Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-06-27
Brisbane Interviews
Scientists Leader


thrown upon the Eddy case by Arthur
Brisbane, who, at the request of the
Cosmopolitan magazine, interviewed
the aged leader Of Christian Science
at her home in Concord, N. n.
Mr.. Brisbane passed an hour at the
home of Mrs. Eddy. Mr.. Brisbanes
immediate report to the publication he
represented upon the results Of his
visit to the home of Mrs. Eddy was
as follows:
Il visited Mrs. Eddy as the repre-
sentative Of the Cosmopolitan, in ac-
cordance with the arrangement that
you had made. had a long and ex-
tremely interesting talk with her. am
glad to tell you that shall be able to
write the article which you ask for,
and that it will be positively reassur-
ing and comforting to Mrs. Eddy"
Mr.. Brisbane describes the condi-
tions OF Mrs. Eddy's home as follows:
Those about her are devoted to her.
She is in absolute control of her own
movements, and mistress of her entire
household. That is evident.
Mrs. Eddy is thoroughly competent
to take care of herself and her busl :.
ness. The suggestion that she should
be deprived of her personal liberty, Or
of the property that she has earned, Is
preposterous and shameful.
Her Mental Vigor Unusual.
For a woman of her age-she is
eighty-six years old-her mental vigor
and clearness Of thought are most ,in
usual. I had every opportunity of con-
vincing myself thoroughly as to her
talks clearly, logically. She reads
beautifully with voice very musical
and of great power. She understands
business matters thoroughly. She
speaks with intense feeling and graft!
tude Of her friends and their devo-
ton. To accuse those friends of con-
spiracy against her welfare is in my
opinion disgraceful.
II shall say at length that / feel
most deeply, namely, that II Mrs. Eddy
in her old age should be deprived by
law of her fortune, of the right to dis
pose of 1t. or of the right to dispose OF
herself. the act would be outrageous.
And it would cause Just appre-
hension in the mind of any woman
past three score and ten and possess
ed Of property that might arouse
cupidity or the interest Of outsiders.
Lives Under Ideal Conditions.
Mrs. Eddy lives under ideal condi-
tions of comfort, happiness and con-
tentment. 1t would be sheer brutality
on the part of so-called next friends
or any others to interfere with her
life as it is today
Mrs. Eddy is well able to take care
of herself. She understands that conn
plicated details of her lawsuit, and Of
her very large religious following far
better than the average woman of
twenty-five could.
Il questioned her in detail as to the
lawsuit which seeks to deprive her of
her property and as to the deed of
trust which she recently executed
These matters are clear in her mind
The charges against Mrs. Eddy are
false in my opinion. But If all the
charges made against her mental con-
dition We're true, thai very truth would
constitute an additional reason for
leaving her as she lis, in an ideally
beautiful home, surrounded by good
women devoted to her, to whom her
wishes are law, in whom she has abso-
lutte confidence, and whose devotion
makes her life happy
Suit Stupid or Vicious,
''The effort to deprive Mrs Eddy In
her old age of her freedom of action.
control Of the property which she
has accumulated, is stupid or vicious.
and say this as one having no in
terest whatever in Christian Science.
To interfere with Mrs Eddy,s life,
to take away from her complete lib
erty of action, would be a shameful
outrage, and / am convinced that no
court will encourage the effort I shall
write you more fully before preparing
the article that have promised"