The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-08
NINE. BLAyATsKY AT ADYAR.

4
Moneure D. Conway in the October Arena
At length reached the headquarters of The.
| osophy, at Adyar, some fifteen miles out oil
/ Madras, and not far from ST. Thome, where the
doubling disciple left his footprints blood
stained on the spot OF his martyrdom.
Nine. Blavatsky gave me cordial welcome.
| She sent off my carriage and urged me 10 pass
the night
She had already been informed of my coming
by our friend, Professor smith, of sydney uni
| versity.
The young men present, the Hindoos especial
ly, were eager TO relate their marvellous expert
| enees in receiving from the distant Mahatmas
immediate answers to their letters. The letters,
| 1t was explained, were placed sin the Shrine
and at once proposed to write note, referring
TO some matter known to myself alone, in order
to carry home evidence OF the existence and
knowledge OF the Mahatmas
"What pityl" broke in Madame Blavatsky,
who had not participated in the conversation,
"only three days ago l was told by my Guru
that the shrine must not be used for letters any
morep'
sit has generally been my luck" 1 said, per-
haps betraying vexation. "For thirty years 1
have been unwesried in trying TO test alleged
phenomena, but have always happened to be a
little too late or little too cary. was assured
that it would be otherwise hereI'
The young Hindoos had eagerly approved my
proposal to test the Mahatma, and had evidently
heard nothing of the prohibition. Madame Bla-
yatsky, who betrayed no embarrassment what
ever, presently arose, invited me to accompany
her, and led me to secluded room. Here she
shut the door, lit cigarette. offered me one, and
SAT serenely awaiting my next move. / told her
that had sincere purpose in coming. Some
OF my valued friends were deeply interested in
theosophy. II extraordinary events were really
occurring none could be more ready to ac-
knowledge them than myself / had a congrega-
ton in London, and were not afraid to
recognize new facts if verified. "Now," said,
what DO these Eumors mean? hear of your
lifting teapots from beneath your chair, sum-
moning lost jewels, conversing with Aahatmas
thousand miles away
'Your questions shall be answered" said
Madame Blayatsky. "vou are public teacher
aud ought to know the truth. 1t is glamour;
people think they see what they do not see.
That is the whole of it."
could not repress some homage to the sagae-
ity OF this unwitnessed confession. Forewarned
that l was coming, madame had received from
her Guru convenient prohibition against the
further use OF the shrine as q postofice; and
now, by one clever stroke, she altogether fore
stalled an inconvenient investigation. OBJ
struetlon TO experiments, evasion, would
have been such confession As l could use. FAIL
ure to obtain phenomena that could be verified
might subtly awaken skepticism in the simple
minded Hindoos around her. But this secret
confession, which might be repudiated, if nee
essary, raised my whole siege al once.
Mr.. Conway found that at Bombay and Call
cutta Biavatsky had worn out her welcome By
attempts at fraud. Then Mr. Conway gives the
details OF transparent fraud as related to him
by NJ J. B. Broughton, gentleman connected
with the Indian government, to whom he
carried a letter of introduction.
There was pretty general feeling in Calcutta
ana Bombay that no glamour or magnetic rnys-
terry was needed for Madame Blavatsky's than
maturgy, which would soon collapse in Madras
as elsewhere. Nearly the frat thing | heard
after reaching London tlssD was of that col.
lapse. Mr.. and Mrs. Coulornb the former a
skilled mechanic, had confessed at Madras
that they had all along been assisting
Madame Blavatsky in frauds: elaborate
eontrivances were discovered behind the shrine
and compromising letters written by the hiob
priestess were produced Madame Blayatsky
declared that the contrivanees were put In the
shrine to ruin her; but Coulonb couId have
done that by small mechanism, whereas tho
arrangements were extensive and extensive
requiring such time as must have assured detgo
ton, and money which he had NOT Tba
letters, mainly efforts 10 prevent the Couror,hs
from revealing the frauds, were pronounced
lorgefles; put no expert reading them can fail
TO perceive that to forge them would reouira
genius far teyoHt even that of Madama
Blayatsky. The letters are brilliant, and Mrs
COuieomo is sometimes worsted IN
them Mrs. Coulomb, after her con-
iession, wrote me long letter
which shows no trace of the style or ability dis.
closed In the Blavatsky letters. However, IL
was sufficient confession that the theosopbists
reeeded from a proposal TO test all these things
including the handwriting of the letters. before
law court, Tor which the Coulombs were eager
Inc result was that Madame Blavatsky Iefs
India and established herself in London.
The Coulomb story is that a pasteboard DON
49, a naAi-s nrouced head superimposed on the
shoulders OF Mr.. Coulomb, himself OrisntsIIy
grape !. moved about in the dusk OF Adyar when
an "astrai apparition was wanted
1t should be stated here that, in the whole cor.
fespondence revealed by Mrs. Coulomb Colonel
Oicols appears as the dupe OF Madame Blavat-
sAy' anu IN no case accessory to imposture un-
less by an amazing credulity.