caviare
TO the General" and shadowy name to the
multitude ia spite Of all such efforts as the
convention in Chicago tomorrow.
DAVID A. CURTIS