The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-16
MRS. MARY BAKER EDDY
CHRISTIAN SCIENCE LEADER LIVES
IN GREAT sECLUsIoN.
Her Neighbors Seldom Get a Glimpse
of Her Face-LOoks Like a Young
Old Woman and Makes Up"

half out of Concord, N. H. The house
is built in Queen Anne style. The veran-
das are broad and inviting and shaded
with vines Of honeysuckle and wild
rose. Peek-a-boo curtains of soft white
muslin are caught back with ribbons at
all the windows and soften the air of
stateliness about the mansion.
The grounds are like a miniature Gen.
tral Park, and three gardeners keep them
in perfect order. There are graveled walks
winding over sloping lawns, beds of gay
flowers standing boldly out against the
green. Floras and flower girls of chaste
white marble. and fountains whose soft
splashing adds a soothing cadence to a scene
that seems almost fairyland. In the dis
lance the peaks Of the White mountains
loom up like tall gray mists.
d Pleasantview is truly an enchanting spot,
but its beauty would scarcely seem calcu-
lated TO inspire the awe that the name or
that Of its mistress awakens In the breasts
of Concord's inhabitants. The mystery with
which Mrs. Eddy chooses TO surround her
self fills with a terrible sort of admira-
ton not only the wide-eyed schoolchildren,
but their mammas and papas and grand
parents, too.
Some of the older inhabitants Of Con-
cord have never seen Mrs. Eddy. Not one
has ever seen her walk in the street, and
but three can boast of having gained ad-
mittance TO the sacred home. When Mrs.
Eddy drives, which is every afternoon be-
tween the hours of 2 and 4, gaping villagers
men, women and children-line up along
the road 10 watch the carriage as it goes
by. Some day. If they persevere, they hope
TO catch a glimpse of the prophecies within.
When the Press reporter approached a
hackman at the depot and asked to be driven
to Pleasantview the cabby's pupils extended.
Mrs. Eddy's?" he repeated. in hushed
tones. Know the way? l guess l do, SIR"
of the prettiest of New England cities, we
reached Pleasantview, and, with a lack of
h~esitancy that seemed to stagger the cabby,
A bright-faced woman, who 1 afterward
learned was the h~ousekeeper and confidante
of Mrs; Eddy, opened the door.
lis Mrs. Eddy at homer" / asked.
mo she is driving"
When will she return?"
eat L."
ly and / left my card.
At 4 1 returned and was greeted with
the information that Mrs. Eddy had re-
ceived the card and could not see me-. L sent
a note. Mrs. Eddy was too busy TO read 1t.
An hour later / returned and sent another.
Mrs. Eddy's secretary, Mr. Frye, read this
OIe III Sdlu llldl lie ItSIctltQ llldt lii jul
not disturb Mother Eddy. She was busily
engaged in writing a chapter for her forth
coming book and he would not dare APP
proach her, nor break into her train of
thought.
HOW HER TIME IS OCCUPIED.
1 inquired when she would be likely to be
~disengaged from her train Of thought, and
was informed that every moment of Mrs.
Eddy's day was set apart for some special
duty; tina not one moment of her time
was wasted. Her drive occupies two hours,
an hour is devoted to work upon her new
book, letters are dictated TO the board of
twelve lecturers, who are her mouthpieces
throughout the country; her toilet, her
household affairs and some reading to fur
nish rest for her very active mind also takes
up her time.
why said Mr.. Frye. who is a young
man, rather good-looking, who lives at
Pleasantview Mrs. Eddy does not rave
time 10 see scientists who come from great
distances; she cannot attempt to answer
her vast correspondence, certainly she can
not take time to be interviewed.
Answer the adverse criticisms? Oh,
Mrs. Eddy does not even know of them.
She would not have time to read them.
Mother Eddy's power is impregnable."
Yet the adverse criticisms evidently did
for Mother Eddy felt obliged eventually to
submit TO an interview and reply to the at
tacks upon herself and the faith to which
reared and nursed from infancy to q prime
of strength, and which is so vigorous 1T may
never die.
Her face is old and creased with wrinkles,
so are her hands. Mrs. Eddy says this is
because her hands have been busy ones.
Her eyes are old and have. the WORKOUT,
watery look that comes with age. Her
cheeks are pink, and j noticed particularly
that 1t was the stationary sort of color that
doesn't come and go when Mrs. Eddy is
Her hair is a marelous creation, and its
makeup undoubtedly requires as much time
as her daily drive. 1t is uniformly and pc
culiarly white. piled high with puffs. 1t
might be a r~eady-made couture laid In puffs
and oil, but if so it was skillfully placed.
Mother Eddy W since my arrival in Con-
cord to refrain from close investigation.
ALWAYS WELL DRESSED.
Mrs. Eddy always dresses in handsome
toilets of black and white. When 1 saw her
she held a cap, also of black, sparkling with
jet ornaments. A dash Of white relieved the
somberness of her bonnet, worn tilted back
over her white hair, and the white chiffon
about her throat looked soft and pretty.
Mrs. Eddy has a youthful carriage for her
age, yet the look of pain which sometimes
stamps itself upon her features tempts me
to wonder if the story of a wasting disease
has not some foundation.
For the first time in ten years Mrs. Eddy
talked to q reporter. She was prompted to
do so by a report which said that Mrs. Eddy
had long been dead. and that an impostor
trained TO represent her was living here and
appearing occasionally in public to read,
lecture and arouse enthusiasm.
Il haven't felt more sound for forty
years." said Mrs. Eddy. 81 have not been
sick enough TO have a doctor for years.
Every once in a while I hear it said that 1
am dead or very i'll with paralysis, but you
can see that L am very much alive to-day.
1T was way back in the seventies that
reports were first given out that / was dead.
but here l am to-day. working hard and in
teen here 1 think l have missed my daily
drives but three days. / arise at 6 O'Clock
In the morning and work all day. i retire
at 3 O'Clock in the evening, not always to
sleep. for 1 have much on my mind
To-day 1 have answered no less than
twenty letters. There are hundreds of let
tiers that L never answer at all. To-day L
have received letters from the Congo Free
State n several European countries and |
nave answered one from the wife of a con-
sui in China From all over the country 1
am besieged with requests for messages and
counsel. My word is decisive on all ques-
greater responsibility as years go by, so
that / am constantly more watchful and
eager TO do my best in all undertakings.
L turn many more persons from my door
than / see. II is impossible for me to enter
tain the hosts Who wish to see me. For
years L have been trying TO discourage hero
worship. From Europe now comes a stir
ring appeal to me to attend science demon
STATIONS at the Paris exposition. / do not
believe in that and / do not think | shall
send any message, but my best wishes will
be with those whose efforts will be directed
toward spreading the truths among the peo-
pie there. The faith is fourishing. In Eng
land there has been a great advance in the
last four years, and the same progress has