The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-16
DEATH OPENED HER EYES
THE DEMISE OF SWAMI sVTVEKA
NANDA MADE MISS ZIMMER-
MAN A DUCHESS
THOUGHT HE COULDN'T DIE
She Was q Follower of the Cult,
but the Apostle Was Called
Hence, Which Ended
Her Relief.

Tt is not generally known that Helena
Zimmerman, or properly the Duchess of
Manchester, was on her way to India to
become a life disciple of the Hindoo
philosophy, Raja Yoga, when she met
the duke of Manchester in London. But
desire for knowledge of the mysticism
of the East led almost directly to the
beginning Of the romance which culmi-
mated in the wealthy American girl Sc
cretly becMning the wife of the 1nan-
cially barren British duke.
Miss ZinneTrlan's trip to Hindoostan
was interrupted by the death of the man
Who had taught her all she knew of
mystic lore, and under whose guidance
she hoped to become an adept-the
Swami Vivekenanda She had grown
firm in the belief that he could not die.
The teachings of Raia Yega are that
there is no necessity for the. cessation OF
life in the body: that by right living and
practices the corporeaI being will wear
on until the spirit has attained a certain
perfection when body ana soul will go
together into the next cycle of existence
ROBBED HER OF FAITH.
The Cincinnati heiress believed all this
and had faith in Vivekeranda. There
fore, nnen he lay DOWN and died like
common clay, the shock was great
enough to break all the bonds of faith
which held her to this peculiar religion
Moreover, it released ner from what her
family considered a kind of mental fas-
cinati6n exercised over her by the
Swami
New York remembers Vivekenanda
Well Several years ago he was the
rage of society; that is, of the female
portion He gave a series of lectures
upon how to obtain soul liberation" or
how to rea h omnipotence through eX-
ercise OF mental practices. 1t became
the fad Of rich women to attend these
discourses, to fete the Swami-which
word, by the way, signifies teacher-to
talk Raja Toga but seldom to practice
the precepts.
IAN EARNEST FOLLOWER.
Helena Zimmerman was an exception
in the latter respect. She went in for
the philosophy earnestly She not only
attended -Nivekenahda's public lectures
but had Ions talks with him privately,
and in her daily life practiced faithfully
what these interviews taught her The
first step in attaining HindOo perfection
is the CbserVancekof certain bodily laws
bathing az stated intervals, rising and
retiring al fixed 3, hours, and going
through set physical exercises The sec
Ond is tbs following. Of a. certain system
OF breathing called tn, the practice of pro
nasyOna." This IS all for the puriica-
ton of the body, without which mind
and soul Development cannot come,
All these things did Miss Zimmerman.
Her parents and friends protested. They
viewed with growing alarm the. influence
of Vivekenanda over, her. But their
pleadings ard threats did TO good She
declared her hatred of society and an
nOunccd her intention of devoting her
life to spir tual search. And as She went
into it with all the determination ard
energy With which she was wont to ride
dangerous Horses on her fathers West 1
ern ranch she had her own way.
RECALLED TO INDIA.
Finally VivelIenanda, received a 'scaH
of the spirit" to return to India. AS
social rage he had been falling by the
wayside because of the advent Of n plan
ist with leonine locks. '' The future
Duchess of Manchester was one of the
few who did not desert him. After he
had some, she became restless and
moody. She continued to practice pro
nasyona.' but it now failed to bring the
peace which it was warranted to tur-
nish. teG
The Zimmerman family were eIated
over the Hindoo's departure, but this
ended when the girl announced her in
tention of going to India to pursue her
way toward Samadhi. 1t was her inten-
ton to hurry through London. but she
missed a Dover train.
Next morning she read of the prosaic
death of Fivekenanda. That ended the
pilgrimage.