Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23
INTERVIEWER TELLS
OF VISIT TO CONCORD
Finds That Mrs. Eddy Is in Full
Possession of All Mental Faculties

IMPARTIAL light is thrown upon the
present condition of Mary Baker G.
Eddy, head of the Christian Science
faith, and the lawsuit over her estate
by recent visit of a reporter who, at
the request of the Cosmopolitan maga-
zine, interviewed the aged leader of
Christian Science, at her home in Con-
cord, N. H.
This reporter passed an hour at the
home of Mrs. Eddy. His immediate
report to the publication he represented
upon the results of his visit to the
home of Mrs. Eddy was as follows:
IT visited Mrs. Eddy as the represen-
tative of the Cosmopolitan magazine, in
accordance with the arrangement that
had been made. 1 had long and ex-
tremely interesting talk with her. 1
am glad to tell you that shall be able
to write the article which you ask for,
and that it will be positively reassuring
and comforting to Mrs. Eddy's friends
and followers"
The writer describes the conditions
of Mrs. Eddy's home as follows:
Those about her are devoted to her.
She is in absolute control cf her own
movements and mistress of her entire
household. That Is evident.
Mrs. Eddy is thoroughly competent
to take care of herself and her business.
The suggestion that she should be de-
prived of her personal liberty, or of the
property that she has earned. is pre-
posterous 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 un-
usual. l had every opportunity of con-
vincing myself thoroughly as to her
mental and physical condition. She
talks clearly, logically. She reads
beautifully, with a voice very musical
and of great power. She understands
business matters thoroughly. To ac-
cuse those friends of conspiracy against
her welfare is, in my opinion, dis
graceful.
IT shall say at length what 1 feel most
deeply, namely, that if Mrs. Eddy in
her old age should be deprived by law
of her fortune, of the right to dispose
of it, or of the right to dispose of her.
self, the act would be outrageous. And
1t would cause just apprehension in
the mind of any woman past three
score and ten and possessed of prop
erty that might arouse the cupidity or
the interest of outsiders.
Lives Under Ideal Conditions
MIS- EQQy lives unQer ideal con-
ditions 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 ell able to take care
of herself. She understands the COM
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 condi-
tion were true, that very truth would
constitute an additional reason for
leaving her as she is. in an ideally
beautiful home, surrounded by good
women devoted to her, to whom her
wishes are law, in whom she kas alb
solute 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 |
I say this as one having no interest |
whatever in Christian Science.
ITO interfere with Mrs. Eddy's life, |
to take away from her her complete |
liberty of action, would be Il shameful |
outrage, and I am convinced that no |
court will encourage the effort 1 shall |
write you most fully Before preparing |
the article that have promised