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The subject of this sketch is in many respects a very rare one. Whether we take into account her originality and breadth of thought, her physical and moral courage, her adventurous pursuit of knowledge, seldom sought and more seldom found, or her zeal in propagating Oriental religious ideas, Madame Blavatsky is altogether an extraordinary personage. She was born in Asiatic Russia and reared in the tenets of the Greek Church. She left home and friends at an early age, to travel in strange lands and sojourn among strange peoples and tribes. She has, unaccompanied, traveled three, times around the globe, and has dwelt among dark-skinned races for years together, learning and speaking their languages, studying philosophy and practicing magic with their priests ; indeed, making herself for the time being one of the people with whom she dwelt. | The subject of this sketch is in many respects a very rare one. Whether we take into account her originality and breadth of thought, her physical and moral courage, her adventurous pursuit of knowledge, seldom sought and more seldom found, or her zeal in propagating Oriental religious ideas, Madame Blavatsky is altogether an extraordinary personage. She was born in Asiatic Russia and reared in the tenets of the Greek Church. She left home and friends at an early age, to travel in strange lands and sojourn among strange peoples and tribes. She has, unaccompanied, traveled three, times around the globe, and has dwelt among dark-skinned races for years together, learning and speaking their languages, studying philosophy and practicing magic with their priests ; indeed, making herself for the time being one of the people with whom she dwelt. | ||
The Russians of the upper class have always been noted for their linguistical talent, but Mme. Blavatsky seems to have excelled most of her compatriots in this respect. Prince Emil Wittgenstein,<ref> | The Russians of the upper class have always been noted for their linguistical talent, but Mme. Blavatsky seems to have excelled most of her compatriots in this respect. Prince Emil Wittgenstein,<ref>Emil zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (1824-1878) was a Russian officer of high rank of German origin, who took part in the conquest of the Caucasus and the Crimean War.</ref> a cousin of the present Empress, in writing to Col. Olcott, of New York, said that he knew Mme. Blavatsky well some twenty-five years ago at Tiflis, when she was famed for her ability to speak Georgian, Mongolian, Circassian, and other Caucasus dialects. Those who have met her can certify, that besides the French and Italian, several other languages are familiar to her. Epes Sargent, the American {{Style S-HPB SB. Continues on |4-205}} | ||
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