Zirkoff B. - The Diaries of H. P. Blavatsky: Difference between revisions

''August'' 5. Got up at 4 in the morning. H.S.O., H.P.B., Wimbridge and Macgrath took train to New York. A letter from E. K. showing pretensions and being offended with Olcott for what he wrote to her about C. C. Blake.<ref>Dr. C. Carter Blake seemed for a time to be devoted to Theosophical work, but was a member of the Jesuit order when he joined the T.S. He was expelled from the Society at a later date. See The Mahatma Letters, etc., Letter No. LIV, in this connection.</ref> H.S.O. received a letter from Prof. Wyld.<ref>Dr. George Wyld of Edinburgh.</ref> Evening to dinner, W. Q. Judge according to orders and Wimbridge. “Indu Prakash” received from India and pamphlet “Answer of Dya Nand Swamee<ref>Swâmi Dayânanda Sarasvatî of the Ârya Samâja in India.</ref> to his critics.” An Italian paper from Otho Alexander<ref>Otho Alexander, an early member of the T.S. resident in Corfu, Greece.</ref> from Corfu with article on Mazzini’s festival and a thrust to the “Fanfulla,” by Menelao.<ref>Pasquale Menelao, President of the Corfu Lodge of the T.S. which was founded in 1877.</ref>

August 6. Olcott gone to Albany. Dictionary received from Odessa. Letters received from Mooljee Thackersey<ref>Mooljee Thackersey. Col. Olcott mentions meeting him on one of his early travels before he had met H.P.B. The Founders started corresponding with him in 1877.</ref> to H.P.B. from Hurrychund Chintamon and Shamajee Chrishnavarma.<ref>Pandit Shamji Krishnavarma was a man of stirling worth and great integrity of character. He was born in 1857 and was at one time connected with the Ârya Samâja. It was he who sent to the Founders in New York an English translation of the Samâja’s Rules, which led them to rescind the Resolutions of the Council to amalgamate the T.S. with Swâmi Dayânanda’s Society. Shortly after the Founders settled in Bombay, Krishnavarma left India for Oxford, England, accepting the position of Oriental Lecturer of Balliol College. Before taking this decision, he had a serious consultation with H.P.B. and Col. Olcott. Within an incredibly short time, he had mastered Greek and Latin and passed difficult examinations in Law and Political Economy. He was appointed Lecturer in Sanskrit, Marâthî and Gujarâtî and assisted Prof. Sir Monier Monier-Williams who had originally sponsored his arrival. Upon his return to India, he was appointed to the Dewanship of the State of Junagadh. (See The Theos., IV, Nov., 1882, p. 27 and Supplement to June, 1883, p. 12; V, Suppl. to Oct., 1883, p. 14; and XVI, March, 1895, pp. 403-04).</ref> H. C. sends a whole package of books of the 6 philosophies.—Letter from H.S.O. to H.C. including Wimbridge’s letter sent by the latter also. Answer to Mooljee by H.P.B. Evening—Curtis came and began an article on the Swamee and the Arya Samaj. Wimbridge, then Macgrath, and finally Judge who remained to sleep. Macgrath thinks seriously of joining us and going to India.

August 7. Wimbridge to dinner. Evening, Paris and Mr. Tows.

September 11. Wimb. prepared H.P.B.’s portrait for engraving.—Marble dined with us. Then after dinner, McCarthy, Samuels, who wants to join us, Mrs. Morell and Stone (the stony spiritual idiot). Pamphlet received from Hurry C. by a Southern lady—an “old friend” of his. She —a Christian.

October 9. All day ringing of the bell. Mrs. C. Daniels came and remained two hours bothering. O’Donovan went {{Page aside|410}} on with the sculpting. Mrs. D. made love to O’D. and the latter returned. He dined here. She went away sighing that her husband dies not. Evening. O’D. and W. and H.P.B. alone. Letters to H.S.O. and H.P.B. with portraits and official letter from Lippitt.<ref>General Francis J. Lippitt (1812-1902), a distinguished American military man and Lecturer on Law. Was a friend of Lafayette and of De Toqueville whom he assisted in the preparation of his works. He was an ardent Spiritualist and a great friend of the Founders. See the B.-B. Index, s. v. LIPPITT.</ref> Consents to accept Fellowship. Write letter the Revd. Ayton, Oxford, Vicarage.—Letter from Stainton Moses. Flapdoodle.

Neuralgia ! ! ! Will frighten it off to-night.

October 10. H.P.B. wrote article for Petersburg.—O’Donovan whole day. Mrs. O’Grady came to dinner.— Letter from Rochelle, from van der Linden.<ref>C. H. Van der Linden and Peter van der Linden, father and son, who joined together and remained loyal members of the T.S. in America to the time of their death.</ref> Enthusiastic and prepares to send his mite of $1.25 every month to the Arya Samaj. Asks whether he ought not to learn Sanskrit or Pali. Saw Rev. Hoysington the blind lecturer. Agreed with him to preach and stir up the Brahma in the West. Letter from Evans (Philadelph) want to order a Society pin (badge) for himself but is too stingy. Asks how much. Answered, and sent him off to H.S.O.—

Evening. O’Donovan, O’Grady, Wm., Macgrath, Mrs. Daniels and Ayre. Kept them all in the dining room. Wrote article. Mrs. D. brought her picture. Sent a Theos. Circular to Revd. Scudder, Brooklyn, and wrote a greeting in Tamil at a corner of the envelope.

October 11. Article.—O’Donovan and plastering. Made a bunion on H.P.B.’s nose on the plaster. Dined here. After dinner Curtis came to finish article on the disposal of Palm’s ashes. Wrote in the closet room. Finished article. Began another.

No letter from H.S.O. to W.’s great surprise. Told him that H.P.B. saw one coming, which had an orange and golden atmosphere around it. O’Donovan finished his bas-relief and took it home.<ref>A reproduction of this plaque appears as frontispiece in Col. Olcott’s Old Diary Leaves, Vol. I, but this illustration is of a copy in bronze now at Adyar, evidently copied from the original plaster. H.P.B.’s name in Tamil was most likely added when this copy was made in India.</ref>

H.P.B. wrote to Mrs. Corson.<ref>Caroline Rollins Corson, wife of Prof. Hiram Corson of Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y., both of whom were close friends of H.P.B.’s in the early days. She was born in France and educated in her native country and in Germany. Aside from translation work, she also wrote some valuable articles on Faust, Machiavelli, Victor Hugo and others.</ref> No use introducing her to Madame von Vay, as poor Wittgenstein<ref>Prince Emil-Karl-Ludvigovich von Sayn-Wittgenstein. See Bio-Bibliogr. Index for data.</ref> is dead and she is with his family.

October 12. Letter from one who is impudent enough to sign himself M... Junior!!! What next? Prophecy fulfilled. Letter from E.K. sends a circular from Constant in Smyrna and recommends him for a Theosophist. All right. Captain Burton<ref>Captain Sir Richard Francis Burton (1821-90), British explorer and Orientalist, celebrated translator of the so-called “Arabian Nights.”</ref> elected Fellow of the T.S. of Great Britain. Judge turned up.

Evening: Wilder came and dined. Went away at 9. H.P.B. talked with W. alone till 2 after midnight. He confessed he saw three distinct individualities in her. He knows it. Does not wish to say so to Olcott for fear H.S.O. will make fun of him!!!!!

October 13. Jenny went off at 7 leaving to Wim. a parting note. “Called away upon important business. Will be back tomorrow.” No breakfast—Wim. boiled two eggs and made coffee. Tom<ref>“Tom” was Miss Sarah Cowell of New York, an actress.</ref> came at 10. Went off at 1 with Wim.—Wimb. came back at 3. Marble. Prepared cold dinner. At 8 Wim. went away to join Tom at theatre to hear Wilhelmj, the violinist. Louis came. Then Mr., Mrs. and Miss Lackey. H.P.B. wrote answer to the Sun, on the infamous editorial which can hurt H.S.O., make Kali<ref>Nickname for Col. Olcott’s wife. She was Mary Epplee Morgan, daughter of the Rev. Richard U. Morgan, D. D., rector of Trinity parish, New Rochelle, N. Y., whom the Colonel married April 26, 1860.</ref> pounce on him and Xtians refuse him their money.

Evening. Batchelor, Maynard, Wing. Mrs. Parker<ref>Described by Col. Olcott in his Diary as “the Irish Lady who agitates for Women’s Rights, etc.”</ref> brought three Spts. Dr. Pike,—W. H. Pruden and Mrs. E. Hallet from Boston. Pike looking at H.P.B. several times, started and said that no one in the whole world impressed him as much. Once saw in H.P.B. a girl of 16, at another an old woman of 100,—and again a man with a beard!! Wim. and Tom returned at 11 from theatre. Tom is here yet with W. and O’Donovan in the dining room chatting and it is ¼ to 4 after midnight. O’Don. brought plaster cast, and it is the portrait of Mrs. Winchester!!! Will correct it tomorrow. Afraid for H.S.O. and his business.

October 14. Magnificent news! Letters from Massey<ref>Charles Carleton Massey was an English Barrister-at-Law and literateur keenly interested in Spiritualism. He was one of the ablest metaphysicians in England and a lucid and scholarly writer on psychic subjects. He visited the U.S.A. in 1875, and went to Chittenden, Vt. to verify for himself Col. Olcott’s accounts of the Eddy phenomena Massey became one of the original “formers” of the T.S. However, after several years of friendship, differences arose between him and the Founders. He resigned when the Society for Psychical Research at tacked H.P.B. and gave allegedly damaging evidence against her. He died in 1905. See Bio-Bibliogr. Index for further data.</ref> and Billing.<ref>Dr. Harry J. Billing.</ref> C. C. Blake at the last Theosophical meeting accused us of N. Y. and the Arya Samaj of practicing Siva worship—performing the Linga and Sakti Puja!!! What next? Wrote to C. C. M. and Wim. wrote also {{Page aside|412}} expressing disgust. Wrote to H.S.O. to come home. H.P.B. wrote to E.K.—and this letter will be the last.

If H.S.O. not ready, I have to go.

O’Donovan dined and demanded beer.

Evening. Macgrath and his clairvoyant Doctor—a good looking female. Miss Lackey called. H.P.B. wrote to Hurry C. C. and sent copy of Massey’s letter. Let him answer.

October 15. H.P.B. wrote to Billing and Thomas—denying the calumny, and calling Carter Blake an “infamous liar.” Aired H.P.B. along the streets for two hours.

H.S.O. succeeded in writing a French postal-card. First wrote mille, very correctly, then crossed it out and put mil, which is not. His first inspiration always better. Sent to H.S.O. Massey’s and Billing’s letters. ORDERS received for him to create an indignation meeting whether in reality or fancy. On his obeying depends much. H.S.O. expects to get $5,000.

Evening. Curtis and Weisse. Looks ill. H.P.B. is afraid he won’t last long. Finished his book and mentions in it three times H.P.B.’s Isis; calls it one of the grandest productions of the 19th century.

H.P.B. sent a telegram to Massey, Athenaeum Club, London “Infernal lie”!! and paid 5 dollars in gold. Money furnished by M ...

October 16. Letter from H.S.O. Did not yet receive the registered letter with Massey and Billing’s letters. Ordered to write to him. M ... came and raved. Well, I do not wonder.

Evening. Wrote letter of profession of faith to H.C.C. Mrs. Esther Hallet, Dr. Pike, Dr. W. H. Pruden and Miss ———?, a friend of Miss Monachesi. Want to join the T.S.

Took in the afternoon Isis to Dunlop’s Express Co. with introduction letter from Curtis to Dunlop. Visited W. Q. Judge. Went with him and not having found Dunlop left the Isis to his care. Expressage to Paris only $2.—?? Got an aerial drive there and back. Saw Townsend.