New-York tribune., 1891-05-09
MADAME BLAVATSKY DEAD.
THE CAREER OF THE FOUNDER OF THE
PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY.

LABORs IN SPREADING IHEo-
soPHIcAL VIEWS
London. May s.-Madame Blavatshy, the vell-znown
Theosophlst is dead.
Madame Helena Petrovna RlavOtshy, the founder
and great apostle OF Theosophy. born at Eaaler'
inoslaw important town the River Dneiper, ana
capital Of the provinces OF Ekaternoslaw Madame
Blavatsky's maiden name Helena Petrovna hanil-
Hahn. Her fathen was Colonel Peter Ham, ner grand
father being General Alexis Hahn Won Rottenstern
Hahn, member Of noble family of Meckenours'
Germany. Her mother was Helena Fadeef, daughter
of General Andrus Fadeef. Privy Councillor, ana
Princess Helena Dogorouky. Tho Dolgoroukys trace
their descent TO Rurk, the founder Of the house OF
Romanof, the ruling house Of Russia When only
seventeen years Old Helena HahnH Hahn. In bt OF
pique married Nicephore Blavatsky, Coun-
cilor OF State, who was then sixty years
Of age Their married life short and I'M
happy After three months the couple separated
by mutual consent, Madame Dlavatsky returning to
her fathers home Her mania was travelling ana
she soon left home and went to Constantinope. where
she met Countess Kinsky, and with her travelled
through Egypt, Greece and the Eastern countries Oh
Europe and Asia Mlnoy From these countries she
extended her travels all the world, and 1t was
ten years before she saw her family again. In 1881
she started for Quebec Canada, she wished TO make
the acquaintance OF the "noble red man. but she
was deeply disappointed with the individual when she
cid meet HIN. From Quebec Madame BlavasRy went
TO New-0reans In quest Of the voodoos, or negro
sorcerers. Thence she travelled through texas 10
Mexico and she managed to see most OF that Insecure
country, protected only by her natural daring ana
fearessness even In the toughest and most brutal
communities Leaving Mexico with two companions
of similar tastes sailed by the way OF the Cape OF
Good Hope and Ceylon 10 Bombay, and attempteo 10
enter Thibet by the way of Nepaul. Failing
in this endeavor, she travelled through SOUTH
ern India, and then on to Java and
Singapore whence she returned 20 Europe.
The next two years were passed in the United States
and in 1858, she again went to India by way Oh
Japan and the Straits, and with four companions she
made a second attempt to enter Thibet through
Kashmir. Two of her companions were politely but
immediately conducted back TO the frontier, and the
third was prosrated by fever In suitable disguise
however, and conducted by friendly Tartar shaman
Madame Blavatsy succeeded in crossing the frontier
and penetrating the dreary deserts OF that little known
country. After some strange adventures and getting
lost the painless wlds OF Thibet, she was myster
ousy conducted TO the frontier by party OF horsemeh
The mutiny troubles shortly afterward began, and
she sailed from Madras TO Java, and thence again 10
Europe. After spending some time in France and
Germany, she returned home to Russia in 1858.
From PskoG, Madame Blavatsky went to Tihis
where riding one day in the forest, she was thrown
from her horse and sustained fracture OF the spne
which was the of strange psychoiogica
experience. For eighteen months she lived complete
dual existence and considerably puzzled the cieverest
physicians who attended her. On her recovery III
1868 she left the Caucasus and went to Italy, passing
the following four years in Europe and experiencing
a multiplicity of adventures. From 1907 to 1870 she
again visited the East. On her return the vessel on
which she sailing from the Piraeus to Spezzia ana
which was carrying cargo OF gunpowder, Dew UP anu
Madame Blavatsky was one OF the few passengers
saved From Greece she went 20 Alexandra, and
thence to Cairo where she established society 1or
the Investigation of modern "Spritualism," OF w,ch
She had had no experience up that time She speedily
threw il up however and after spending some time at
Eoual she returned to ber family at Odessa In 1872
In 1873 she again left Odessa for Paris and crossed to
New-York which she made her headquarters 1or the
next six years becoming naturallzed American
During this period she investigated some Oh inc mosu
striking phenomena of American spiritualism
In 1875, in conjunction with Colonel H. S. Olcott
and W. O. Judge. sho founded the Theosophlcal Society,
with which she had been ever since prominently con-
nected In defence of her opinion, Madame Bhvatsiy
in 1876 published her first book, I" Isis Unveiled:
science and TeoOsy he Ios In is she settled in
don and started Theosophieai magazine gs, called
nt1 GuG dssh the With % M 2Sn SsSS shf
was actively connected with three Theosophieal re-
ie Lev Lotus 80 BIeS In 1855 S the first two Volumes Of
Madame Blavatsby's greatest work, THE secret
Doctrine the synthesis of Science. Religion and
Philosophy appeared. This was followed in 1889
by @The Key to Theosophy Clear Exposition in the
Form OF Questions and Answers OF the Ethics Science
and Philosophy for the study OF which the Theosoph-
cal Society has been Founded" and by smaller work,
"The Voice Of the silence; or Fragments from the
Book of the Golden Precepts"
The members OF the TheOsophical societies OF New
York and Brooklyn received the news of Madame
Blavatsky's death yesterday, and wero shocked
and saddened by the news. W. Q. Judge who
Is The general secretary OF the TheosOphca Society in
America was seen by Tribune reporter last evening
and said We have known that Madame Blavatsly
has been an invalid for long time and 1t was only
her indOmitable pluck and endurance that nave Kept
her alive long. Up TO her death she vas workins
heart and sOul for the cause for which she 50 ABLY
preached. II is OF a shock TO us, and |, Who
have known her intimately for years have lost dear
flfend. She can have successor. Of course some
BODY will be elected president of tile European Iheo-
sOphcal Societies but that is only mundane matter
In the spiritual nobody can succeed her There
was something about Madame Blavaislv that was not
of this world The good she has done Is known 70 bnt
few. Her home OF late was at No. - Avenue ltol0'
ST. Johns Wood. London where the IheosQpnlstS nave
large house and large community that i've IN inc
vicinity They have done much charitable WORK among
me poor ana dfg tS onS item The death Of
Madame Blavatsky will have no effect upon inc move
ment here We shall work diligently as eyer Gnm
try TO carry out her teaching and wishes. we shaii
have n meeting IN few days: wren 10 uoupO re'oiu
tons OF regret will be passed.