The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-10-07
AN ESOTERIC PAUPER.
Nine. Blavatsky, the Fat High
Priestess Of Buddhism.
HER DuPEs kNEEL BEFORE HER.
xex York Wor,4.

residence with Annie Besant. In st. ohn's
Wood, quiet little suburb of London,
Rumor hes it that Mrs. Besant owns the
house. having purchased it with recent
bequest from an admiring ma;erialist. At
ali events, the colossal The0sophist and
her quaint but enthusiastic disciple are
living together in peace and comparative
happiness-in constant communication
with the grocer, butcher and baker, and
daily visited by scores of socialistic and
occult followers.
The household. which is theosophic
unit, numbers about I dozen. Countess
Watchmeister being perhaps most promi-
nent among the devoiees, whose delight
ana pride it is to wait on the priestess.
Just now, Miss Besant, who il beautiful
and lovely girl, is her mothers guest. and
it is stated on authority that when she
reaches her majority aud has the right 70
choose for herself, she will undoubtedly
make her home with Mrs. Biavatsky and.
like her, become not only . believer but .
teacher Of the occult science.
As the world knows, Mime. Blavatsky is
enormous in sire. weighing more than 300
pounds. A she says herself, she Is dis
abled invalid, !" and suffers intense PAIN IS
well as Inconvenience from chronic rheu-
matasm. No nun is more of . recluse- She
rarely drives ont and never walks. it being
Z tax on her strength to move about the
premises in which she lives and works.
She doctors constantly, and. while .
vegetarian by virtue of her creed,
has no hesitancy in ordering the
slaughter OF pigeon or lamb
diet. Notwithstanding report. she is
strictly temperate. never touching stimu-
iants Of any sort She il. however. an in-
cesant smoker. Her fingers are stained
with tobacco, and il is with the greatest
difficulty that she can refrain from the
habit long enough to preside at the meet
ings. As shown in her photograph she
has lighted cigarette in her fingers and.
whether writing, reading, receiving or
resting the Turkish tobacco Is either
between her lips or within
easy reach of her beautiful hands.
On the little smoking tray. which is carried
wherever she goes by one Of her numerous
proteges. is . package OF tobacco, book
of rice paper and spirit lamp that burns
night and day. She rolls ali her cigarettes
herself, and no harpist ever manipulated
the responsive strings of her instrument
with more bewitcning grace than this mar
velous woman wraps about the delicate
white cases.
One forgets her enormous proportions,
the graceiess style OF her attire and her
motions Of her fingers as they play with
the delicate tissue paper and the rich brown
Filings" in the tobacco box. Like George
Eliot. her hands are her vanity. They are
superb-small as q child's, delicateiy
formed. dimpled at every joint, white
and smooth q satin, with long.
tspering almost transparent fingers
To add TO their length she allows her nails
to grow very long. but no care is bestowed
on them, nor was the gifted and beautiful
Lady Mary Montague more Indifferent
about the neatness ct her much caresSed
hands than she.
Another polite vice is her profanity,
which at times is heroic. She swears by
the deities Of oil nations and sects, bu.
somehow there is . polish and . certain
individuality of construction about her
oaths that rob them of the common vui-
garity or oaths.
In general she wears the conventional
dress, but her fancy runs TO the costume of
the Hindoo woman. and she has ward
robe of magnificent india 3tuffs, OF camels
hair, in those rich, time-meliow tints 50
dear to the artist, in which she delights to
array herself
Since the conversion and allegiance of
Annie Besant large assembly hall has
been erected adjoining the house and dedi-
Gated to theosopby. Here the lectures are
held; here are gathered brilliant people
from London quarters and visitors from
various sections of the theosophical world,
here Annie Besant and Herbert Burroughs,
another leading socialist, lecture and lead
discussions, and here the high priestes re-
ceives two evenings every week, seated on
q raised platform, dressed in her splendid
India fabrics and surrounded by the en-
thusiasts by whom she is flattered, wor-
shipped and supported.
nj rnUf SrrVtn 30 y.
TheOsophical Publishing Society, editor
and publisher of Lsscifey. journal devoted
to the interests of the movement and q
writer of occult works, Mme Blavatsky is
an esoteric pauper and has absolutely
nothing and no income, except as the
friends OF the cause and promoters of its
success contribute to her support Her en-
thusiasm is really her only source of
wealth. Personally she Is most fascin-
ating: . brilliant conversationalist; 3
linguist of the highest attainment
sparkling at repartee and familiar
with the social and political news of
the whole civilized world. 1t is not posi-
Bile to listen to her without surrendering to
her superior mental charm. To the devo-
tee she is an infallible oracle Her COM
mands are law and her influence is irresist-
ibie. Her books are written in English
and translated for the Indian publication.
On back of photograph is this specimen of
esoterlc composition. inscribed in as fine
hand Is copper-plase:
To Mrs H b: With the kindest regards
aud sincere friendly love OF q poor Buddhist
York. NJ p BLAyArsKY
Neither naked nor clotned, bare:oos nor
ehod, knock thrice for admission at the inner
door OF the temple. Let your hart be joachim
ana Boar. the main pillars OF Solomon's temple
and allow poor candidate with the left lreast
knee and foot naked pass through, that the
unity added TO the Binary might produce the
sacred Friend or Trinity; but shut tight your
heart against the Fest OF the cunning craft.
Amen
Remember. o, my sister-fellow of the Theo-
sophicsl Society, that the cable toe encirrling
the Masons wa st 10 twin brother of the sacred
Branminic cord. And to the modern Mason
WHO may doubt, chant the following Hindoo
hymn and and ask him what II means:
Thou, o wise. good yarens, Lord of all, of
heaven and earth, listen on tiny way:
That may live. take from me the upper rome.
loose the middle rope aud remove the lowest
rope.-Hy'an to Faruaa, X. v LIS
As priestesses go. this one is very easy of
approach. She naturally objects TO gapers
and idle critics, but TO the truth seeker She
never denies herself. Her "Reminiscences
seem fabulous. Nothing, perhaps, is more
remarkable to the senses of the average
woman than her narration OF the part. the
active part, she took in the Crimean war.
Fragments OF her uniform are still pre-
served and her wounds may be seen for the
asking.
Annie Besant. the rank materialist who
has become so thoroughly identified with
the esoteric movement, is fast losing the
Byronic beauty of her early womanhood.
Her once delicate face is now swollen and
red, her nose is the same hue. she wears
her hair cut Short but the raven black is
fast melting under the silver. and she looks
battered and worn. For all the ravages
time and trouble have made. she is
the very idol of the working peo-
pie. Let her appear before
raging mob and she can subdue and