Zirkoff B. - HPBs Scrapbooks

T

H.P.B.'s Scrapbooks

by Boris de Zirkoff

H. P. Blavatsky Collected Writtings, vol. 1, page(s) 29

Publications: The Daily Graphic, New York, Vol. V, October 30, 1874, p. 873

Also at: KH

In other languages:

<<   ☰   >>

29

H.P.B.’S SCRAPBOOKS

Beginning in 1874, and for about ten years, H.P.B. pasted a wide variety of cuttings from newspapers and magazines into Scrapbooks. There are twenty-four of them in the Archives of The Theosophical Society at Adyar, India. Every newspaper reference to the T.S. and its work, and any account thought to be of consequence for historical purposes, was pasted in these Scrapbooks. This included also cuttings of H.P.B.’s own articles and letters to Editors which had been published, and some of Col. Olcott’s contributions to various Journals of the day.

H.P.B. appended pen-and-ink and pencil remarks and comments to various statements in the text of these articles; many of these comments are humorous and are enhanced by cartoons, either drawn by herself or pasted in from some other magazine or paper, frequently with her own additions. Here and there appears some important statement of her own, not to be found anywhere else in her writings.

In the pages that follow, the reader will find all pertinent comments by H.P.B. introduced in their approximate chronological sequence, which at times is not easy to determine; some of H.P.B.’s annotations may have been added later than the time when any given article was published.—Compiler.

–––––––

The first article definitely known to be from the pen of H.P.B. is the one in the New York Daily Graphic, entitled “Marvellous Spirit Manifestations,” with which the present Volume opens:

---

Below are the notes, given by B. Zirkoff for the HPB's Scrapbook They are collected from all the volumes of CW. –––––––

HPB's Scrapbook 1:5 (BCW 1:34-36)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, the above article is pasted on page 5, in three separate columns, together with the Press Cutting mentioning her arrival at the Eddy Homestead on Oct. 14, 1874, as may be seen on the accompanying illustration. H.P.B.’s comment at the top of the page reads:]

The curtain is raised. — H.S.O.’s acquaintance on October 14, 1874, with H.P.B. at Chittenden. H. S. Olcott is a — Rabid Spiritualist, and H. P. Blavatsky is an occultist — one who laughs at the supposed agency of Spirits! (but all the same pretends to be one herself).

[To the date of the article H.P.B. added in pen and ink: 1874; and she also wrote the following footnote under column 3:]

#They may be the portraits of the dead people then repro . . . . . (they certainly are not Spirits or Souls) yet a real . . . . . nomenon produced by the Elementaries. H.P.B.

[The sign introducing the footnote is missing in the actual article; there are, however, blue underlinings and quotation marks in connection with the word “spirits,” in the 4th and 5th paragraphs of the text, made by H.P.B., and to which her footnote may refer.]

HPB's Scrapbook 1:6-7 (BCW 1:44)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, pp. 6-7, where the above article is pasted, H.P.B. added in pen and ink under her signature:]

So much in defence of phenomena, as to whether these Spirits are ghosts is another question.

H.P.B.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:7-8 (BCW 1:44)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, pp. 7-8, there is a cutting from The Daily Graphic of November 1874, which deals with the visit of a Mr. Brown, the “mind reader,” to the Eddys’ Homestead. Mr. Brown relates how one of the “spirits” brought to H.P.B. one of the decorations which had belonged to her father, and says that “Madame was overwhelmed with gratitude.”

H.P.B. underlined the word overwhelmed and added at the end of the article in pen and ink:]

Overwhelmed—be switched! . . . . not my father’s pet, if you please. H. P. Blavatsky is never “overwhelmed.”

HPB's Scrapbook 1:8 (BCW 1:45)

[In Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 8, the account of Mr. Brown is followed immediately by an article entitled “Unpractical Spirits,” presumably also from The Daily Graphic. It is signed with the initials “I.F.F.” which obviously stand for Irvin Francis Fern. H.P.B. added the following remarks in pen and ink:]

Bravo! Irvin Francis Fern—a great Occultist. He IS RIGHT but we have to defend phenomena & prove it too before we teach them philosophy.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:11-12 (BCW 1:53)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, pp. 11-12, a cutting is pasted from The Spiritualist of January 1, 1875. It is entitled “Materialized Spirit Forms” and is an article written by Benjamin Coleman who deals with Robert Dale Owen’s opinion on the genuineness of the phenomena of materialization. The following parts were commented upon by H.P.B.: “The Countess’ presence at several of the Eddy séances led to most surprising manifestations, including the appearance of several spirits of persons known to her in foreign countries.” H.P.B. marked this sentence with blue pencil and added at the side in pen and ink:]

Yes; for I have called them out MYSELF.

H.P.B.

[The last sentence of the article: “These American facts, coupled with our own, should have an important bearing in correcting the errors of both science and theology”—w as continued by H.P.B. who added in pen and ink:]

—and—Spiritualism please add. Belief in the agency of “Spirits” or disembodied souls in these phenomena is as foolish & irrational as belief in the agency of the Holy Ghost in the fabrication of Jesus if the latter ever lived.

H. P. Blavatsky.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:20-21 (BCW 1:72)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 21, there is pasted a short printed announcement concerning the visit of Col. H. S. Olcott to Boston. H.P.B. added to it in her handwriting, the date of January 20, 1875. To the sentence which states that “Dr. Gardiner announced that Col. Olcott’s subjects next Sunday would be ‘Human and Elementary Spirits’ in the afternoon, and in the evening ‘Ancient Magic and Modern Spiritualism.’” H.P.B. added in pen and ink the following remarks:]

The “Spirits” wrote anonymous letters to Dr. Gardiner and threatened to kill—Col. Olcott if he lectured against them. They did not kill him though, — guess didn’t know how, the sweet “angels”! . . .

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, between pages 20 and 21, may be found the manuscript of the following “Important Note” in H.P.B.’s own handwriting. It is undated, but its last paragraph places it as being prior to the formation of The Theosophical Society. The accompanying illustration reproduces this “Note” just as it appears on two small separate sheets of paper in H.P.B.’s Scrapbook. Her words show better than anything else the pathos of her situation, and the complex psychological and spiritual difficulties she was working under even at that early period in the history of the Movement. On what specific purpose she was sent to America is stated here beyond any doubt.]

HPB's Scrapbook 1:36 (BCW 1:90)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 36, may be found another cutting from the Spiritual Scientist of May 27, 1875, the text of which is as follows:]

“It is rumoured that one or more Oriental Spiritualists of high rank have just arrived in this country. They are said to possess a profound knowledge of the mysteries of illumination, and it is not impossible that they will establish relations with those whom we are accustomed to regard as the leaders in Spiritualistic affairs. If the report be true, their coming may be regarded as a great blessing; for after a quarter century of phenomena, we are almost without a philosophy to account for them or control their occurrence. Welcome to the Wise Men of the East, if they have really come to worship at the cradle of our new Truth.”

[H.P.B. underlined in red pencil the word “Spiritualist,” and wrote on the margin, lengthwise up the page, also in red pencil:]

At . . . & Ill. . . . passed thro’ New York & Boston; thence thro’ California & Japan back. M . . . appearing in Kama-Rupa daily.

[The abbreviations most likely stand for Atrya and Illarion (or Hilarion), two of the Adept-Brothers.]

HPB's Scrapbook 1:58 (BCW 1:94)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 58, may be found at the bottom of the page the following important note written by H.P.B. in pen and ink:]

Orders received from India direct to establish a philosophico-religious Society and choose a name for it—also to choose Olcott. July 1875.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:39 (BCW 1:95)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 39, several cuttings are pasted consisting of articles by Col. H. S. Olcott written for the Spiritual Scientist about July 15, 1875. One of these, entitled “Mutterings of a Storm,” deals with the crisis of Spiritualism, and Col. Olcott ends it with the following remarks concerning the Journal:]

“Already some of the best and brightest minds among our psychologists have come to our assistance, and no paper in the world has a more talented corps of contributors. Already friends gather around us, send us money, exert themselves, without our solicitation, to get subscribers, and our young enterprise stands upon ‘rock bottom’.”

[Along the side of this article, H.P.B. wrote in pen and ink:]

The Editor and Medium Gerry Brown has thanked us for our help. Between Col. Olcott & myself, H.P.B., we have spent over a 1000 dollars given him to pay his debts & support his paper. Six months later he became our mortal enemy, because only we declared our unbelief in Spirits. Oh grateful mankind . .

H.P.B.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:45 (BCW 1:119)

[At the end of this article, in her Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 45, where the cutting was pasted, H.P.B. wrote in pen and ink the following:]

Shot No. 1—Written by H.P.B. by express orders from S *** (See first result in the query from a learned!! Mason—art: “Rosicrucianism,” back of the page.

[The parenthesis is not closed in the original.]

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. III, H.P.B. pasted the cuttings of this long article again. It occupies pages 241-245 therein. She signed the article in pen and ink: H. P. Blavatsky, June 1875.]

HPB's Scrapbook 1:47 (BCW 1:120)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 47, there is a cutting of an article from the Spiritual Scientist of July 22, 1875, entitled “Mrs. Holmes Caught Cheating.” On the free space between the two columns, H.P.B. wrote in pen and ink the following remarks:]

She swore to me in Philadelphia that if I only saved her that once she would NEVER resort to cheating & trickery again. I saved her but upon receiving her solemn oath.—And now she went out of greed for money to produce her bogus manifestations again. M ... forbid me to help her. Let her receive her fate—the vile, fraudulent liar!

H.P.B.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:54-55 (BCW 1:121-122)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook Vol. I, pp. 54-55, there is a cutting from a weekly journal. The Liberal Christian, of Saturday, September 4, 1875, which consists of an article entitled “Rosicrucianism” in New York.” It is unsigned but is known to have been written by the Rev. Dr. J. H. Wiggin, the Editor of that Journal. Starting with a superficial survey of Rosicrucian ideas, Dr. Wiggin goes on to relate the circumstances under which he had recently met H. P. Blavatsky. He says:]

“It was just after Col. Olcott’s astounding stories in the Sun about the floral gifts received from the spirits through a Boston medium, that I was kindly bidden by my friend Mr. Sotheran, of the American Bibliopolist, to meet both Madame and the Colonel the following evening in Irving Place; with permission to bring some friends . . .”

[According to Dr. Wiggin’s account, there were present at this gathering: Col. Olcott. Il Conte, “the secretary once of Mazzini,” Charles Sotheran, Judge M. of New Jersey, his wife, Mr. M., a Boston gentleman, and H. P. Blavatsky, who, he says, was “the centre of the group.” To the cutting in her Scrapbook, H.P.B. appended the following remarks in pen and ink:]

Written by Rev. Dr. Wiggin. This article provoked the wrath of Rev. Dr. Bellows; hence he wrote another one, on “Sorcery and Necromancy” and pitched into us.

[H.P.B. then drew a blue line from the title along the cutting to the bottom on the right edge of page 55 and added in pen and ink the following significant remark:]

On that evening the first idea of the Theos. Society was discussed.

[To this, Col. Olcott added the following note, possibly at a later date:]

For a much better account see a quotation on p. 296 of E. H. Britten’s Nineteenth Century Miracles, London 1883.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:79 (BCW 1:123)

[On page 79 of Vol. I of H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, there is another cutting from The Liberal Christian of September 25, 1875. It is a report of the Meeting of September 7, 1875, entitled “The Cabala.” It describes Mr. Felt’s lecture and mentions the formation of the Theosophical “Club.” It speaks of Dr. Pancoast of Philadelphia as a very wise occultist, and refers to his statement to the effect that ancient occultists “could summon long departed ‘spirits from the vasty deep,’ and compel them to answer questions.” To this H.P.B. appended the following remark in pen and ink:]

Not “departed Spirits or souls” but the “Elementals” the beings living in the Elements.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:57 (BCW 1:124)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 57, an article by Col. Olcott is pasted in, entitled “Spiritualism Rampant.” It is dated September 7, 1875, and deals with the Elementary Spirits and their personations. H.P.B. pasted at the side of this article three small coloured cartoons: a very fat man with an enormous head; three bottles of whiskey with faces on corks; and the head of a clown with squinting eyes. Under them, H.P.B. wrote in pen and ink:]

The present generation of men gradually evolving from—plants, vegetables, fish and becoming finally Whiskey bottles,—the “Embryonic man” or ancestor of the present race.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:63 (BCW 1:133)

[Herbert D. Monachesi, one of the original Founders of the T.S., had written an article entitled “Proselyters from India” which was published in The Sunday Mercury of New York, October 3rd, 1875, acc. to H.P.B.’s pen and ink notation. In it he praised the religions of India and China. The article was unsigned, but H.P.B. identified the author by inserting his name at the end of the cutting pasted in her Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 63. She also wrote the following remarks in pen and ink between the two columns of the article:]

Our original programme is here clearly defined by Herbert Monachesi, F.T.S., one of the Founders. The Christian and Scientists must be made to respect their Indian betters. The Wisdom of India, her philosophy and achievement must be made known in Europe & America & the English be made to respect the natives of India & Tibet more than they do.

H. P. B.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:32 (BCW 1:137)

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 32, H.P.B. added the following remarks to a cutting describing séances with Mrs. Compton:]

This Mrs. Compton is a real wonderful medium. She is a true electric battery worked by the Elementals.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:67 (BCW 1:143)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 67, there is a cutting from the Spiritual Scientist of October 21, 1875, which deals with remarks made by a certain Dr. G. Bloede, who went to the trouble of warning people against the newly-formed Theosophical Society and the work of Mrs. Emma Hardinge-Britten entitled Art Magic, as enemies of Spiritualism. H.P.B. appended in pen and ink the following side-remark :]

And now I am accused by Dr. Bloede, an ardent Spiritualist, of being the paid tool of the Jesuits to pull down Spiritualism!!!

HPB's Scrapbook 1:77 (BCW 1:150)

[A copy of the Preamble and By-Laws of The Theosophical Society is pasted in H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, pp. 77-79. On top of the first column, above the title, H.P.B. wrote in blue pencil :]

The Child is born! Hosannah!

HPB's Scrapbook 1:98-99 (BCW 1:162)

[Professor Hiram Corson of Ithaca, N.Y., in an article dated December 26, 1875, and published in the Banner of Light under the title of “The Theosophical Society and its President’s Inaugural Address,” sharply criticizes Col. Olcott’s Presidential Address of November 17, 1875, especially those portions of it which refer to Spiritualism. To the cutting of this article, as pasted in her Scrapbook, Vol. I, pp. 98-99, H.P.B. appended the following remarks:]

Oh, poor Yorick—we know him well! Aye even to having frequently seen him go to bed with his silk hat and dirty boots on. Hiram Yorick must have been drunk when he wrote this article. See H. S. Olcott’s answer on page 112.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:108-109 (BCW )

[When the cutting of this article was pasted in H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 108, she corrected the word “school” to read “Scheol” and added the following footnote in pen and ink:]

Scheol—the hell of the Jews—you donkey printer.

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 108, H.P.B. corrected the word “spirits” to read “phenomena.”—Compiler.]

HPB's Scrapbook 1:111 (BCW 1:192-193)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 111, may be found a cutting from the Banner of Light of January 15, 1876. The author, F.H.C., announces Col. Olcott’s lecture in Boston on Jan. 30th, and deals with the subject of Col. Olcott and the Elementaries.

He quotes from his Inaugural Address the statement concerning Mr. Felt who had promised, by simple chemical means, to exhibit the race of beings which people the elements. At the side of the cutting, H.P.B. remarked in pen and ink:]

And Mr. Felt has done it in the presence of nine persons in all.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:112 (BCW 1:193)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 112, there is pasted a cutting from the Banner of Light, of January 15, 1876, which is a Letter of Charles Sotheran to the Editor, in which he explains the reasons for his resignation from the Theosophical Society and indulges in some very uncomplimentary remarks about H.P.B. On the left margin of this article, H.P.B. wrote in pen and ink:]

This did not prevent Mr. Sotheran to come 6 months after that and beg my pardon, and beg on his knees to be taken into the Society again as will be proved further.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:113 (BCW 1:193-194)

[Col. H. S. Olcott replied in the pages of the Spiritual Scientist to the very outspoken criticism of Prof. Hiram Corson in regard to his Inaugural Address of November 17, 1875. He protested against the rather rude and unfair remarks of Prof. Corson. The last paragraph of his reply is quoted below, and the italicized words in it are those which have been underlined by H.P.B. when she pasted the cutting of this reply in her Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 113:]

“As for the Theosophical Society, our present experience with a certain person, who shall be nameless since his conduct has been such as to forfeit his right to recognition, has been a lesson that we mean to profit by. We are considering a proposition to organize ourselves into a secret society* so that we may pursue our studies uninterrupted by the falsehoods and inpertinences of outside parties. When we have secured the proof palpable of the Unseen Universe and its laws, we may publish it to the world, unless we should then be satisfied that some other critic as courteous and fair as Mr. Corson would denounce us as guilty of ‘assumption,’ ‘pretention,’ or ‘brag.”’

[On the right margin of the column, H.P.B. inserted the following note in pen and ink which refers to the asterisk she inserted in Olcott’s text:]

Till the row with Sotheran the Society was not a secret one, as will be seen by this. But he began to revile our experiments & denounce us to Spiritualists & impede the Society’s progress & it was found necessary to make it secret.

[Below the signature of Col. Olcott, H.P.B. pasted a small colored picture, showing a big monkey sitting and searching diligently for parasites on the neck of a little monkey child. Above the head of the big monkey, just under the signature, she pasted the six-pointed star with an open eye in the center of it, and wrote the following explanation in pen and ink:]

Prest Moloney in his future capacity of the Hindu Hanuman tenderly searching for and delivering his younger Brothers of the Enemy- parasite.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:116 (BCW 1:194)

[In the Banner of Light of February 12, 1876, Louisa Andrews wrote an article entitled “Professor Crookes still Faithful to his Conviction,” in which she said that “it is especially gratifying to know that this gentleman is still firmly grounded in the faith.” To this H.P.B. appended the following footnote when she pasted the cutting into her Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 116:]

Firmly “grounded” in his faith in the phenomena—perfectly sceptical as to their being produced by disembodied “Spirits”! Nei!—O, sweet sugar-plum Louisa. . . . .

HPB's Scrapbook 1:124 (BCW 1:203-204)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 124, there is a cutting from the Boston Sunday Herald of March, 1876. It is a letter from Dr. G. Bloede to the Editor of the paper. Under the subtitle of “Home’s Doubts of the Mediumship of Mme. Blavatsky,” the writer quotes from Col. Olcott’s People from the Other World in which he speaks of H.P.B. as “one of the most remarkable mediums in the world,” but adds that “at the sam e time her mediumship is totally different from that of any person I ever met, for, instead of being controlled by spirits to do their will, it is she who seems to control them to do her bidding.” Dr. Bloede comments on this by saying: “If we find that Mr. Home’s opinion of that eminent foreigner essentially differs from that of Col. Olcott, in regard to her supposed mediumship as well as otherwise, we must not disregard the fact that he knew her as early as 1858.” To this H.P.B. appended the following remarks in pen and ink:]

Home doubting my mediumship proved that he is a genuine and even a reliable medium. H. P. Blavatsky was NEVER a medium except, perhaps, in her earliest youth.

[The next paragraph of the same article deals with the burying of Russian dignitaries (in this case H.P.B.’s father) with their decorations, Dr. Bloede quoting Col. Olcott again on this subject. He also quotes D. D. Home who provides the testimony that no such custom exists in Russia. The decorations are carried as far as the tomb, and are later returned to the Government. At this point, H.P.B. added the following in pen and ink :]

And who ever thought or said they were! It is not a decoration but a buckle, you Spiritualistic fool. It ought to be remembered also, that Mr. D. D. Home who was twice tried for swindling (Mrs. Lyon once) never—knew or even saw me in his whole life, but, has certainly gathered most carefully the dirtiest gossip possible about Nathalie Blavatsky. Home is a liar and poor Dr. Bloede was turned into a cat by this mediumistic monkey to draw the chestnuts for him out of the fire, as the Sp. Scientist says.

[In connection with another cutting on the subject of D. D Home and his relation to Spiritualism, H.P.B. makes the following brief remark in her Scrapbook:]

and Mr. Home is an irresponsible medium.

HPB's Scrapbook SB : (BCW 1:211)

[This article is followed by H.P.B.’s translation of Prof. Butleroff’s Paper addressed to the Commission appointed by the Society of Physical Sciences of the St. Petersburg University for the investigation of the spiritual phenomena. At one point, H.P.B. appended the following outspoken footnote:]

If I did not have it from Mr. Aksakoff himself, I would have been disposed to indignantly deny the charge that Russian scientists could stoop to the dirty methods of the police-spy. They had so little confidence, it appears, in their own experience and their ingenious apparatus, that they posted persons not officially connected with the Commission to peep through cracks and key holes!

HPB's Scrapbook 1:154 (BCW 1:214)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, pp. 143-154, there are a number of cuttings from various papers in connection with the burial of Baron de Palm which took place May 28, 1876. This ceremony and the subsequent cremation of the body are fully described by Col. Olcott in his Old Diary Leaves, Vol. I, pp. 147-184. There is in the Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 154, a much faded photograph of the Baron; on both sides of the picture, H.P.B. wrote in pen and ink as follows:]

Baron Henry de Palm “Principally famous as a corpse” Buried May 28, 1876 Joseph Louis Member and Fellow of theTheos. Society Cremated December 6, 76

[In connection with an exaggerated newspaper account of the Baron’s alleged estate, H.P.B. marked certain passages in blue pencil and wrote:]

The Society paid for the funeral.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:155 (BCW 1:214)

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. I, pp. 155-56, H.P.B. pasted a cutting from the Newark Daily Journal of June 2, 1876. The Editor calls the special attention of the readers to an exposition of Spiritualism by Frederic Thomas of the Theosophical Society of New York. He says that “it will be found full of interest,” to which H.P.B. added in pen and ink:]

and of prejudiced statements, unverified hypotheses and deliberate lies. Mr. Fred Thomas, once a member of the Theosophical Society, was made to resign after this article. Sergeant Cox of London to whom he sent it, treated its author with the utmost contempt.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:164 (BCW 1:220)

[The Spiritual Scientist published “A Letter from D. D. Home” in its issue of July 6, 1876. The letter was written in self-defence against an anonymous “Comte” who attacked Home because he insulted a lady. In the first paragraph of this letter, Home writes as follows:

“I have ever striven to be an honest man, and I never condescended to write an anonymous letter, or to make charges sotto voce against anyone. What I say I can prove:* I sign my name. Sign yours!”

H.P.B. pasted the cutting in her Scrapbook, Vol. I, pp. 164-65, underlined as shown above, added an asterisk, and wrote in pen and ink the following remarks:]

Except in the case of anonymous and infamous letters sent to a poor lady at Geneva, traced to him (D. D. Home) and for which an English officer, a friend of Prince Wittgenstein went to flog him. His behaviour was so cowardly that the officer left in disgust, “without even whipping him a little” adds the Prince who wrote the facts to Col. Olcott.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:185 (BCW 1:220-221)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 185, there is a cutting which gives an account most likely from the Boston Herald of October, 1876, of various “materializations” produced by Mrs. Bennett, a medium, and of how she was finally exposed as a trickster. To this H.P.B. added the following in pen and ink:]

This is the same Mrs. Bennett whose mediumship was so strongly believed in by Epes Sargent. He wrote me a letter and sent a picture made in the dark by this cheat of the departed daughter of one of his friends. The picture was unanimously recognized. “The best test that was ever given” wrote poor Epes Sargent to his correspondents.

HPB's Scrapbook 3:119 (BCW 1:233)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook Vol. III, p. 119, there is an undated cutting from the Spiritual Scientist which treats of opinions on spirit return among the ancients. H.P.B. wrote a footnote in pen and ink which says:]

Mind is the quintessence of the Soul—and having joined its divine Spirit Nous—can return no more on earth—IMPOSSIBLE.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:35 (BCW 1:233)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 35. there is pasted a cutting from the New York Sun of December 17, 1876. It is a brief communication from Col. H. S. Olcott who repudiates the charge of having received $8,000 from Baron de Palm, and proves that the expenses of the funeral and the cremation were paid by him and Mr. Henry J. Newton; he says that “not a Dollar has been, nor ever will be realized from the Baron’s estate.” H.P.B. marked this article and wrote on the margin in blue pencil:]

Letter proving how much the Baron left us.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:54 (BCW 1:238)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 54, there is pasted a cutting from the Banner of Light, dated by H.P.B. herself as of March, 1887. It bears the title: “Art Magic—Explanation Desired!” The writer. William Emmette Coleman, of Leavenworth, Kansas, asks for an explanation concerning the difference between the original price of Mrs. Emma Hardinge-Britten’s Art Magic for subscribers ($5.00), and the price advertised then ($3.00) for sale to the general public. H.P.B. wrote in blue pencil at the left side of the cutting:]

Actually Emma H. Britten surreptitiously published 1,500 copies (through Wheat & Comette, N.Y.).

[and at the right side of the cutting:]

I was an original subscriber for two copies.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:61 (BCW )

[Also published in the New York Sun, under the title “Various Slanders Refuted,” as appears from H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 61.—Compiler.]

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 61, H.P.B. marked in red pencil most of this paragraph and also added the words: What I am —Compiler.]

HPB's Scrapbook 4:67-68 (BCW 1:253)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, pp. 67-68 (old numbering Vol. II, pp. 49-50) may be found a cutting from The Illustrated Weekly, Saturday, June 2, 1877, an American journal published in New York in 1875-77. The cutting contains a rather celebrated poem of Ivan Sergueyevich Turguenyev entitled “Croquet at Windsor,” translated by H.P.B. into English, at the special request of her aunt, Nadyezhda A. de Fadeyev, as appears from one of her letters to H.P.B. now in the Adyar Archives. This poem, in its original Russian, acquired a wide notoriety during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-78.]

HPB's Scrapbook 4:79 (BCW 1:260)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 79, there is a cutting from the Banner of Light of September 8, 1877. It is a very appreciative review by Dr. G. Bloede of some advance sheets of Isis Unveiled. H.P.B. wrote at the bottom of the first column:]

This is the same Dr. Bloede who a year before abused us & Theosophy & then made my acquaintance, begged my pardon &—joined us, and ever remained a friend.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:83 (BCW 1:264)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 83, there is a cutting concerning Dr. J. M. Peeble’s travels in India and Africa. He looks upon Buddhists as being Spiritualists, and suggests that millions of Spiritualistic tracts be distributed among them to enlighten them on the subject of “angel ministry.”

To this H.P.B. added the following remarks in pen and ink:]

Heaven save the mark! It is not enough for the poor Hindus to be pestered with Christian missionaries, but they must have the affliction of being bombarded with tracts and lectures of modern Spiritualism. Of Spiritualism of which they and their forefathers were just masters and professors for the last several millenniums.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:95 (BCW 1:271)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 95, there is a cutting from the Religio-Philosophical Journal with an article by E. Gerry Brown on Elementaries and Elementals. It is Brown’s reaction to H.P.B.’s own article entitled “Elementaries” in the same Journal, and he is defending the Spiritualistic viewpoint. H.P.B. wrote the following remarks in pen and ink :]

Bravo Gerry Brown! Good and noble from a friend who not long ago called us his benefactors!! E. G. Brown a medium, a sensitive, c’est tout dire.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:70, 7-46 (BCW 1:271)

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 70, H.P.B. pasted the last portion of an article by Emily Kislingbury entitled “Spiritualism in America,” published in The Spiritualist of London, December 14, 1877. Above the cutting, H.P.B. wrote in ink:]

Address delivered by our friend and Brahmabodhini—Emily Kislingbury before the B. N. Asson of Spiritualists in London December 1877. Complimentary bits from it—to poor H.P.B. (poor Violet!)

[The last parenthetical remark is in blue pencil and might have been added by Col. Olcott.]

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. VII, p. 46, H.P.B. pasted another article by the same writer and wrote the following remarks on a small card decorated with coloured flowers:]

Emily Kislingbury, one of the few redeeming features of Humanity.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:108 (BCW 1:277)

[Sometime in December, 1877, W. J. Colville, a trance medium, was giving trance-addresses in London. A cutting pasted in H. P. B’s Scrapbook. Vol. IV, p. 108, tells that his guides lectured the Sunday before against the views of the Theosophists, as laid down by Col. Olcott. Under this statement, H.P.B. wrote in pencil:]

Oh poor miserable Moloney! We must be disreputable and wrong in our views indeed to have thus lecturing against the latter the sweet denizens of the Sugary Spheeeres!!!. . .

HPB's Scrapbook 4:125 (BCW 1:278)

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 125, H.P.B. pasted a cutting from the New York World of April 4, 1874, entitled “Incremation.” It is most likely that the following remarks written by her in red pencil (much faded) were made at a later period, probably about the end of 1877:]

A PAGE FAR BACK—H. S. Olcott’s idea on “Cremation” so far back as 1874; which proves that the cremation of the Baron was not due to theosophical ideas alone.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:140 (BCW 1:278)

[In the same Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 140, H.P.B. pasted a cutting concerning the exposure of the medium James M. Choate whose alleged phenomenal flowers were hidden in his handkerchief. It appears that the medium, “without making any explanation,” departed “by the back entrance.” H.P.B. added the following suggestion in pen and ink:]

Insist upon thoroughly searching every “Medium,” and thus two-thirds of them will do likewise—and disappear through the back door . . .

HPB's Scrapbook 3:256 (BCW 1:281)

[In connection with an article by George Corbyn entitled “Rosicrucianism” and published in the Spiritual Scientist, criticising the article by “Hiraf” as well as H.P.B.’s reply thereto, H.P.B. wrote in her Scrapbook, Vol. III, p. 256, as follows:]

I am sorry Mr. Corbyn is so ignorant of Masonry. Since his was written I have received from the Sovereign Grand Master General of the A. and P. Rite of England and Wales a diploma of 32nd Degree.

H.P.B. N. Y. Jan. 1878

HPB's Scrapbook 4:152 (BCW 1:281)

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 152, H.P.B, pasted a cutting from the London Spiritualist of January 18, 1878, which contains “Some Personal Experiences in Mediumship” from the pen of Baroness Adelma von Vay (Countess Wurmbrand). Although the writer expresses her admiration for H.P.B. in connection with Isis Unveiled, she says, however: “While our elementaries are spirits doing penance for past sin, and preparing themselves for a better state of existence, her elementals are souls which have already lost their spirits, and will themselves, in process of time, become annihilated.”

Underlining the sentence italicized above, H.P.B. wrote in pen and ink as follows:]

Quite the reverse. Never said such a thing and the “Isis” is there to show the mistake. Either the fair Baroness has not read it (with) attention, or she did not understand it.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:163 (BCW 1:282)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 163, there isa cutting from the London Spiritualist of January 25, 1878. It is a Letter to the Editor from Dr. J. M. Peebles, who is attempting to prove that there are Hindu Spiritualists by quoting the words of Peary Chand Mittra who used the expression “the nobleness of Spiritualism.” To this H.P.B. appended the following remarks in pen and ink:]

Yes, the nobleness of Spiritualism—not of modern Phenomenalism, great difference. Ask Peary Chand Mittra whether he would accept “materialized” spooks with sweating and corpse-stinking bodies for his dear “departed ones”? and see what he will answer . . . That our friend Peebles has always had a tendency to confer the name of Spiritualist on every one he met, the following is a proof.

[Here H.P.B. drew a line to a cutting on the same page entitled “Is Longfellow a Spiritualist?” in which Longfellow declines to be considered as such. H.P.B. then continues her remark thus :]

(See what Peary Chand Mittra writes on the subject of materialization. February 8, 1878. )

[Underneath H.P.B. pasted a printed picture showing the enormous figure of a native woman. The title is: “Cuzco Costumes—Woman of the Lower Order,” to which picture H.P.B. added the comment:]

at some future date—a “materialized” Angel.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:164-65 (BCW 1:289-90)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, pp. 164-65, there is a cutting from the Banner of Light of February 2, 1878, being an article by Charles Sotheran entitled “Honours to Madame Blavatsky.” The writer defends H.P.B., her work Isis Unveiled, and the Masonic Diploma which she received from John Yarker. To this H.P.B. appended the following remark in pen and ink:]

Mr. C. Sotheran who so abused me and the Society has now returned to it again confessing his mistake and making Puja to me again—Oh humanity!!

H.P.B.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:169-72 (BCW 1:290)

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. IV, pp. 169-72, H.P.B. pasted a cutting from the Banner of Light of February 2, 1878, in which Dr. J. M. Peebles speaks again of the Buddhists and remarks that “as all English speaking nations are nominally Christians, so in a broad, general sense all Buddhists are Spiritualists.” H.P.B. marked the quoted sentence and wrote in blue pencil a side-remark:]

How can they be Spiritualists you goose when they do not believe in the existence of the “Soul”? Three lies for you!

HPB's Scrapbook 3:197 (BCW 1:290)

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. III, p. 197, H.P.B. wrote the following remarks in blue pencil, in connection with a tribute to W.H. Harrison, the Editor of The Spiritualist:]

Very true. The best, most scientific and impartial of all Spiritual papers.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:176 (BCW 1:306)

[Page 176 of H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, is occupied with various cuttings dealing with the Masonic Diploma granted to H.P.B. The Providence Journal announces on Feb. 4, 1878, that the Franklin Register will have a discussion of the genuineness of being a Freemason. To this H.P.B. remarks in pen and ink:]

From the Providence Daily Journal, the best daily paper in New England. Its editor is Senator Anthony. U. S. Senator.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:243 (BCW )

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 243, there is pasted a cutting from The Spiritualist of March 8, 1878.1tis a very biased and hostile criticism from a lady Spiritualist entitled “Mrs. Showers on Isis Unveiled.” Above the title H.P.B. wrote in ink:]

This is the abuse I receive for defending the philosophy of India and the East in Isis.

HPB's Scrapbook 4:184-85 (BCW 1:319)

[At the end of the cutting pasted in her Scrapbook, Vol. IV, pp. 184-85, H.P.B. wrote in pen and ink:]

This prominent “Spiritualist” is not content, as it seems, of being thought a good natured though irascible ass.—Out he must show himself in print a LIAR and a BLACKGUARD! Oh—unhappy Spiritualism!

[She also added in pencil:]

(See for my answer on page 133, The Knout)

[H.P.B.’s Answer, printed below, may be found pasted in her Scrapbook, Vol. IV, p. 235.]

HPB's Scrapbook 7:56-57 (BCW 1:337)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. VII, pp. 56-57, there is pasted a cutting from The Spiritualist of London, dated March 29, 1878. It is an article by G. Damiani regarding “The Manifestations in Naples of the Alleged Spirit of Nana Sahib.” H.P.B. wrote the following remarks at the end of this article:]

How interesting—were it not for the fact that there is every reason to believe that Nana Sahib is still alive.

HPB's Scrapbook 1:119 (BCW 1:338)

[In her Scrapbook, Vol. I, p. 119, where the cuttings of this story are pasted. H.P.B. wrote in pen and ink:]

3d story (Killed on account of being too horrible . . .)

[She most likely means by this that the New York Sun refused to publish it at the time her 1st and 2nd stories appeared therein. This story was republished by H.P.B. in The Theosophist, Vol. IV, April, 1883, pp. 164-66, and later appeared in a Russian version—most likely from H.P.B.’s own pen—in Rebus (Riddle), Vol. V, January 5, 12 and 19, 1886. The latter version is somewhat fuller, even though it lacks some of the paragraphs of the English text.]

HPB's Scrapbook 7:113-14 (BCW 1:378)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. VII, pp. 113-14, there is a cutting of three columns from the New York Herald of May 13, 1878. It is an article written, according to H.P.B’s own notation, by Col. H. S. Olcott, and entitled “Muzzling the Indian Press.” Its subtitle is: “The Vernacular Press Act for the Suppression of Native Newspapers—Passed at a Single Sitting of the Viceregal Legislative Council, March 14, 1878.”

At the end of this cutting, H.P.B. pasted the colored picture of a lion caught in a net, and a mouse gnawing away the net, and wrote the following:]

The despised MOUSE is not always either on hand or willing to save the Lion—especially when the beast has too been for so long weaving himself the nets in which he got caught at last.

HPB's Scrapbook 8:252 (BCW 1:389-90)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. VIII, p. 252, there is pasted a cutting from The Bombay Gazette of June 18, 1878, entitled “A Wonderful Discovery.” It is an account of Dr. Rotura’s method of temporarily suspending animal life. At the end of this article H.P.B. added the following remarks:]

NOTE. On the 26th of March 1877 the N. Y. World printed [see Scrapbook, IV, pp. 49-51] an account of an interview of its reporter with H.P.B., in which she said that the shepherds of Thibet understand how to cause life to be suspended in their domestic animals by manipulating a certain artery in the neck. After a desired time has passed they bring the animals to life again without harm. She used the words,asitappears: “I prophesy to you (the Reporter) that within a year from now scientists will discover how this is done in the case of the lower animals.”

[See in this connection H.P.B.’s Letter to the Editor of La Revue Spirite of Paris coneerning the discovery of Dr. Rotura, published in its issue of December 1879. Vide Vol. II of the present Series.]

HPB's Scrapbook 7:258 (BCW 1:404)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. VII, p. 258, there is pasted a brief cutting entitled “Extreme Measures Advocated.” Neither the source, the date, nor the author are stated. It speaks of Charles Sotheran who, declaring himself a labor Socialist, spoke at a mass meeting of strikers and urged them to take extreme measures against the Capitalist exploiters. To this H.P.B. remarked:]

A Theosophist becoming a rioter, encouraging revolution and MURDER, a friend of Communists is no fit member of our Society.

HE HAS TO GO.

HPB's Scrapbook 7:306 (BCW 1:404)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. VII, p. 306, there is pasted the printed copy of the Petition of Bankruptcy against E. Gerry Brown, the former Editor of The Spiritual Scientist. In the list of Creditors we find Col. Olcott with $590, and H.P.B. with $150. H.P.B. marked these sums and wrote in red pencil (much faded now) as follows:]

Several hundred more given without asking for a note. H.P.B.

A constant shower of abuse and sneering in his paper against [one word illegible] and in their paper too, and bankruptcy to end the whole without a single acknowledgement, excuse or regret.

Such is Elbridge Brown the Spiritualist!!

HPB's Scrapbook 5:77-79 (BCW 1:404-05)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. V, pp. 77-79, there is pasted a cutting entitled “Our Sketches from India,” the source and the date of which are unknown. It contains the description of the investiture of several Indian Princes with the Order of the Star of India. At the end of this article H.P.B. wrote in pencil some remarks in Russian. Translated, they read as follows:]

Is it not the remembrance of the year 1857 that compels you to affect such tenderness to the Indian Princes, oh kind men of Albion? In vain . . . When the HOUR STRIKES . . . nothing will stay the hand of Fate!

. . .

[These remarks are significantly signed with three dots.]

HPB's Scrapbook 5:81 (BCW 1:405)

[In H.P.B.’s Scrapbook, Vol. V, p. 81, there is pasted a short cutting of eight lines, the source and the date of which are unknown. It has to do with a certain Dr. Scudder who said that the Oriental nations will never become converted to Christianity until their women first become Christians, and that women can be converted only by the personal agency of women who would go there from Christian countries. Hindu women, it would appear, will not listen to male missionaries. Under this H.P.B. wrote in ink:]

I wish the Rev. may get it . . . Anyhow, the Reverend fraud may go to his Christian Hell first. Hindu women will no more listen to female flapdoodle humbugs thanks to the male cheats, who like Scudder go about deceiving the “heathen”—far less heathen than themselves.

HPB's Scrapbook 10:453 (BCW 2:479)

[The above article drew a reply from Edward Wimbridge which was published in the same paper on September 20, 1880. A number of pen-and-ink annotations in H. P. B.’s handwriting appear on the side of the clipping as pasted in her Scrapbook. The sentences within square brackets which are published below are excerpts from Wimbridge’s article, to which H. P. B.’s comments apply.—Compiler.]

[I am compelled to ask for a little space in your valuable journal in which to answer the letter of Madame Blavatsky printed in your last issue.]

Mr. Edward Wimbridge—in a New Light—that of a false witness!!

[It cannot surely be necessary for Madame Blavatsky to assure your readers that she will be as ardent as ever in her “Philanthropic Professions” since all who know Madame Blavatsky and Col. Olcott must be perfectly aware that philanthropic professions cost them nothing. It would have been far better if she had pointed to one small deed accomplished for charity’s sake or for the real good of India.]

Mad. Blavatsky is not in the habit of bragging of her charities—the greatest, though, and certainly the one which told the most on her pocket—being that of boarding, lodging, washing, and in many instances CLOTHING Mr. Wimbridge and Miss Bates for over 18 months, in India.

[. . . Brotherhood and justice are mere ideas in the Theosophical Society . . .]

“Ideas” in Mr. Wimbridge’s brain but realities and facts for us.

[Madame Blavatsky’s threat to disclose what she is pleased to term “all the facts in the case” is even ludicrous. I should have imagined that the effect produced on the Members of the Bombay Branch of the Theosophical Society by the endeavor to make them swallow an ex parte statement as a true exposition of the facts can hardly have faded from Madame Blavatsky’s memory.]

The effect of the documentary evidence read at the last meeting was such, that Miss Bates was expelled, Mr. W. resigned and was followed by four members, Mr. Seervai being the only one of any consequence. It is because the “ex parte statement” contained truth and nothing but the TRUTH that they tried to misrepresent it and that we are always to publish it with the facts contained.

[It is misleading to call the disagreement a woman’s quarrel, seeing that the husband of one lady and the friends of the other took part in it from the first, and if, as Madame Blavatsky takes pains to point out “Madame Coulomb had no supporters” it was probably because lookers-on concluded that she did not deserve support.]

Either that, or that justice and fairness are not always on the right side.

[Until now the Theosophical Society comprised about 8 divisions, now, with the Ceylon Branches, it may number 19 or 17, but the Bombay Branch is by far the most numerous and important of these divisions. It is even whispered that some of the branches number only 5 or 6 members.]

Whispers feel [sic] the space. It is also whispered that Mr. W. though a Councillor, never knew anything of the true state of the Th. Society. There are five times as many branches as Mr. W. shows and none of 5 or 6, as any branch has to have 21 members before it can be chartered.

[As to the statement that only four Native Members have resigned from the Society, I will place that under no heading, as I do not wish to be either inaccurate or discourteous. More than 4 persons have resigned and others would no doubt have done so had they not been prevented by the hasty flight to Simla.]

Three lies in six lines.—Only four native members have resigned and two English, Mr. W. and Bates (expelled). Our “hasty flight to Simla” is the biggest fib. But for this row we would have gone to Simla a few days after our return from Ceylon. Mr. Sinnett can testify that he invited me to come three weeks before we came. And so we had to postpone day after day.