HPB-SB-3-75

T i

vol. 3, p. 75

H. P. Blavatsky Scrapbooks

from Adyar archives of the International Theosophical Society

vol. 3 (1875-1878)

Legend

SBT, DT

• HPB note
• HPB highlighted
• HPB underlined
• HPB crossed out
• <Editors note>
• <Archivist note>
• Lost or unclear
• Restored

<<   ☰   >>

eng • рус

The Petrified, or Stone Man

Opinions of Scientists and Prominent Persons

The stone, or petrified man, discovered in Colorado, which is now on exhibition at the New York Aquarium, Broadway and Thirty-fifth street, has created more interest among scientific and medical men than any other like object ever shown in this city. For three days it was privately examined by scientists, and their opinion, and that of those conversant with the Darwin theory and those who have read Huxley and other authorities is to the effect that the hands, feet, head and tail of the curiosity would fully bear out the idea of its being either a petrifaction or a statue of the “missing link. None, however, have expressed a decided opinion as to its once being once endowed with life or that it was sculptured by the hand of a pre-historic race. Mr. Wilson McDonald, the eminent sculpturist, after visiting it several times and making a very close examination states positively that it is not of recent date or make, and advances some excellent reasons for the statement. He also stated it is his firm belief that, it not a genuine petrifaction, it is the nearest approach to it of anything he has ever heard of. It has impressed him so much that he is about to write a letter to Mr. Darwin detailing all its peculiarities and proportions, which letter will be ready in a short time.

Dr. Robert Taylor of Thirty-fourth street says that if it is proven to be a statue it must be of ancient origin, but as to its being a petrified body he does not now know. It is the intention of the management of the Aquarium to have the body cut or broken in such parts as a committee composed of geologists, scientists, medical men and journalists may decide to be the best, and so thoroughly and definitely test the matter' and forever set all doubts at,rest, concerning its being of recent or ancient manufacture or a real petrification. This will shortly be done, and due notice given to the press and public.

The Governor's Mansion–Austin

The Love of God

Jehovah was the ancient name By which God, as King and Lord, Ruled o’er the earth ; with fire and flame Came once his spoken workd. But Jesus taught a gentler name— He who has brought you words of peace Galled his name Father, soul of love, Through whom all spirits find release. Let ancient kingdoms have their lords, Let kings and potentates appear In all the ancient, sacred words ; We choose the name by Christ made dear Father—the God of light and love, To whom as children we may turn, For every gracious gift above, Who will not any offerings spurn. He breathes out o’er the entire world His words of beauteous thought, unfurled E’en like a banner o’er the sky ; Be this thy token ever nigh, That like the snowy white-winged dove, Thy presence ever broodeth o’er ; Thou givest us thy care and love, We cannot ask thee, God, for more. Yes, God is love ; the light that gleams Within the aspiring eye of heaven, Down through all darkness ever streams. God’s love to every heart is given ; No way so dark but it illumes By its rich splendor all the way ; No soul so low but it consumes The dross and melts the frost away. O blessed love, be thine the flame That lights us where angels adore O blessed Father, be thy name The name we love for evermore.

The following poem was delivered by Mrs. Cora L. V. Tappan, at Brighton, Eng., while under control.–the subject being selected by the majority of the audience. The poem may therefore be considered as impromptu:–and oh! so sweet with the ... Jehovah as the hero!

<Untitled> (A case of alleged witchcraft)

A case of alleged witchcraft is exciting attention in Pricetown. near Reading, Pa., the real or pretended manifestations being very similar to those on the strength of which about a score of persons were consigned to the gallows in Massachusetts in 1692. A young woman named Miller pretends to be the victim of diabolical agency. When the attacks are upon her her hands and eyes close very tightly, and she cannot open them. Now and then she screams. “Take her away! Take her away!” She had been removed from the house in which she was first seized with these peculiar fits, and on being brought back to the same dwelling her apparent agony was terrible to behold. When near the house she went into spasms, and seemed to be writhing in pain ; and in this condition she continued until removed some distance from the place. The woman that bewitched her. she avers, said that she. would remain bewitched until one week after New Year’s, The case is certainly an interesting one, and in times not very far past might have led to the burning or hanging of some friendless old woman.

Assassination Night

The Greatest Tragedy in American History Reviewed – How Lincoln Met his Death

BY EMILY EPSON BRIGGS (“ OLIVIA”).

Humanity is asked to tread backward over the years until the morning of the 14th of April, 1865, is reached, because this includes the twenty-four hours which inaugurates a chapter in the nation's history marked by savage violence, outside the code of warfare which had so long deluged the republic with blood. Except the facts brought out by the findings of a military court, or civil suit at law, the witnesses have preserved the silence of the sepulture Hon. Frederick W. Seward and Major H. R. Bathbone, both of whom were wounded—the former so severely that it is a marvel that ho is among the living to-day—give a reason for this oblivion by saying that recalling the events to memory gives so much pain that the subject is always abandoned. From the Confederate side a reticence is preserved so strict that the information gleaned was obtained with the same difficulty attending that of unhinging a tomb. “ Why should I speak,” says a late Confederate officer. “ I was the last man who received the confidence of John Wilkes Booth, on the banks of the Potomac, in Virginia, at a farm-house, Sunday afternoon. He was killed the next Wednesday morning before daylight. For this accidental meeting, for I had nothing to do with the assassination, had I been caught, I should have been strung up, too! ” “ How came you in that part of the country at that particular time?” “I was detailed to assist in the abduction scheme ; but I knew nothing about the assassination.”

THE DAY AFTER THE SURRENDER.

A glorious spring day followed the news of General Lee’s surrender. The capital became a vast stage, with all the actors imbued with popular frenzy and excitement. the air was filled with joy and glad tidings because the people realized the long ; cruel war was substantially over. The streets were alive with gay throngs of jubilant, enthusiastic men, and most prominent were the soldiers of both contending sides, attired in blue and gray. By some of those means known to the fortunes of war, a large number of paroled Confederates in their ragged uniforms were to be seen fraternizing with the “ boys in blue.” They were noticed lounging through the Capitol grounds and public gardens, apparently keenly alive to the enjoyment of the spring flowers—these loving harbingers of peace and home. In the heart of Washington, where two streets intersect, a pump with a dipper attached to its neck, might be soon. A Confederate filled the rusty cup from the delicious fountain, held it out at chain’s length to a soldier whose empty blue sleeve was pinned to his breast. Reconciliation, forgiveness and hope permeated the living mass, and the divine elixir steeped the whole city in joy. At eleven o’clock the same day President Lincoln called a special Cabinet meeting in honor of General Grant, who had just arrived from the battle-field of Appomattox with the terms of General Lee’s surrender. A reminiscence of this Cabinet meeting is given to the public for the first time, as it new exists in the mind of the Hon. Frederick Seward, our present Assistant Secretary of S who occupied the same official position at that time that he does to-day. He attended this historical session of the Cabinet to represent the late Hon. William H. Seward, who was lying dangerously ill at his residence from fractures received by being violently thrown from his carriage. Mr. Seward says:

I recall the recollections of the day of the assassination. It was a general holiday in the city The people were, celebrating the surrender of General Lee ; I was in the chamber where my late father lay almost unconscious from severe physical pain. In the morning a messenger arrived from the White House, saying there would be a special meeting of the Cabinet at eleven o’clock, to meet General Grant and hear the statement of the surrender from him in person. As near as I can remember, Hon. Gideon Welles, one of the members of the Cabinet who was present, has given a very perfect account of what transpired in a late magazine article. All the Cabinet officers were there, and all eager to hear what General Grant had to say, and then followed a general discussion on reconstruction. President Lincoln seemed to address most of his conversation to Secretary Stanton, who had brought with him a manuscript of memoranda and notes in regard to the method of reconstruction. I remember the recognition of Virginia was decided at that meeting, and the other States were left in order to hear from General Sherman. I recall more vividly than anything else connected with the meeting Mr. Lincoln’s glowing face of approval when lie said to General Grant, ‘‘What terms did you make with the common soldier?” “ I told them to go back to their homes!” I have no words to express the kind feeling which prevailed in that Cabinet meeting. Had the enemy been the children of Mr. Lincoln he could have shown no warmer desire to welcome them all home. At the close of the meeting the President said to General Grant that he was going to the theatre, and laughingly added he “ was going to have a little celebration of his own,” and asked General Grant to be present. I then asked the President what time it would be agreeable for me to present the new English Minister, Sir Frederic Bruce. He paused a moment in thought, and then replied, “To-morrow, at 2 o’clock ;” then smiling in his own peculiar way he said: “Don’t forget the speeches, Fred !” We separated at that moment, and that was the last I ever saw of President Lincoln.

THE HEROES OF THE HOUR.

The day of the tragedy deepened into the night, and with its decline the streets became more thronged and the excitement more intense. There was talk of an illumination, but the ideal did not shape itself into the actual. The police force was not increased, but its members were instructed to redouble their vigilance. Grant and Lee, Lincoln and Stanton were the names on every tongue. With the darkness the enthusiasm of the hour formed itself into a sea, which was fed by as many rills as there were different shapes of humanity. This mortal lake surged to the doors of the White House, and calls for Abraham Lincoln were heard. The President came out, and in his paternal way urged the people to go to their homes, remarking “it was no time for speech-making ; there were too many widows and orphans in the land.” When he returned he found Mrs. Lincoln in evening dress, who gently chided him for being late, and also their invited guests, who were to accompany them to the theatre. This included the daughter of the late Senator Ira Harris, of New York, and Major H. R. Rathbone, United States Army, who were at that time betrothed, and soon after the tragic event were united in marriage. Miss Harris never left the presence of Mrs. Lincoln from the hour of the assassination until the dawn of the coming day, notwithstanding she saw her intended husband removed insensible from loss of blood and was without positive knowledge of the character of his wound. When asked how it was possible to forget her own trial in this hour she replied: “I felt it my duty to forget myself and stand by the President’s family in their hour of greatest need.”

Within the present month the Major and Mrs. Rathbone have recalled the events of that never-to-be-forgotten night, and the paragraphs which follow are the condensation of both their memories. When the major was asked “ which part of the experience was most deeply burned into his mind ” he replied, “ I can never forget the sensation which thrilled me when I seized Booth. He did not feel like flesh and blood. He was more like a statue of iron. He was a natura <... continues on page 3-76 >

Editor's notes