On Tour With G de P - Savage

7/27/2019 On Tour With G de P - Savage

1/103

On Tour with G. de P. - 1931

A Secretarys Travellog

Elsie V. Savage

Theosophical University Press1931

--------------

Foreword and Afterthought

The publication of these letters in book-for !as not conteplate" at the tie oftheir !riting# it fact$ as they theselves sho!$ they !ere inten"e" erely to give ne!s ofthe trip to %those at hoe% in ans!er to re&uests fro any before !e starte"$ to keepthe ac&uainte" !ith our "oings. 't !as not until the en" of the Tour that it !as suggeste"that all (.T.S. an" in"ee" ebers of other Theosophical Societies ight like to sharethese$ first as being a faithful account of )r. "e Purucker*s first Theosophical +ecture-Tour$an" secon"ly as sho!ing to all those truly intereste" in Theosophical fraterni,ation$ !hatgreat stri"es in this "irection have thereby been taken.

The party left +oalan" on ay /th$ visiting inneapolis$ 0hicago$ ashington$).0.$ 2oston$ Silverine$ or!alk$ an" e! 4ork$ before sailing for Europe. 'n Europe thecountries visite" !ere Englan"$ ales$ Englan" again$ 5ollan"$ 6erany$ S!e"en$(inlan"$ S!e"en again$ 6erany again$ S!it,erlan"$ 5ollan" again$ Englan" again$ then

back to the U.S.7.$ going &uickly through e! 4ork an" 2oston$ then up into 0ana"a$visiting ontreal$ Toronto$ Vancouver$ Victoria$ an" back into the U.S.7. again$ coing"o!n the Pacific 0oast by !ay of Seattle an" 8aklan"$ arriving at +oalan" again ust five


2/103

onths after our "eparture$ on 8ctober /th.'n practically all the cities visite" 6. "e P. hel" public eetings$ fraterni,ation of

in&uirers* eetings$ +o"ge$ Theosophical 0lub$ +otus-0ircle eetings$ an" other privateeetings# though the fullness of the sche"ule an" the shortness of the tie "i" not allo!the +ea"er*s staying in soe cities as long as (.T.S. in those places "esire".

Soe of the subects lecture" upon by the +ea"er !ere: %an$ the Path!ay to

)ivinity%# %Theosophy%# %The Theosophical oveent%# %an*s Place in ature%# %TheTheosophical ahatans an" their essenger 5.P. 2lavatsky%# %2ehin" the Sha"o!orl"%# %Esoteric Theosophy an" 'ts (uture%# %2eauty an" Truth%# %Theosophy$ 8ccultisan" the ysteries%# %The Secret )octrine%# %The 7ncient is"o an" o"ern0ivili,ation%# %Theosophy$ the 7ncient is"o ;eligion%# %Theosophy an" ;eligiousThought%# %Spirit$ Soul$ an" 2o"y%# %Theosophy an" o"ern Science%# %7n EvolvingUniverse%# %Theosophy$ the Union of ;eligion$ Science an" Philosophy%# %EsotericTeachings 0oncerning the Universe an" an.%

Perhaps one of the ain purposes of the Tour an" one of the ost successfulphases of it !as the fraterni,ation-!ork carrie" on !ith other Theosophical Societies# an"the hearty an" sincerely frien"ly response receive" fro any of the !as e


3/103

3. The eetings To!ar"s the En" of the Tour !ere aong the ost 'nteresting of7ll

>. 5oe at +ast?

------------

En Route to Minneapolis

o. 1Union Pacific Train o. 3$ +os 7ngeles +iite"$Pro tem. orth Platte$11:3C a.. ay A$ 1931

To the +oalan" (aily$'nternational Theosophical 5ea"&uarters$

Point +oa$ 0alifornia.

)ear Everybo"y at 5oe: Toorro! orning !e arrive at inneapolis$ so this sees anappropriate tie to sen" to you the first of !hat ' hope !ill be a series of !eekly letters ora "iary of the events of this tour. The thing that is foreost in y attention at the presentoent is the situation in the %section ne


4/103

ebraska.' !ant to ail this letter at 8aha tonight$ but before closing ' ust ention the

splen"i" hospitality the 8res offere" us in +os 7ngeles$ !here !e ha" an interi ofabout five hours before procee"ing on our ourney. 7s the +ea"er tol" you in his letter$ !ean" our baggage !ere taken to the San )iego station by aurice 2rau. 't began rainingust as !e left the gates of +oalan"$ a goo" oen? 8n arriving in +os 7ngeles$ !e foun"

r. 8re !ith his car$ an" it "i"n*t take long for us to reach their hoe$ !here !ere rs.8re$ other Parks$ an" rs. 6eiger$ !ho %!elcoe" us hoe$% an" !here a "eliciouslunch a!aite" us. e spent the afternoon talking over past e


5/103

8n the first night after our arrival$ the +ea"er et the ebers inforally at thehoe of the presi"ent$ rs. illigan# an" let e say right here that the ebers ofinneapolis +o"ge cannot say enough in praise of the enthusiastic an" unreitting !orkof rs. illigan an" her son e"# an" they in their turn are e&ually elo&uent in theire


6/103

inutes$ because he ha" to catch his train back to heaton F6eneral Ste!ar"$ !ho !as0hairan$ ha" alrea"y "efinitely state" that only a very fe! inutes coul" be give tospeakers !ho !ere calle" again after the +ea"er.G 5e spoke !ith an apparent sincerity forfraterni,ation an" !ith a kin"ly feeling that !ere charing to hear. ith his fare!ellhan"shake !ith the +ea"er$ he seee" to !ipe out$ fro his o!n eory at least$ alltraces of any "ifference of opinion as e


7/103

5echt arrive" hoe$ he foun" that a reporter fro one of the large ne!spapers F' forgot!hich oneG ha" been trying to reach hi an" ha" left !or" for 5echt to call hi up an"give hi ne!s of the evening*s eeting. 7nother reporter in&uire" about the hour of the+ea"er*s "eparture so she coul" secure an intervie!# an" as !e boar"e" the train abreathless reporter fro the Chicago Tribune cae an" re&ueste" perission tophotograph the +ea"er$ !hich he ha" to "o by eans of a agnesiu light in the "ark

station bet!een t!o long trains. This create" soe interest aong the passengers !ho!on"ere" %!ho the "istinguishe" gentlean !as.% o space for ore. - E.V.S.

Please e


8/103

by the nae of oun"$ !hich itself is a "istant suburb of inneapolis$ being t!enty-fiveiles a!ay. T!o autoobiles ha" been provi"e" for us$ to take us an" our luggage tooun"$ one "riven by rs. illigan$ an" one by r. +e;oy 7l!in. ithin a fe! inutes !eha" left the city behin" us$ an" !ere reveling in the beauties of this !on"erful countrysi"e.The air !as so fresh an" s!eet an" invigorating that !e ust "rank it in$ as !e !oul" "rinka "raught of cool !ater on a very hot "ay after a "usty !alk.

The country is covere" !ith beautiful green la!ns that a"e us think of r. "eHirkoff an" his heroic efforts !ith the la!n aroun" the T.S. buil"ing. 7n" then the trees$such a beautiful green$ very bright an" fresh$ not any of the "ark or gray greens !e are sofailiar !ith in 0alifornia. The lan" is not flat$ but is a series of oun"s of "ifferent si,es$covere" !ith trees$ an" in the hollo!s the ost beautiful lakes. 't is sai" that there are tenthousan" lakes in innesota$ an" any of the can har"ly be seen fro the roa"s$ buthere an" there you !ill catch a glipse of !ater through the trees. The ri"e to oun" tookabout an hour$ but it !as all too short. ' ust not forget to ention the e


9/103

aroun" the beautiful lakes$ but through any of the to!n surroun"ing inneapolis$ an"through the city itself$ !hich sho!e" clearly that artists ha" ha" a han" in the planning alaying out. 7t any hour of the "ay or night$ !hen transportation !as nee"e" or "esire"$one or another of the ebers !as on han" to serve our nee"s. Even the orning of our"eparture$ !hen !e ha" to leave oun" early in or"er to catch the train$ "ear rs. illigan!as there to greet us !ith her car at @:1C in the orning$ an" ha" "riven t!enty-five iles

to get there on tie.e ha" a funny e/ a.. until A:>/ in the evening on a parlor car$ going through a roa" thata"vertise" the coal-in"ustry better than any printe" a"vertiseent. 7t ties even the air inthe car !as gray !ith the "ust an" grie. 7n" being on a parlor car$ !e ha" very littlechance of getting at our luggage. e "i" pass through beautiful country$ ho!ever$ for agoo" part of the "istance "o!n the banks of the ississippi. Traveling in the "ay-tie!hen possible$ as the +ea"er arrange"$ has three a"vantages: it enables us to see thecountry !e are going through$ it is cheaper$ an" !e e


10/103

ust a !or" of apology for the "isconnecte"ness of this letter$ but through one !or"follo!s another on the page$ soeties there are "ays bet!een sentences$ an" onesentence starte" in one city ay be finishe" hun"re"s of iles a!ay in another. The+ea"er sen"s his love to you all. The ain thing he nee"s no! is sleep. 7 Pulan berth!hich in not long enough for hi even to lie straight in$ an" a horel-roo in every city$ arenot like +oalan". )r. (ussell also sen"s love.

7ffectionately$ E.V.S.

)r. (ussell speaks at each lecture$ prece"ing the lecture of the +ea"er$ an" 6. "e P.says he is ac&uitting hiself a"irably.

PS. ' entione" briefly in y last letter that rs. 6eiger !oul" oin us in e! 4ork$an" hopes to continue !ith us on the trip. This is particularly opportune because$ as'nternational +ecturer an" 8rgani,er$ ' believe she is inten"ing going to Europe ne;iversi"e 7partent 5otel$0abri"ge$ assachusetts$une /$ 1931

To the ;esi"ent ebers at +oalan"

)ear 0ora"es at +oalan": 4ou have cause for optiis. 7lrea"y t!o long !eeks$"ating fro to"ay$ have passe" since !e left +oalan"$ an" there are left only four an" ahalf short onths? So it !on*t be long before the gates of +oalan" open again to receiveus.

' have not a carbon-copy of y last letter to you$ but ' believe !e parte" copanyust as !e !ere about to arrive in ashington$ after a t!enty-hour ri"e fro 0hicago. 2ythe !ay$ the train !e use" bet!een 0hicago an" ashington$ the Pennsylvania ;oa"$ 'believe$ !as the best in every !ay of all !e have travele" on so far. 't !as the fastest$ thefoo" an" "ining service !ere e


11/103

careful search through all the hotels in ashington to get one ust suite" to the +ea"er*snee"s. 7s ' sai"$ they Frs. Peyton an" rs. 0ongerG !ere both there to greet us$ an" ourroos !ere fille" !ith the ost beautiful vases of roses$ !hich rs. 0onger ha" picke"fro her o!n gar"en. They tol" us !e ha" coe to ashington in the onth of roses$an" ashington is faous for its roses in the right season. These la"ies !ere ostthoughtful in anticipating our nee"s$ even to sen"ing up a bell boy to call for any suits or

"resses that nee"e" ironing$ !ithout any e


12/103

contains any valuable paintings$ all "one in the 0olonial style$ an ol" an" !orn butbeautiful rug presente" to ashington by +ouis IV'$ the key to the 2astille$ presente" toashington by +afayette$ an" upstairs !ere the large$ ol"-fashione" four-poster canopie"be"s$ a"e up !ith !hite coverlets$ the very be"s in !hich ashington an" his !ife "ie".

The vie! fro the house is agnificent. There is a !i"e s!eep of la!n fro thefront steps stretching "o!n to the Potoac !hich is sprea" out in front. The servant*s

&uarters on the one han"$ an" the kitchen$ soke-house$ barns$ etc.$ on the other$ areseparate" fro the ain house by an open pillare" porch-!ay$ e also !ent "o!n a&uaint cobble-stone" path$ line" !ith pretty stone !alls on either si"e$ to the tobs of both6eorge an" artha ashington. There !as a sign at the approach re&uesting silence inhonor of the "ea". e sa! the actual stone sarcophagi containing the caskets in !hichthe bo"ies are. There is uch ore ' coul" tell you about that interesting visit$ but tie"oes not perit.

The sae evening the public lecture !as given. 't !as a very large an"appreciative au"ience$ especially consi"ering that ashington has not been very open toTheosophic influences in the past. 8ur +o"ge there$ !hich !as chartere" ust before thearrival of the +ea"er$ !as very ubilant over the success of the evening. 2y the !ay$ '

suppose you have hear" ho! !ell protecte" an" fortifie" !e !ere by the eight colonels!ho atten"e" in one capacity or another. 0olonel 6ilbert !as 0hairan$ an" he certainlya"e a fine one$ speaking so sypathetically an" enthusiastically of the +ea"er. 0olonel0onger a"e the announceents$ an" he ha" gotten si< of his 0olonel-frien"s to help!ith the ushering? So ' "on*t think any align influences coul" have reache" us. 7lso$rs. Peyton arrange" !ith a broa"casting copany to have the lecture broa"cast$ !hich 'un"erstan" they !ere eager to "o. ' "on*t reeber !hat station it !as$ but one of ourashington ebers can tell you.. e though of all of you$ an"$ in"ee"$ ha" a telegraprepare" inviting you to listen in$ but soeone isinfore" us that the station !as toosall to reach the Pacific 0oast. e after!ar"s learne" that it !as a very large one$reaching all over the country.

7t the lecture that evening it ha" been announce" that )r. "e Purucker !oul" begla" to receive intereste" visitors at his hotel bet!een three an" five o*clock the ne


13/103

about forty iles$ ' believe$ fro ashington$ 0olonel 0onger took us to lunch at theprettiest little tea-house you can iagine$ set high up on a hill overlooking the !hole ofashington$ in a bo!er of roses$ an" !here the only soun"s !ere the singing of the bir"san" the rustling of the trees.

Early the ne


14/103

e arrive" at 2oston in the evening$ an" !ere et at the station by r. 0lapp$ thePresi"ent of the 2oston +o"ge$ rs. artha (ranklin$ its secretary$ r. 2ene"ict$ an" r.Hang!ill. ith the help of these cora"es an" the use of their autos$ !e !ith ourbaggage !ere taken to our place of resi"ence for the ne


15/103

restaurant. o!here "i" one appear$ until su""enly !e sa! a o"est little sign hangingoutsi"e the !in"o! of !hat looke" like a "!elling-house$ !ith the !or"s %)inner serve"here% on it. So !e "eci"e" to investigate. 2ut !e ha" to hunt aroun" before !e coul" fin"a "oor arke" %Entrance$% an" then it !as not until !e ha" knocke" several ties that it!as opene". e foun" ourselves in !hat seee" to have been the hoe of a faily !hoha" seen better "ays$ an" !ho ha" no! "eci"e" to help along the faily-purse by serving

"inner to the public.Upon in&uiry !e foun" !e coul" get lunch$ of a liite" kin"$ an" !hile it !as being

prepare"$ as the people seee" to feel they ha" all eternity before the$ an" it !as rathercol" insi"e$ !e "eci"e" to stay out in the nice !ar sun until it !as rea"y. 'n about a&uarter of an hour$ the "oor !as opene"$ an" !e !ere beckone" in. That certainly !as aeal !e shall never forget. The !ater$ !hich !e !ere tol" cae fro a !ell$ ha" theflavor of the sea about it. The "oor lea"ing to the kitchen ha" an unusical s&ueak$ an"the foo" itself - !ell$ !e thought !e ight as !ell enoy the !hole episo"e as a goo" oke$an" then of course !e !ere helping to bring business to a striving faily. )espite its beingSatur"ay$ !e "i" not or"er co"fish? e took the "rive back to 2oston by a "ifferent route$so as to see as uch of the country as possible. 2y the !ay$ on taking to the roa" after

lunch$ !e foun" that ust beyon" this house !e coul" have chosen fro any nuber oflunch places$ but$ as !e all agree"$ %'t !oul"n*t have been the sae?%

That evening !e !ent to the 2oston 5ea"&uarters for a ebers* eeting$ !here!e et any cora"es !ho !e ha" kno!n at Point +oa$ an" throughcorrespon"ence$ an" any ne! ones. ' !ill not enuerate the$ because it is so easy tooit one$ an" ' !ant to inclu"e the all. 8f course they !ere ra"iant at seeing the +ea"er.

The ne


16/103

going to be guests$ tie" a !hite han"kerchief to the front of his car$ so that r. eek !hosai" he !oul" be !aiting for us by a certain sign$ our si"e a certain to!n$ on a certain si"eof the roa"$ about seven iles fro Silverine$ !oul" recogni,e us. 7n" sure enough$ust as !e slo!e" up on the outskirts of that certain to!n$ an" pointe" to the sign !hich !eall thought ust be the one agree" upon$ there !as r. eek !ith his car.

7fter greeting the +ea"er an" party$ he got into his o!n car an" le" the !ay through

or!alk an" Silverine to his o!n hoe# an" it !as a lucky thing that !e ha" a gui"ebecause on entering Silverine$ !hich is a suburb of or!alk$ !e left a great part ofcivili,ation behin" us$ as !ell as roa"-signs$ etc.$ an" "rove through the ost !on"erful!oo"s an" agnificent trees$ an" turbulent brooks running parallel !ith the roa"$ in soeplaces branching out into lakes that !ere as sooth as glass an" !here the trees !ereclearly reflecte" in the !ater$ an" in other places rushing over rocks an" barriers an"foring little !aterfalls. e finally even left the pave" roa"$ an" by the tie !e reache"our "estination !e alost thought !e !ere in the forest prieval. 5o!ever$ the house hasgot telephones an" electricity an" bathroos$ so !e ha" all the coforts of civili,ation!ithout a bit of the noise or "irt.

r. an" rs. eek !ere hospitality itself$ an" gave us a !ar !elcoe into their

cofortable hoe. They ha" a bright !oo"-fire burning in the sitting-roo$ !hich looke"an" felt foo" to us after all the rain !e ha" ha". e "i"n*t have uch tie to sit "o!n an"breath$ because soon "inner !as serve"$ an" then !e ha" to "ress for the public eetingin or!alk that evening. The eeting !as hel" in the ;oyal aes 2allroo$ an" the"ecorations of the hall sho!e" the signs of our artist-cora"es$ for Silverine is a centerfor artists$ an" ost of the ebers !ho belong to our +o"ge there$ if not all$ are artists.

This eeting !as another great success$ an" as the people pushe" up after!ar"sto shake han"s !ith the +ea"er$ on all si"es coul" be hear" e


17/103

Stevens of 8hio$ an" others. r. 'so"or +e!is$ Presi"ent of our e! 4ork +o"ge$ otore""o!n to hear the +ea"er*s lecture in or!alk$ but ha" to return ie"iately to e! 4ork toprepare for the +ea"er*s visit there.

The ne


18/103

us again.7s soon as e! 4ork !as behin" us$ then the fun began. The car spe" ahea" !ith

lightning spee" an" passe" to!n after to!n until !e cae to the outskirts of Silverine.(ro there on there !ere no lights on the roa"$ the !ay !as barely !i"e enough for t!ocars to pass each other$ there !ere su""en ups an" "o!ns in the groun"$ an" yet the carnever slackene" spee". 8n she !ent$ !ith a steep bank an" thick trees on one si"e$ an"

the river on the other$ an" !e coul"n*t see ten yar"s ahea" of us. 7n" it !asn*t a straightroa" either$ but curve" in an" out an" to this si"e an" that. e ust ha" to sit an" hol" ourbreath$ not in terror but in sheer !on"er at the skill of our "river# an" finally$ !hen !ith atriuphant &uick turn !e cae to a stan"still at the house$ all !e coul" "o !as to sit in thecar an" laugh an" laugh. e tol" rs. +an"on that !henever !e !ante" to cover groun"&uickly an" tie !as short$ !e !oul" call for her services.

Early ne


19/103

passing otorist the !ay to hite Plains$ an" he in"icate" a "irection ust opposite to the!ay !e ha" been going. So !e turne" aroun" again$ an" !ent on for soe "istance. Stillthere !ere no signs$ so !e aske" again. This tie !e !ere sho!n still a thir" "irection.e pursue" that for soe tie$ still !ithout coing in sight of hite Plains$ an" then !ereveive" very e


20/103

+ove$

- E.V.S.

------------------

+n #ondon and *et )ot in #ondon

o. @.9B 0heyne alk$ +on"on$ S.. 1C$une /$ 1931. 1C:CC a..

To the ebers at the 'nternational Theosophical 5ea"&uarters$Point +oa 0alifornia.

)ear 0ora"es at 5oe: 7s you !ill see by the "ate of this letter$ it is the "ay after the0entennial 0onvention$ an" a great even that !as$ !orthy of an entire letter$ so ' !ill

gather up the loose en"s fro the other si"e of the !ater$ take you across the ocean !ithus$ !here ' a sure none of you !ill be seasick$ an" intro"uce you to iss Taylor*shospitable hoe# an" "evote y ne


21/103

an


22/103

afternoon$ soeties as any as seven or eight !aiting for intervie!s at one tie# an"even !hen !e sat "o!n to "inner at seven o*clock$ visitors calle".

Speaking of "inner$ rs. orris is evi"ently not one of those !ho believe that the!ay to prevent seasickness is to go on boar" on an epty stoach. She live" up to herreputation$ !ith the help of 5elen$ an" sitting aroun" the table !e recalle" the ol" "ays in+oalan" !hen she use" to prepare a nice chicken$ or soe other "ainty$ for one of J.T.*s

parties. 7fter "iner there !ere a fe! inutes in !hich 6. "e P. coul" eet the e! 4orkebers$ an" then at nine o*clock !e left for the boat. e !ent through a very interestingautoobile tunnel$ recently built$ through !hich autos ay take a &uick an" "irect line tothe pier$ an" this tunnel runs right un"er the 5u"son river. The insi"e is brilliantly lighte"$all the !ay through - it is t!o iles long - an" the ceiling an" !alls are copletely tile"$!ith tiles siilar to those one sees in these o"ern 0rane bathroos. 't is a agnificentpiece of !ork.

'f !e !ere e


23/103

!aters s!elling un"erneath$ or !alking the "eck first !ith a su""en run "o!nhill$ an" thena clib uphill$ as !e ha" to accoo"ate ourselves to the otion of the boat. Thevoyage on the !hole !as through a cal sea$ though on the secon" "ay the ship*s login"icate" %;ough sea.%

8n the !hole the trip !as uneventful. There !ere various auseents provi"e" forthe passengers$ soe of !hich a"e us !on"er if Puck !asn*t right !hen he sai" %+or"$

!hat fools these ortals be?% 2ut it !as fun !hen ascen"ing fro the "ining-roo each"ay$ to see !hat ne! notices !ere on "isplay$ an" one night !hen oving pictures !ereannounce" of a e"iterranean 0ruise$ !e kne! they !oul" be interesting$ an" !e !erenot "isappointe". The 0ruise took us to several points in Spain$ 'taly$ 6reece$ an" Egypt$!hich places 6. "e P. ha" visite" !ith J.T. !hen he !as on an early Theosophical0rusa"e !ith her$ an" it !as a"e "oubly interesting by hearing hi "escribe their visit tothe 6reat Pyrai"$ an" the Sphin


24/103

Fbecause there !ere no %=*s% an" %;*s% on boar"$G ha" our baggage near together$ an"though !e ha" our keys rea"y to open anything that the in&uisitive 0ustos officials !ereparticularly intereste" in$ !e never ha" to use the. e only ha" to "eclare ho! anycigarettes !e ha" F"on*t be afrai"$ ' haven*t yet ac&uire" that tasteG$ an" as !e !ere !ell!ithin the liits allo!e"$ our baggage !as passe" in an instant.

e ha" a funny e


25/103

----------------

!he %.-.'. Centennial Conference

o. APark 5otel$ 0ar"iff$

une B$ 1931. 9:3C p..

)ear 0ora"es in +oalan": ' ha" a feeling that you !oul" like to get a touch of ales$by having a letter !ritten in 0ar"iff$ so tho9ugh ' have tie no! for only a fe! lines an" ytype!riter is not available$ ' take pen in han"$ kno!ing that this letter !ill be rea" to you$an" you !ill not be "istresse" by a sight of y faulty penanship.

' feel like a %!oofie bir"$% because though !e are going for!ar" at a treen"ousrate$ yet ' have y face turne" back!ar"s to !here ' left you in y last letter$ traveling upto +on"on on the spee"y boat-train. These boat-trains are very convenient. 4ou "on*thave to perfor hair-raising stunts to rush fro the boat$ through the 0ustos 8ffice$ an"to the train$ !ith a lurking "oubt in your in" as to !hether you have all your baggage an"

your !its !ith you. 2ut the train obligingly stan"s in the station until

F....The 6ran" 5otel$ anchester$ i"night$ une 3C$ 1931.G

you are cofortably seate" insi"e$ an" then !astes no tie aking &uick !ork of spaceup to +on"on.

7s !e pulle" in at the +on"on station$ !e et Virginia 2arker$ !ho !as there rea"yto help us !ith our luggage. ' ha" a funny eC$ but in later "ays o"ern conveniences have been put in$


26/103

such as electricity$ running !ater$ etc. iss Taylor has put her entire hoe at the "isposalof the +ea"er$ provi"ing us each !ith a beautiful be"-roo$ a "ra!ing-roo for the +ea"erto !ork in$ an" receive callers$ an" an office for )r. (ussell an" the secretarial !ork. Shearrange" !ith the post-office for a special letter-bo< to be place" at her "oor$ !here ail is"elivere" an" taken three or four ties a "ay$ an" !e have the e


27/103

une /thSi< separate iportant intervie!sB:CC p.. Public +ecture

une @th

Three intervie!s11:3C 'n&uirers* eetingB:CC p.. Private eeting

une AthB:CC a.. +eave by auto for 0ar"iff3:3C p.. 7rrive 0ar"iffA:3C p.. Public +ecture

une Bth3:3C (raterni,ation eeting !ith 7"yar ebers

@:3C +o"ge eetingB:CC Private eeting

une 9thB:CC a.. +eave 0ar"iff for anchester>:CC p.. 7rrive anchesterA:3C p.. Public +ecture

une 3Cth/:3C p.. +o"ge eeting@:3C p.. Private eetingA:3C p.. 'n&uirers* eeting

uly 1stB:CC a.. +eave anchester for +on"on/:CC p.. 7rrive +on"on$ 0helseaB:CC p.. Public +ecture

uly n"Si< intervie!s "uring the "ayB:CC p.. 'n&uirers* eeting

uly >r"(our intervie!sB:CC p.. Private eeting

uly /th11:CC a.. 'n&uirers* eeting3:3C p.. +otus-0ircle/:CC p.. +o"ge fare!ell eeting

uly @th

early$ +eave for the 0ontinent

The intervie!s$ etc.$ for the last fe! "ays of our stay in +on"on$ are not yet


28/103

in"icate" on the sche"ule$ but u"ging fro the past fe! "ays$ it !ill be a iracle !hen !e!ill get our trunks packe"$ etc. Then$ san"!iche" in bet!een these various things$ thereis the rea"ing of correspon"ence$ "ictating$ type!riting$ traveling arrangeents$ intervie!s!ith our o!n T.S. officials$ etc.$ etc.$ etc.

8n on"ay$ une n"$ our ebers !ho !ere going to atten" the 0onvention onthe follo!ing "ay began to arrive. 'n the orning )r. Siren !alke" in on us$ looking as

young as ever$ an" siply ra"iant on seeing the +ea"er. Then in the afternoon in caeJenneth orris$ !ho ha" coe fro ales for the 0onvention. 8n that afternoon$ aroun"the tea-table$ all of our ebers !ho !ere going to atten" the 0onvention$ an"particularly those !ho !ere sche"ule" to speak$ et together to "iscuss the modusoperandian" to get the general feel of things for the iportant occasion. The coittee-eeting !as hel" in the +ea"er*s "ra!ing-roopro tem.$ an" the ebers thereof prove"to each other that Theosophists can cobine huor !ith business. )r. Siren propose"that each participant in the 0onvention be presente" !ith a flo!er on arriving at the "oor$an" rs. 2arker state" that this ha" alrea"y been arrange"$ as r. ose$ one of ourebers$ !oul" be "oor-keeper. The list of Theosophists fro "ifferent parts of the !orl"!ho !ere going to atten" !as rea" by r. 2arker$ an" it certainly soun"e" iposing. ' !ill

not enuerate the here$ as you !ill receive the official report.e arrive" proptly at @ 2aker Street at 1C:CC a..$ so that as the various

"elegates entere"$ they coul" eet )r. "e Purucker inforally before procee"ings began.There !ere about si


29/103

the 0onference began$ !hich it "i" at :3C. 't laste" until about >:3C$ an" fro thefollo!ing cable alrea"y sent you$ you !ill kno! that the +ea"er !as satisfie" !ith the !ork"one:

%+on"on$ une @th.

%+T Theosociety$ San"iegocalif.%0entennial positive success. +ea"er einently satisfie". Si


30/103

----------------

We isit Wales in this #etter

o. B

0rossing the English 0hannel fro 5ar!ich to (lushing.uly @$ 1931.

)ear 0ora"es on +an": 'n "efault of any better paper$ ' take a fe! pages fro yshorthan" note-book$ to continue y interrupte" letter to you. The %story English0hannel% is as sooth or soother than the Pacific on a &uiet "ay$ although the +ea"ersays ' ust not begin to boast too soon. The state of y han"!riting is not "ue to a heavysea$ but to the oveent of the achinery of the boat.

' shoul" apologi,e for y hasty "eparture fro your copany yester"ay$ but !e ha"reserve" that "ay for packing an" last-inute correspon"ence$ but it turne" out that !e left0heyne alk at 1C:3C in the orning$ an" "i" not return until seven o*clock in the evening$

after a "ay full of varie" an" any activities. Then !e ha" to have "inner$ an" "ivi"e ourattention bet!een packing an" having a fare!ell visit !ith soe of the ebers an"officers of the English Section.

' believe ' !as telling you about the autoobiles in Englan". 7ll traffic is "one onthe left si"e of the roa" instea" of on the right$ an" the "river*s seat in the car is on theright instea" of the left. 7lost all the cars have little ventilators in the roofs$ an" anyhave large sli"ing panels !hich can be opene" so as to enable the passengers to look outfro the top. 2ut the +on"on buses really call forth y a"iration - large "ouble-storie"affairs$ an" e


31/103

!ritings an" correspon"ence$ it !as not the sae as actually eeting hi an" hearinghi$ an" they felt that this lecture-tour coul" not have been un"ertaken at a better tie.

F'ote: The +ea"er ust infore" e that !e have not been any!here near theEnglish 0hannel$ but have been crossing the orth Sea. 7ny!ay$ he says it can beterribly story too.G

;otter"a$ 5ollan"$ 5otel 7tlanta. uly Ath.2y this tie !e are on lan" again$ an" ' think ' ha" better hasten an" finish

recounting our a"ventures in Englan". e ha" a splen"i" ebers* eeting at @ 2akerStreet the evening before the 0onference$ in !hich again the +oalan" spirit prevaile".Volunteers !ere calle" to help arrange the roo for the follo!ing "ay$ an" also to help !ithushering$ literature-tables$ etc.$ at the public eeting. 7t this eeting$ the English Sectionpresente" the +ea"er !ith 1/C for his lecture-tour.

't !as very evi"ent that )r. 2arker an" our English 0ora"es !ere "eterine" toake every inute of g. "e P.*s visit !ith the count for soething. 7fter each publiclecture the follo!ing "ay there !as a eeting for in&uirers$ at !hich ore &uestions !ereaske" than there !as tie to ans!er. ' hope by this tie one of the offices there has

receive" a copy of the paphlet gotten up by 2arker$ an" given to each person !hoatten"e" the first public lecture$ an" on sale thereafter$ entitle" 2ottried de Puruc%er andThe Theosophical Society. 't is !ell !orth putting on the bulletin-boar"$ for all to see. )r.2arker announce" to the au"ience that insi"e each of these paphlets !oul" be foun"four leaflets of "ifferent colors$ each announcing a "ifferent feature or "epartent of theT.S. !ork# an" they !ere tol" ust !hat !as on each leaflet# so that each person coul"coe in touch !ith e


32/103

getting a!ay fro it occasionally. The ost interesting thing !e sa! in ;ichon" Park$!hich is over a thousan" acres$ !as a "eer$ beautiful$ graceful$ antlere" stags$ an" thepretty feale "eep# an" they !ere so tae that they !oul" coe right up to the autos thatpasse". There !ere scores of the.

7lso$ ' shoul" ention the eeting of the Phoeni< +o"ge of the 7"yar T.S.$ hel" onthe evening of une >th$ after the 5.P.2. 0entennial 0onference$ to !hich they invite" the

+ea"er an" his party an" our +on"on +o"ge. 'n other !or"s$ they !ere reciprocating intrue fraterni,ation style. They are a splen"i" bo"y of Theosophists$ stan"ing for 5.P.2.Theosophy. 6. "e P. talke" to the for alost an hour$ an" a very frien"ly spirit !asevince" by all.

To return to our trip to 0ar"iff. 't !as a !on"erful "rive. 8nly those !ho have beenthrough the English country-si"e can iagine ho! beautiful it is$ an" !hat a agical!itchery there is about it. o! an" then$ !e ust ha" to stop the car$ an" get out an"rable through the grass$ picking buttercups an" !il" berry-flo!ers an" 0anterbury bellsan" fo


33/103

2ut !e "i" finally reach there$ an" foun" our !ay to the Park 5otel$ !here )r.orrise ha" alrea"y engage" our roos. 't !as a beautiful hotel$ an" ost iportant ofall$ our roos !ere &uiet$ an" there !as a little "ra!ing-roo on the sae floor$ a publicone$ !hich !e coul" use !ithout cost. 't !as open to anyone$ but no one ever cae !hile!e !ere there$ so it !as ust as though !e ha" a private parlor$ only !e "i"n*t have to payfor it$ !hich ust %tickle" us all over.% They have !hat struck e as a very hospitable

custo in any English an" elsh hotels$ !hich !e also foun" here. 8r"inarily$ !hen athotels$ !e !ent our for our eals$ as that !as uch less e


34/103

that in 5.P.2.*s "ay the Society coul" be represente" by the pal of his han"# then laterthere !ere t!o$ an" even ore branches$ like the fingers of the han"# an" as the &uestion"i" not ask !hich ha" a"here" ore closely to 5.P.2.$ the ans!er !as &uite responsive.

Then$ ust at the right psychological oent$ !ithout spoiling the atosphere of theeeting by oining in tea-"rinking an" sall talk$ etc.$ of the interission$ the +ea"er$e:CC in the afternoon$ an" in soe !ays thecountry !e passe" through !as the ost beautiful. Soe of the ol" English to!ns$ !ithbuil"ings "ating back to the t!elfth an" thirteenth centuries$ !ere very fascinating$ but thetie !e coul" linger in the !as all too short.

e stoppe" at +u"lo! to e


35/103

eleventh century$ an" that at the tie of 0ro!ell it ha" been bobar"e"$ %but !ithout the"esire" result being accoplishe".% 0hester is in the county of 0heshire$ an" on our autotrip !e looke" for the 0heshire cat$ or at least for his grin$ but the only cat !e sa! !as asco!ling one.

e starte" back to +on"on bright an" early the ne


36/103

of onuents it has to Englan"*s great en of the past. e sa! the places !here)ickens$ 2urns$ Thoas 5ar"y$ 2ro!ning$ Tennyson$ an" scores of their great people!ere burie"$ inclu"ing any faous statesen an" ilitary en$ an" even a stone on!hich !as inscribe"$ %ear here lie the reains of 6eoffrey 0haucer.% 't !as a littleghastly to think of all those "ea" bo"ies there$ the ore especially as !e ha" to !alk rightover the$ because all "o!n the broa" aisles are the stones arking the burial spots$ an"

in soe places the passage of any hun"re"s of feet ha" !orn of the inscriptions.e ha" evi"ently chosen a goo" orning for sight-seeing$ because ust as !e

eerge" fro the 7bbey$ the funeral services for soe high ilitary official !ere takingplace$ a ilitary funeral$ an" !e sa! generals in full ilitary "ress$ an" other en inorning "ress an" high silk hats$ coing out fro St. artin*s 0hurch$ a"acent to the7bbey$ an" the great bell !as tolling$ the sol"iers on horseback an" the royal guar"aking an iposing spectacle. e ha" ust enough tie left to take a hurrie" ri"e to 197venue ;oa"$ !here 5.P.2. live"$ but the house itself is no! torn "o!n$ an" also 917venue ;oa"$ !here J.T. live" in +on"on for soe tie$ an" !here 6. "e P. also live"!hen he !as here in 19CA.

8f course y enthusias about +on"on can be taken !ith a grain of salt$ '

suppose$ but even 6. "e P. an" rs. 6eiger$ !ith their aturer u"gent an" theire


37/103

7ugust 1$ 1931

)ear 0ora"es at +oalan": ' have ust a fe! inutes this evening to start a long-"elaye" letter to you$ an" by the receipt of this you !ill see that the +on"on 5.P.2.0entennial 0onference ;eport has at last been transcribe"$ thank the iortal go"s?

' alost "ate" this letter )eceber or anuary$ for as ' look out of the !in"o!$ the

sky is lea"en$ the rain is pelting "o!n$ ben"ing Vising*s tall grain$ an" the !in" is ho!lingin the trees$ an" the co!s gra,ing in the ea"o! aroun" the ol" 2rahe 0hurch ust stan"an" stare$ as if they !ere !on"ering !ho ha" gone cra,y? 7n" then$ as ' look insi"e$ ' seethe bright !oo"-fire in the large S!e"ish stove$ !hich ia the cook has ust coe up an"built for us$ aking it so nice an" co,y. 7n" such is the state of the !eather# although thisorning$ for at least an hour$ it !as so !ar an" sunny that the call of the !ater in thelake !as too strong to resist$ an" an invigorating plunge sho!e" that at least this orningthe !ater !as not as icy col" as +ake Vettern is repute" to be.

7ugust n".

'n picking up the threa"s of our ourney !here !e left off$ ' ust tell you a oke. 4oureeber that on a certain "ay a notice !as put on the bulletin-boar"$ notifying you all in+oalan" that that !as the last "ay that letters coul" be aile" to Englan"$ an" after thatthe postage !oul" be five cents instea" of t!o. ell$ the ail that resulte" fro thatnotice reache" us ust on the evening before our "eparture fro +on"on. Very luck$ yousay$ an" of course !e !ere gla" to get a touch of +oalan" again. 2ut - ? 5o!ever$ !eha" the Presi"ent of the English Section !riting trunk-labels for us$ an" Virginia 2arker"oing type!riting for the +ea"er$ an" "ear iss 2eatrice Taylor tripping aroun" helping!herever she coul".

7nother oke ' happene" to reeber: The night of our arrival at 0heyne alk$ as!e !ere being sho!n to our roos$ iss e""-5all*s pet cat !alke" pertly up the stairs infront of the +ea"er$ into his roo$ an" curle" up un"er the be". iss e""-5all !ashorrifie"$ because$ as she !hispere" to e$ she reebere" the +ea"er*s lecture in !hichhe sai" he "i"n*t like cats. 2ut ' assure" her that her cat !as such a beauty ' felt &uitecertain 6. "e P. !oul"n*t in" it.

hen !e left +on"on !e !ere accopanie" by rs. 2arker$ !ho ha" purchase" arailroa" ticket to 5ar!ich$ so she !oul" not nee" to part fro us until !e !ere on boar"the steaer. 7t the railroa" station !e !ere also greete" by iss ilkinson$ a very"elightful$ enthusiastic ne! eber. She ha" inten"e" saying goo"-bye to us there$ butas soon as she hear" that Virginia 2arker !as accopanying us to 5ar!ich$ she proptlybought a ticket herself# so !e ha" the "elightful copany of both these la"ies on our !ay

"o!n$ an" as !ell pulle" out to sea$ they still reaine" on the pier !aving to us$ an" tookour last-inute essages back to +on"on. rs. 6eiger arrive" at the +iverpool StreetStation ust about !hen !e "i"$ an" thereafter !as ore intiately one of the party$staying at the sae hotels !e "i"$ an" here at Jungsgar"en being one of the househol"$!hich consiste" of us four$ e. ican"er$ an" iss 7nna ansson our hostess.

' believe ' have alrea"y tol" you of the "elightful trip !e ha" across the !ater to(lushing in 5ollan"$ !ere !e e r. an 6ou" an" his "aughter +ucy$ as tall as her father$an" alost as enthusiastic in the Theosophical cause. 'n fact$ one tie !hen r. 6ou"an" r. Venea !ere traveling to soe of the )utch to!ns to lecture$ an" r. 6ou" !asprevente" fro going$ +ucy !ent instea" an" gave a lecture on Theosophy. 2y the !ay$"uring the +ea"er*s visit$ she oine" the T.S.$ an" she sent her greetings to all her ol"

frien" in +oalan".r. an 6ou"$ like his 2rother 7rie$ is a railroa" official$ so it !as very easy for us toget through the 0ustos 8ffice an" to secure our railroa" accoo"ations to ;otter"a$


38/103

!here !e procee"e" ie"iately. ' ust say that so far$ although !e "on*t boast$ !ehave ha" no inconveniences in the 0ustos 8ffices. ' think the officials can see theinnate honesty shining in our faces$ an" take our stateents for !hat they are - the truth.8n the train going fro 5ollan" to 6erany$ of course the 0ustos 8fficials boar"e" thetrain at the 6eran frontier$ but all they !ere intereste" in !as !hether !e ha" anychocolate !ith us. 7s a atter of fact$ !e "i" have a sall bo< of chocolates !hich the

)utch cora"es ha" given us$ an" !e proptly sho!e" it to the# but the official onlylaughe" an" !ent on his !ay.

e arrive" at ;otter"a about nine o*clock in the evening of the sae "ay !e leftEnglan"$ uly @th$ J.T.*s birth"ay$ an" !ere et at the station by the t!o +in"eansbrothers$ r. Pakker$ an" r. 7rie 6ou". r. +in"eans$ the Presi"ent of the ;otter"a+o"ge$ tol" us that if it !as not asking too uch of the +ea"er$ he !on"ere" if !e coul"stop at their +o"ge-roo on our !ay to the hotel$ as the ebers !ere having a eetingin honor of J.T. an" it !oul" ake the so happy to get a glipse of the +ea"er. So$ ustas !e !ere fro a "ay*s travel$ !e !ent in to their eeting$ an" there !as a roo full ofenthusiastic ebers an" 0lub-ebers. They sang for us %Praise to the 5eroes% inEnglish$ an" the +ea"er spoke briefly to the$ an" then !e procee"e" to our hotel.

The 5otel %7tlanta% ha" been engage" for us$ an" ' think you !ill be intereste" inhearing soething about it. 't is evi"ently a ne! hotel$ very lean an" nice$ !ith all sorts ofne! inventions an" conveniences about it. 'n our roos !here they ha" the call-bells$ inor"er to in"icate to foreigners !hich one to use for any particular nee"$ opposite each ofthe three they ha" a picture$ first of a parlor-ai"$ then of a !aiter$ an" then of a baggage-porter. They also ha" a very clever kin" of alar clock. 'n the !all !ere t!o roun" "isks$!ith han"s in each one$ an" the figures fro 1 to 1$ !ith instructions that if you !ante"the alar to call you in the orning$ you set the hour on the first "isk an" the inute onthe secon". So ' though ' !oul" try it. 't !orke" out beautifully$ e


39/103

speech !ith the !or"s %Thank-you% in )utch. Then all 7"yar-ebers$ or ebers ofother Societies present$ !ere invite"$ if they !ishe"$ to coe up an" eet the +ea"er. 't!as ust great to see the one after another "efinitely proclai their sypathy !ithfraterni,ation an" their recognition$ at least partially$ of !hat 6. "e P. is "oing$ by coingup in front of the eeting$ one at a tie$ an" shaking han"s !ith 6. "e P. an" e


40/103

6eran Section to coe into affiliation !ith our Society$ !ith his +o"ge. The eetingen"e" beautifully$ rs. Jirsebo ha" been translating the +ea"er*s last rearks into6eran$ an" then$ ust at the en" she recite" in 6eran$ an" !ith "eep feeling$ theTheosophical !atch!or"s.

't !as late before !e retire" that night$ an" !e ha" to be up early to catch the trainfor Sassnit,. 't ha" been raining all the tie !hile !e !ere in 5aburg$ though !e !ere

tol" that that !as nothing unusual$ as the city has a reputation of having rain threehun"re" an" si


41/103

!e enoye" our crossing$ uch to )r. Siren*s surprise$ for he ha" strongly a"vise" us notto eat any "inner but to go an" lie "o!n until !e !ere safely across$ all of !hich goo"a"vice !e "i"n*t follo!. 8n the sae ferry !ith us !ere three hun"re" 6eran chil"ren$coing to S!e"en !ith their caretakers for a suer-holi"ay$ an" ' think ' !ill spare you a"escription of the picture they presente" lying out on the "ecks in the rain an" probably!on"ering !hat sort of a holi"ay they ha" set out upon.

e arrive" in alo$ not at the respectable hour of ten or thereabouts$ as !e !eresche"ule" to$ but at alost i"night$ an" the rain !as still coing "o!n. )ear iss 7nnaansson ha" been "o!n to the station several ties$ an" ha" telephone"$ etc.$ an" !hen!e "i"n*t turn up$ she conclu"e" that !e ha" "eci"e" to spen" the night in Trelleborg. 2utat last she foun" us$ an" !ith her !as 7sta 0arlsson$ ust as enthusiastic as she coul" be$so gla" to see us an" in&uiring after all the +oalan"ers. )r. Erik 2ogren$ r. 6yllenberg$an" r. Eric onsson$ the Presi"ent of the alo +o"ge$ also et us at the train$ an" youcan iagine that !e "i" not strollalong to our hotel. e staye" at the Savoy$ an" !hat "oyou suppose$ 6. "e P. ha" the very roo !hich J.T. occupie" !hen she !as there in193$ an" the sae thing happene" in 5alsingborg.

8ur first full "ay in S!e"en !as the 11th of uly$ the anniversary of J.T.*s passing$

an" on the 1>th$ the "ay of the creation in 199$ !e arrive" in 6oteborg$ the very city!here it took place. 7n" !hen !e !ent fro 6oteborg to Visingso$ !e !ent by auto overthe very roa" traverse" in 199 on the !ay to the creatory. 8ur t!o "ays* stay in alo!as very busy. )uring the first "ay five "ifferent ne!spaper en cae to intervie! 6. "eP. 8ne of the aske" perission to take his photography in the hotel$ an" ' ust say theresult !as one of the best that has been taken. ' hope you have seen it in the alopaper. The public lecture !as hel" that evening$ an" after a busy "ay the +ea"er !as usttrying to get a fe! inutes of &uiet in or"er to collect his thoughts$ !hen there !as aknocking at the "oor. T!o representatives of the t!o biggest S!e"ish papers$ ' believe$the Svens%a 3agbladet an" the Stoc%holms 3agbladet$ !ere stan"ing outsi"e breathless#they ha" ust receive" a long "istance telephone call fro Stockhol instructing the tobe sure to secure an intervie! !ith )r. "e Purucker before he left.

hile in alo !e took our eals !ith iss ansson in her hoe$ an" there !as aia ra"iant as usual$ an" 7sta 0arlsson ha" coe in to help iss ansson out !ithserving at the table. Those of you !ho have been at Visingso an" have taste" of ia*s"elicious cooking$ an" sat at iss ansson*s beautiful table$ !ill kno! ho! !ell !e fare".

The ne


42/103

!hich the Presi"ent of the 7"yar +o"ge spoke very sypathetically an" cor"ially. r.6yllenberg accopanie" us to 5alsingborg an" to 6oteborg$ in fact$ at the +ea"er*s stayin S!e"en# an" !ith his help$ an" of course that of )r. 2ogren !hile !e !ere in5alsingborg$ !e felt that !e !ere in"ee" aong frien"s. e left on the 1>th of uly for6oteborg$ an" arrive" there about eight o*clock in the evening$ an" that sae evening the+ea"er et the 6oteborg ebers at the hotel.

The ne


43/103

-------------

%appenings at isingso

o. 1CJungsgir"en$ Visingso$ S!e"en.

7ugust 1A$ 1931

)ear 0ora"es as (ome4 (u4 est sbdant 5limat4 That is a &uotation taken fro anintervie! ha" !ith )r. "e Purucker by a representabive of !on%opings Postem$ an" the!or"s are the +ea"er*s o!n$ originally sai" in English$ but no! they have becoe part ofour vocabulary as they appear above an" have been sai" by us any ties "uring this%suer.% 4es$ such !eather? e ha" ust e


44/103

eetings or intervie!s$ until Sun"ay$ in or"er to give us tie to catch up !ith ourcorrespon"ence$ etc.

Visingso has un"ergone soe changes since ' !as here in 19B. Then there !ereonly t!o autos on the islan". o! there are four. e a"e a "iscovery the other "ay.Every tie !e have ha" to use one of the autos to go over to the School or to the;efectory for soe eeting$ !e have al!ays ha" either one of our S!e"ish cora"es

!ith us !ho coul" give "irections to the chauffeur$ or else !e have ha" the "irections givenbeforehan". 2ut one tie !e foun" ourselves alone in the auto$ that is !ithout a S!e"ishinterpreter$ !hen$ in ans!er to soe reark that one of us a"e$ the chauffeur beganspeaking to us in English? 5e ha" spent three or four years soe tie ago in 7erica$an" coul" speak English$ an" none of our S!e"ish cora"es kne! it.

The first official occurrence at Visingso too place the Sun"ay after our arrival$ !hen!e !ere invite" over to see the splen"i" ne! ;efectory. Even the !or" %splen"i"% is nota"e&uate to "escribe it. e !ent first upstairs !here those !ho are in charge of the;efectory an" !ho help there have their roos$ an" then !e !ent all through the kitchen -an" such a kitchen? 7ll the latest o"ern inventions$ ' can*t even begin to "escribe theall. The floor an" !alls of tile$ all kin"s of electrical appliances an" ga"gets$ the large

cookers an" containers a"e out of aterial that !ill neither rust nor tarnish$ hot an" col"running !ater an" sinks at han" in every "irection$ electric "ish-!ashing achines$ etc.$etc.$ etc.$ etc. 7n" ust iagine at Visingso$ !here the islan"-folk "on*t see to careanything about o"ern conveniences$ an" all the !ater is "ra!n fro !ells$ an" up till lastyear can"les or oil laps !ere use" for lighting$ here in the ;efectory having hot an" col"running !ater in alost every roo$ an" three beautiful bath-tubs$ an" of course ' ustn*tforget to ention the electricity. Jungsgar"en !ith electricity sees a change" place?

Everything about the kitchen an" "ining-roo in the ;efectory is arrange" veryconveniently$ !ith as uch labor-saving as possible. 8pening out fro the kitchen is theserving-roo$ an" opening out fro that$ by !i"e s!inging "oors on t!o si"es$ is the large"ining-roo$ into !hich !e !ere finally ushere". 5ere the chil"ren !ere alrea"yasseble"$ rea"y for the noon-"ay eal$ to !hich !e !ere also invite". e took ourseats at the table$ an" lo an" behol"? facing us$ on the !all opposite$ !as a large paintingof +oalan"$ copie" fro the photograph taken fro soe!here on the roa" belo! theT.S. buil"ing$ sho!ing the T.S. buil"ing an" the 7ca"ey an" Teple. This picture isabout 1 feet long by three an" half !i"e or high$ an" !as "one by one of r.2yllenberg*s sons. 't is e


45/103

cae "o!n into the !ater$ peeking aroun" the boat-house to see !hat !e !ere "oing.They close" the roa" copletely$ an" so !e ha" to scrable up the bank on the othersi"e$ an" clib soe !oo"en fences an" !a"e through fiel"s of clover an" grain$ an"select another roa" hoe. 7lso !hen tie peritte"$ !e use" to take !alks in thebeautiful forests$ !here !e foun" !il" stra!berries gro!ing in abun"ance$ an" alter$blueberries$ though these !ere not ripe before !e left the islan".

The first three !eeks at Visingso things !ere coparatively &uiet$ nothing particularhappening e


46/103

the other 0ongress-atten"ants also coing for lunch$ an" the +ea"er invite" r. +ian"eran" the other 7"yar +o"ge-Presi"ent to take lunch !ith hi at his table.

The first nuber on the afternoon*s progra !as a play given out of "oors.5o!ever$ the chil"ren !ere all outsi"e seeingly oblivious of the rain$ an" the au"ience!as beginning to collect. So !e bravely put up our ubrellas an" sallie" forth. e !ereet by )r. Siren$ !earing a large blanket over his shoul"ers$ 'n"ian fashion$ an" carrying

others for our use$ an" there !ere calls of %2ring !raps for the 0alifornians.% So !e!rappe" ourselves up in blankets$ hel" our ubrellas over us$ an" sat "o!n to enoy thenovel e


47/103

leave in a otor-boat for 6renna$ on our !ay to Stockhol. 't has ust begun rainingagain$ an" the +ea"er is rearking: %'sn*t this rain !elcoe$ so refreshing$ an" so nee"fulfor the thirsty groun". 't akes a nice change$ "oesn*t it?%

6oo"-bye to everybo"y.

4our affectionately$

Elsie V. Savage

Please par"on poor paper this letter is !ritten on. ' have use" up y supply ofaccuulate" hotel-paper$ an" as Visingso has no stationer*s store$ ' !ill have to !ait until 'get nearer civili,ation to buy soe.

--------------

!he !our was not All for /rownups

o. 11Jungsgar"en$ Visingso$ S!e"en.7ugust 1A$ 1931.

rs. 6race Jnoche$6eneral Superinten"ent for +otus-0ircles$ +oalan".

)ear rs. Jnoche: 7t last ' a !riting you y long-proise" letter in regar" to +otus-0ircle eetings !hich have been hel" in "ifferent cities "uring the tour. 'n each case thechil"ren an" teachers have sent their greetings to you. The first one !as at 2oston$ !henon a Sun"ay orning$ the +ea"er an" party !ere invite" to the 2oston 5ea"&uarters.hen !e arrive" there !e foun" ro!s of little chairs$ e


48/103

chil"ren !ere either at Visingso$ or ha" left the city for the suer$ there !as a largeatten"ance. The eeting !as hel" on uly 11th$ an" the chil"ren gave beautiful tributes toJ.T.$ besi"es presenting the +ea"er an" each of his party !ith flo!ers$ accopanie" bypretty little speeches in English.

5ere at Visingso !e have not atten"e" a +otus-0ircle eeting yet$ but issansson has hel" the every Sun"ay$ an" has ha" not only the chil"ren fro Suer-

School$ !ho have coe fro all parts of S!e"en$ but any of the islan"ers* chil"ren. 'nfact last Sun"ay$ !hen the Suer-School chil"ren ha" all left the islan"$ she hel" a+otus-0ircle eeting at !hich there !ere t!enty-five chil"ren$ an" she calle" us out to seethe picture of seventeen chil"ren an" herself an" the chauffeur in one seven-passengerauto. 7s the +ea"er appeare" they sang %5appy +ittle Sunbeas$% first in S!e"ish an"then in English. iss ansson sees very fon" of her !ork !ith the chil"ren an" shecertainly ha" success !ith the.

This gives you ust a bir"s-eye glipse of the +otus-0ircle !ork in soe of the cities!e have visite". The enthusias of both teachers an" chil"ren is contagious$ an" thechil"ren go hoe an" sprea" their enthusias aong their failies. 4ou !oul" bechare" to have seen the gro!th of this !ork. 'n soe cities our sche"ule "i" not allo!

us tie to see the chil"ren*s !ork$ but !e are looking for!ar" to eeting the chil"renparticularly in Stockhol an" in 5ollan"$ !here there are literally hun"re"s of chil"ren !hotake an active part in the +otus-0ircle !ork$ an" atten" regularly.

7ffectionately fro us all$

Elsie V. Savage

PS. - 'n connection !ith the +otus-0ircle !ork$ ' ought to ention that the course inall the English-speaking cities$ the chil"ren ha" their little aga,ines$ The 1otus)CircleMessenger$ !hich they felt so prou" of$ but even in 6erany an" 5ollan"$ an" no! inS!e"en$ our (.T.S. have starte" the sae aga,ine in their o!n languages$ so that herealso the little ones feel as though they ha" taken a great step for!ar"s on the roa" tobeing %gro!nups$% by being able to subscribe to their o!n little onthly paper.

4ou !oul" have receive" this letter long ere this$ but besi"es transcribing the0entennial ;eport$ there have been re&uests floo"ing in for transcripts of !hat 6. "e P.sai" in such-an"-such a place. 8f course ' haven*t like" to "isappoint any !ho aske" forthe$ but it !as lucky that !e !ere stationary in one place long enough to fulfill ost ofthe re&uests.

-------------

!o Finland and Still Raining

o. 17t the hoe of e. 7nna ican"er$Villa +usthusporten$ )urgar"en$Stockol$ S!e"en$7ugust >$ 1931

)ear 0ora"es in +oalan": ' a going to plunge in medias res,as the learne" peoplesay$ an" continue the recounting of our travels fro the tie you left us$ ust the "ay

before !e ba"e goo"-bye to Visingso. There !ere very fe! ebers still on the islan"!hen !e left$ as they ha" all been leaving "uring the "ays follo!ing the 0ongress. eha" sent our trunks to Stockhol alost a !eek ahea" of us$ so that they coul" go the


49/103

ost ine:CC p.. the ne


50/103

seats an" look upon the stage an" iagine the "ifferent events that ha" taken place therein ages gone by.

2y this tie )irektor 6yllenberg$ !ho !as one of the party$ began to get nervous$because it !as ten inutes to five$ an" the castle !as close" at five$ an" he !as afrai" !e!oul" get locke" in$ but !e count not resist the teptation of going to the very top$ !herethere !as an ol"$ roun" to!er-roo$ !hich !as fille" !ith ol" suits of aror$ coplete !ith

helets an" shiel"s$ an" all kin"s of !eapons$ spears$ s!or"s$ battle-a


51/103

an" stuck labels on the. Then !e !ere allo!e" to ake our e


52/103

The ne


53/103

+ almost #ost m0 Return -ermit to 1.S.A.&

o. 137t the 5oe of e. 7nna ican"er$Villa ican"er$ )urgar"en$ Stockhol$ S!e"en.

Septeber $ 1931

)ear 0ora"es at 5oe: ' a trying to get a letter !ritten before our "eparture froStockhol$ because y intuition tells e that there !ill be very little tie "uring the ne


54/103

containing$ besi"es the house itself$ a pretty little house at the entrance to the groun"s forthe chauffeur an" his faily$ an" greenhouses an" garages an" other buil"ings. Thegroun"s are covere" !ith beautiful trees an" la!ns an" gravel !alks$ an" there is ane


55/103

that there !asn*t uch to 6. "e P.*s !ork after all. ell$ Peggy kept &uiet as long as sheha" to$ but she !atche" her chance an" !hen it cae she arose an" sai" there !as soeistake$ that possibly the previous speaker ha" been isinfore"$ because !e happene"to kno! for a certainty that )r. "e Purucker*s fraterni,ation oveent !as succee"inge


56/103


57/103

!ith an ol" crypt built aroun" a prehistoric !ell. The church is !on"erfully preserve"$ an"!e !ent "o!n into the crypt$ but it looke" rather gruesoe to see all the stone coffins$ onsoe of !hich !ere burning can"les$ !hich sent out "i-flickering rays into the gloo.Then !e !ent into the church ust in tie to see the faous ol" clock there strike the hourof noon. This is a huge clock !hich e


58/103

one an" a half hours$ !aiting for the stor to abate so that the ferry coul" coe an" getus# an" !e recogni,e" the sae lan"arks$ an" it seee" like the sae rain pouring"o!n$ an" the sae col" penetrating the train. 't !as so story an" col" on "eck that !espent the four hours of crossing in the lo!er part of the (erry$ in our car. The prospectsahea" !ere anything but heartening. e ha" been tol" in S!e"en that no! that !e !eregoing farther south !e !oul" strike !ar !eather$ but ust before leaving alo$ it !as

announce" over the ra"io that a heavy stor !as coing ust across the route !e !eretaking$ an" in fact$ !hen !e reache" 2erlin$ !e hear" that the "ay before there ha" beenso uch rain that the streets !ere alost floo"e"$ an" in 5aburg soe of the cellars ofthe houses !ere fille" !ith !ater. e have also receive" letters fro our ebers inStuttgart an" 2erne saying that they hope for better !eather !hen the +ea"er arrives$because they have been having rain stea"ily for t!o onths. 6. "e P. has ust e


59/103

their appreciation of !hat they ha" hear"$ or trying to e


60/103

cultural an" political lines. ell$ his &uestions range" fro the +eague of ations$ to2olshevis$ an" about !ho !as responsible for the orl"-ar$ about 7erican self-assertiveness$ about the present echanical age$ etc.$ etc. 't !as fascinating to hear the+ea"er*s ans!er$ or in soe cases his "eclination to ans!er$ an" !hen the report isprinte" as !e hear it !ill be in a "ay or t!o$ ' hope !e !ill be able to sen" you a copy. 't!ill ake interesting rea"ing.

)irectly after this intervie!$ the +ea"er et the 0ottbus ebers for an hour$ an"then there !as ust tie for "inner an" to "ress for the public eeting. The hall$ seatingbet!een four hun"re" an" fifty an" five hun"re"$ !as alost fille" to capacity$ an" theau"ience !as very attentive. The a""ress !as a splen"i" one$ an" r. Schnei"er$ !hotook brief notes in or"er to translate a resue of it for those !ho "i" not speak English$staye" up all night$ !e hear this orning$ preparing a report of it for the 0ottbus papers.5e an" r. Saalfrank took the aroun" to the papers early this orning$ an" !e hear thatthree papers !ere very eager to accept the report.

e have t!o ore eeting to"ay$ an" then leave toorro! orning at ten o*clockfor urnberg$ so ' !ill close this letter no!$ unless ' happen to think of soething thatshoul" be a""e"$ before ' seal it$ in !hich case ' shall a"" a PS.

' ight a"" that ' have foun" the truth of the saying: 7 little learning is a "angerousthing. )r. Vollrath$ the +ea"er$ ' believe$ of soe T.S.$ calle" at our hotel in 2erlin to see6. "e P. one "ay$ an" he aske" e: =&erstehen Sie 3eutsch>=an" ' ans!ere"$ ='ur ein$enig.= ' shoul" have "enie" all kno!le"ge of 6eran: ='ein, %ein +ort,= because heie"iately began a vigorous conversation$ one-si"e"$ for all ' kno! going up into theheights of 6eran philosophy. So ' ha" to retreat hastily$ an" signify y utter inability tofollo! his thought.

r. Saalfrank took us for a "elightful ri"e in an" aroun" 0ottbos this orning$ an"then for a !alk through a agnificent park !hich at one tie belonge" to a Prince Puckler$!ho "onate" it to the city for the goo" of the people.

ust stop no!. 6oo"-bye to all. 'n less than a onth !e shall be alost reachinge! 4ork.

4ours affectionately$

E.V.S.

PS. Speaking of these various 'n&uirers* an" (raterni,ation-eetings$ 6. "e P. hasbeen aske" so any ties &uestions about Jrishnaurti$ that ' have ha" to invent ashorthan" contraction for the nae. Even soe ne!spaper-reporters see to think thatan essential feature in any Theosophical press-report is the ention of his nae.

----------------

Did + Forget to Sa0 it was Still Raining2

o. 1/5otel 6raf Heppelin$ Stuttgart$ 6eranySepteber 13$ 1931

)ear 0ora"es at 5oe: )o you reali,e that on this trip !e have ha" alost half theearth bet!een usD hen !e !ere in (in"lan" our !atches !ere then ten hours ahea" of

yours$ alost half of the t!enty-four$ no! they are nine hours ahea"$ an" ' suppose !hen!e reach S!it,erlan" on Tues"ay evening$ !e !ill be one hour nearer you still.ust at present !e are spen"ing a "ay an" a half an" t!o nights in the 6raf Hepplin.


61/103

)on*t be alare". e haven*t taken to air travel$ although ' un"erstan" that soeone at+oalan" thought !e took an aeroplane fro Stockhol to (inlan" because 6. "e P.!rote !e !ere going to take a flying trip? e arrive" in Stuttgart this noon$ an" !ere etat the station by r. 6luckselig$ Presi"ent of our +o"ge there$ an" also by a ne! eber$r. 6rieb$ !ith his auto$ an" !e !ere soon at our hotel$ !hich bore the nae ofChristliches (ospi< &i%toria. The hotel !as nice enough$ an" they !ere certainly

generous in caring not only for our physical nee"s but for our spiritual nee"s as !ell$because in each roo there !as a holy 2ible$ an" right over the hea" of the be" a biblicalinscription carve" in !oo". 2ut "on*t e


62/103

the train$ but another at the en" pushing it. The track follo!e" the ;iver ain ost of the!ay$ an" !e sa! it change fro a broa" placi" river to a turbulent ountain-strea$ an"then to a little brook$ still very vigorous in its flo!$ !ith little !ater-falls tubling over therocks$ but in places so narro! that one coul" up over it. 7n" !hen !e finishe" clibingan" began the "escent$ !e ha" coe to the source of the strea$ an" still ha" itscopanionship as it ran "o!n the ountains on the other si"e$ no! getting broa"er an"

broa"er the lo!er !e !ent. 'n places the hills !ere heavily !oo"e" !ith agnificent trees$an" in other places the trees ha" been all cut a!ay$ an" the hillsi"es$ though very steep$ha" been cultivate"# an" "ivi"e" up as they !ere into s&uares an" triangles an"rectangles$ !ith "ifferent crops gro!ing in each one$ the hills looke" as though they !erecovere" !ith a large patch-!ork &uilt.

7s ' sai"$ !e arrive in urnberg at A o*clock an" !ere et by r. illi 2lo"orn$thePresi"ent of our +o"ge there$ an" by rs. 7nna +ei"ig-Stark$ a little !oan fairly bubblingover !ith enthusias$ an" by other ebers. e ha" varely reache" our roos !henthe telephone rang$ an" the portier announce" that there !as a ne!spaper-reporter to seethe +ea"er. 2ut !hen the "oor opene" in !alke"$ not only one$ but another an" another$until there !ere si< all sitting in a ro!. 8ne of the !as the 6eran representative of the

o"ern Sufi-oveent$ an" he aske" for perission to have a personal intervie! !ith the+ea"er$ !hich he ha" the follo!ing orning.

The ne


63/103

!hich all those !ho ha" un"erstoo" the lecturer an" "i" not care to reain for thetranslation coul" leave. 'n this !ay everybo"y seee" satisfie".

'n urnberg the +ea"er ha" the services of r. (rit, olfel as translator$ an" healso cae to Stuttgart$ at the invitation of r. 6luckselig$ for the sae purpose. 't hasbeen noticeable$ particularly in South 6erany$ ho! any en atten" the eetings$ an"ore that seventy-five percent of the you en.

The 6erans are very clever in soe !ays. They kno! ho! to provi"ecofortable be"s for travelers$ so that one !ants to stay in the hotels long ust to enoy the!on"erful be"s. 4ou have all hear"$ no "oubt$ of the faous 6eran feather-be"s. (orblankets$ instea" of the usual !oolen affairs$ they have !hat is soething like a hugepillo!$ covering the entire be"$ stuffe" !ith feathers$ but not as tightly stuffe" as anor"inary hea" pillo!. These are !on"erfully light but !ar$ giving you soe!hat thefeeling you have !hen eating rich !hippe" crea$ very nourishing an" "elicious$ but notheavy. Then in their language: !hen you listen to the speaking$ you ust have to giveclose attention to every !or"$ an" listen carefully to the en"$ in or"er to kno! !hat theverb is$ the key to the sentence$ for it is al!ays at the en".

e have ha" soe funny e


64/103

even if their country calle" the$ etc.$ etc.$ until at last r. 2lo"orn calle" hi to or"er an"aske" hi to state his &uestion. 6. "e P. !as very patient !ith hi$ but tol" hi firly thathe !as not getting at the trouble fro the right en"$ that it !as in"ee" a grave proble$an" that he sypathi,e" !ith hi greatly.

Then )r. 5ans (ersch$ !ho !as present$ a la!yer of soe proinence$ aske"perission to speak to the an$ an" spoke very vigorously in 6eran at soe length$

trying to ake hi see 6. "e P.*s vie!point$ an" the people applau"e" hi. Theatosphere of the eeting "uring this tie !as very tense$ an" the !ay the en !are"up to their subects$ an" the intensity an" sincerity an" conviction they sho!e"$ illustrate"very !ell the !ay so any of these people feel. ust the "ay before this eeting$ a ne!%union% ha" been fore" aong the people$ of those !ho !oul" refuse to fight$ an" theset!o young en !ho cae to the eeting$ probably felt this !as a goo" opportunity to laytheir vie!s forcibly before a cro!"e" roo. The reain"er of the eeting !as ore to thepoint an" very interesting$ though there !as one an !ho aske" 6. "e P. if it !ere notpossible for us to see the reincarnating ego !ith our physical eyes before it !as born onearth$ as both his father an" he ha" seen their chil"ren before they !ere born?

The 7nthroposophists see &uite nuerous in this part of 6erany$ in fact soe

have atten"e" every fraterni,ation- or in&uirers* eeting that !e have ha" in 6erany$ butone of their officials ha" sai" that any ove for fraterni,ation or union ust first coe froour Society? ell$ )r. (ersch again begge" perission to speak$ an" tol" the very"efinitely that the first ove hadcoe fro us$ an" no! it !as up to the to ake thesecon" one.

e left urnberg at B:1/ on the orning of Septeber 13th$ an" arrive" in Stuttgartat 1 noon. 7 ne!spaper reporter !ho represente" four large ne!spapers$ one in 2erne$S!it,erlan"$ cae to the hotel to call on 6. "e P.$ but "uring the intervie! she becae sointereste" in philosophical an" Theosophical &uestions an" in trying to seek soe light for!hich she ha" been longing$ that she lost sight$ ore or less$ of her real purpose forhaving calle"$ an" later on in the evening ha" to call up on the telephone to get soe facts!hich !ere of ore iportance fro the ne!spaper point of vie!.

That evening !e ha" a fraterni,ation an" in&uirers* eeting$ at !hich$ strange tosay$ the very &uestions about !ar an" a Theosophist*s "uties in the connection !ereaske"$ but not in the sae alost belligerent anner. 2ut there !ere also other intelligentTheosophical &uestions aske"$ an" soe recruits !ere a""e" to our ranks therefro.

The ne


65/103

e left Stuttgart at A:/ the follo!ing orning$ after a public lecture the eveningbefore$ an" right here let e e


66/103

en$ etc$ nor packing an" unpacking every fe! hours$ so it sees.

7ffectionately$

Elsie

--------------

+nto 'eautiful Swit3erland

o. 1@5otel )u Vieu< )oelen$ *s-6ravenhage$Septeber 19$ 1931

)ear 0ora"es at 5oe - The place !here !e soon !ill be?'n starting this letter$ ' feel like a an incurring a "ebt Finterruption of three an" a

half hoursG !hich he sees no hope of repaying in the near future$ because though ' a

starting this letter no!$ ' !on"er !hether it !ill be aile" perhaps !hen !e reach e!4ork?

e ha" ust finishe" our !ork in Stuttgart$ ' believe$ that city of peculiar architecture.'t is a i


67/103

!aterfalls of Schaffhausen. They are ust near the base of a ountain$ an" the !ater falls!ith such force that a huge clou" of spray is sent up into the air$ as fine as "ust$ pure !hitean" sparkling in the sun$ an" it akes the fall look t!ice its height.

Speaking of train connections rein"s e that the 6eran train-officials certainlye


68/103

hanging in the sky. 7t ten o*clock each night !e hear" first the S!iss ount-horns ringingout clearly in the night-air$ an" then the faous S!iss?odeling. F'*ll have to ask the +ea"erho! to spell that !or" before ' ail this letter?G hether this !as "one by one person ornot$ ' "on*t kno!. 't ay have been one singer first using the lo! tones of the asculinevoice$ an" then the high falsetto$ an" placing his voice soe!hat as the ventrilo&uists "o$but at any rate it soun"e" like several singers statione" at high points on opposite

ountains$ an" sen"ing forth their songs into the night.e ust ha" tie to get supper$ before the evening*s activities began. 8ne of the

ost interesting (raterni,ation-eetings !as hel" that evening. 2rother (rit, Stucki$ thePresi"ent of our 2erne +o"ge$ "i" valiant !ork in getting so any fro the variousTheosophical bo"ies to atten" the eeting$ an" principally fro the ost e"ucate"classes. any &uestions !ere aske"$ soe evoking real pity fro those of us !ho kno!!hat true Theosophy is. There !ere soe !ho coul" not un"erstan" !hy 6. "e P. place"so uch ephasis on 2lavatsky*s teachings$ an" one an even "i" not see the necessityfor stu"ying the aster*s teachings$ because he sai" !e coul" all "epen" upon !hat !as!ithin us. 6. "e P. e


69/103

The neth no! in the evening$ an" ' have not yet been able to fin" 1C free inutes !henthe +ea"er is unoccupie"$ !hen ' can rea" this letter to hi$ an" then ail it? - E.V.S.

---------------

!he "uestionandAnswer Meetings were Alwa0s Most +nteresting

o. 1AThe 5ague$ 5ollan"$Septeber 3$ 1931

)ear 0ora"es at 5oe: ' ust interrupt the se&uence of our travels in or"er !hile stillfresh in in" to tell you about our fraterni,ation-eeting in 7ster"a last night. 't !asreally a thrilling affair. 't !as hel" in a large parlor in the 7erican 5otel$ an" there !erecertainly over t!o hun"re" people present. 4ou kno!$ in 7ster"a there are si< 7"yar+o"ges. ' ight say$ first$ that !hile !e !ere still in 2ussu$ one of the 7"yar officialstelephone" fro 7ster"a to ask if the +ea"er !oul" accept an invitation to visit their+o"ge an" ational 5ea"&uarters !hen he cae to 7ster"a. 5e accepte"$ an" !e all!ent there yester"ay orning. They have a large buil"ing$ the !hole of it$ ne!ly erecte"

in the ultra-o"ern style of architecture$ !ith straight lines$ clean-cut curves$ an" noornaentation$ an" consisting of offices$ rea"ing-roo$ library$ book-store$ kitchen$ etc.$an" &uite a large circular teple$ in !hich the seats are arrange" in a sei-circular fashionas in a theatre.

e !ere first ushere" into the central office$ !here the one in charge$ ' "on*t kno!his position$ invite" us to take seats$ an" coffee an" cake !ere serve". Then !e !eresho!n all over the buil"ing$ or rather both buil"ings$ for the teple fors a separate one$an" !hen !e left$ they all shook han"s cor"ially$ an" sai" %6oo"-bye until tonight$%eaning that they !ere all coing to the fraterni,ation-eeting. The invitation ha" coefro r. Jruisheer$ !ho$ ' believe$ is the 7ssistant 6eneral Secretary of the 7"yar T.S. in5ollan"$ an" !ho !as a "elegate to the 5.P.2. 0entennial 0onference in +on"on on une

>th. 7s to this eeting$ ' coul" ake it ost interesting rea"ing for you ust to give you averbati report of the &uestions an" ans!ers$ but as this !oul" take too long$ ' !ill "o y


70/103

best to give you a short "escription of !hat took place. The eeting !as opene" by r.Jooistra$ the Presi"ent of our +o"ge in 7ster"a$ an" then the +ea"er calle" for&uestions. 7t first no one seee" "ispose" to begin$ so 6. "e P. arose an" sai" he !oul"ask a &uestion$ an" he aske" if the people obecte" if he soke? They tol" hi after!ar"she coul" not have entione" any subect that !oul" have put )utchen ore at theirease$ as they are all so fon" of soking. The &uestions then began$ an" ' think if 6. "e P.

coul" have staye" until t!o o*clock in the orning$ they !oul" have staye" there too$asking &uestions. 7s it !as$ after the eeting ha" laste" over t!o hours$ an" 6. "e P.sai" 6oo"-night$ there !ere any !ho still !ante" to ask %one ore &uestion.% Soe ofthe ebers even isse" catching their trains to their various cities$ because they !ante"to be sure to hear 6. "e P.*s ans!ers to certain &uestions.

Englan"$ Septeber Ath.

' ight say$ &uoting 6. "e P.$ that uch !ater has flo!e" un"er the bri"ge since 'began this letter$ an" certainly uch !ater flo!e" un"er our feet crossing the English0hannel since then.

' ight also say that !e ha" as a translator at this 7ster"a eeting$ a youngan$ a eber of the 7"yar Society$ !ho aske" for an" obtaine" an intervie! !ith 6. "eP. This young an cae fro 2ussu to 7ster"a not only to atten" this fraterni,ation-eeting but also to help 6. "e P. by translating$ if nee"e". 7n" he "i" splen"i"ly$ becauseone of our other ebers !ho un"erstan"s English perfectly$ also took notes an"copare" the !hile he !as translating$ an" foun" his translations accurate.

The first &uestion aske" !as about 6. "e P.*s vie!s regar"ing ho! "ifferentTheosophists coul" !ork together$ not only those !ho believe" in 5.P.2.$ but those !hobelieve" in the teachers an" lea"ers$ etc.$ !ho follo!e" her. 8f course you can see !ho!ere referre" to$ but the &uestioner$ if he !as trying to catch 6. "e P.$ "i" not succee"$ for6. "e P. sai"$ in substance$ that anyone $ho believed in the teachings o (.P.B. and theMasters$ no atter !hat other vie!s or opinions he hel"$ coul" easily oin !ith us in ourefforts to!ar"s fraterni,ation$ an" that$ as the (rench say$ fro the shock of "ifferenti"eas$ coes light$ etc.$ an" uch ore to the sae effect. 7n" of course !e all kno!that the very safety of The T.S. lies in hol"ing to the asters* teachings$ an" that certainother teachings !e nee" not ention cannot possibly be hel" to if the asters* teachingsare believe in.

The ne


71/103


72/103

al!ays fin" +ea"ers$ natural born +ea"ers or false ones. The false ones fall$ the naturalborn ones lea". 7ny an !ho e


73/103

an" not soething else.ell$ this letter is long. e are nearing hoe as regar"s space$ but as far as tie

goes$ !e are still nine hours ahea" of you$ because Englan" has "aylight saving tie$ so!e have not yet been able to regain any of the nine hours of precious sleep !e lost goingeast!ar"s. 't sees so funny$ "uring this !eek not to have one or t!o eetings oflectures to look for!ar" to each evening$ an" a "o,en or so intervie!s "uring the "ay$ an"

packing an" unpacking every t!o or three "ays. 5o!ever$ !e !on*t in" packing !hen iteans the last run "o!n to San )iego.

6reetings fro the hoe!ar"-looking ones.

4ours affectionately$

Elsie V. Savage

PS. Speaking of reaching hoe$ these enthusiastic 5ollan"ers are alrea"y akingpreparations for the ne


74/103

!ith high ountains on either si"e$ an" ust enough space at the base of the ountains oneither si"e for the train track to be lai"$ an" here an" there for straggling villages or clupsof houses.

e really shoul" have ha" eyes on both si"es of hour hea"s$ for no sooner !ere!e absorbe" in looking at soe point of interest on one si"e than soeone !oul" call outnot to iss soething on the other si"e. 8f particular beauty !ere the ruins of the faous

ol" 0astles on the ;hine$ situate" here an" there on high points of vantage$ an" no! intheir ruine" state fitting in beautifully !ith the aestic scenery. e sa! the faous+orelei ;ock utting out at a sharp curve in the river$ !here the ai"en is suppose" tohave sat$ an" by her singing to have lure" the seaen belo! to their "eath. e also sa!the ruins of a castle situate" on an islan" ust large enough to hol" it$ right in the i""le ofthe river$ !here the ol" !icke" 2ishop 5atto$ accor"ing to ancient legen"$ shut hiself upin his castle to protect hiself fro the vengeance of his people$ an" !here finally the ratsate hi up. e also sa! the hillsi"es in places covere" !ith vineyar"s fro !hich thefaous ;hine !ine coes. Then there !ere the steaboats$ large flat-bottoe" bargesfastene" one to the other by cables. These keep up a constant traffic up an" "o!n theriver. The ;hine in this part "oes not run in a straight line$ but !in"s in an" out of the

ountains aking the scenery all the ore fascinating.' shoul" have sai" that rs. Jirsebo took leave of us about nine o*clock in the

orning$ !hen !e change" trains at 2asel$ she taking the train for 2erlin an" !e for5ollan"$ an"$ as it so happene"$ !e !ere each sche"ule" to reach out "estinations at thesae inute. e !ere very sorry to bi" her goo"-bye$ as !e ha" becoe fir frien"s.5er kno!le"ge of various languages$ S!e"ish$ (rench$ 6eran$ an" English$ ha" a"eher especially useful. Soeties ho!ever !e all ha" a goo" laugh over the results ofi


75/103


76/103

+on"on$ rs. 2arker sai" they ha" hear" it "istinctly$ an" she sai" it !as one of the ostthrilling e


77/103

+ey"en on purpose to see hi. 5e is the scientist !ho !rote a revie! of 6. "e P.*sTheosophy and Modern Science!hen it recently cae out in )utch translation$ an" hehas since oine" our ranks.

e ha" an opportunity !hile at ;otter"a to visit )elft$ the to!n !here the faous)elft pottery is a"e. 't is very interesting going along the roa"s in 5ollan"$ to fin" inplaces that the !ater in the canals actually is on a higher level than the surroun"ing

country$ so that instea" of looking "o!n at the !ater fro the roa"si"e$ you look up to it.e sa! to!ns an" large cultivate" areas !hich not so any years ago !ere part of thesea$ an" ha" been reclaie" by these enterprising )utch folk.

The railroa"s ust have prospere" by our visit to 5ollan"$ because$ as ' sai"before$ soe of the ebers$ an" a goo" any fro all over the country$ atten"e" everyeeting. Even on the last "ay of our "eparture$ rs. Venea took a flying trip "o!n to;otter"a to bring us the latest ail fro Point +oa$ so !e !oul" not have to !ait until it!as for!ar"e" to +on"on.

'n our steaship arrangeents !e !ere again fortunate in having one of ourebers$ r. Pakker$ !ho is an agent or soething for the various steaship lines$ akearrangeents for our getting on boar"$ an" securing our perit to sail on the Statendam,

the largest an" ne!est of the 5ollan"-7erica liners$ fro ;otter"a to Southapton$!ith free passage. e ha" to !ait until !e arrive" at the "ocks in the evening to fin" out!hat cabins !e !oul" have$ but to our "elight !e foun" that they ha" given us each alarge single outsi"e cabin on the top "eck$ in the best part of the ship. Passenger-transportation is lo! at present on all the steaships$ so they coul" give us their best. TheStatendamis very uch larger than the &olendam!hich !e crosse" over on$ or than the'ieu$ Amsterdam !hich !e are returning on$ an" of course is e&uippe" !ith everyconvenience one can iagine. 't !as a t!enty-four hour trip !e ha" on it$ because thesteaer ha" to stop at 2oulogne-sur-er in (rance$ to pick up passengers. The eveningafter our ebarkation$ !e arrive" outsi"e Southhapton$ ust late enough to get our "innercofortably on the boat. e coul" not pull into Southapton$ but a ten"er cae out toeet us$ bringing a""itional passengers for the voyage to 7erica. There !ere only t!oother passengers besi"es ourselves !ho "isebarke" at Southapton$ so our baggageproble !as a very siple one.

7s it !as an unusual courtesy offere" us$ giving us passage fro ;otter"a toSouthapton$ soething not usually available for travelers$ an" as !e ha" to !ait aconsi"erable tie for the arrival of the English 'igration officials$ !e !ere a bit !orrie"that !e ight iss the ten"er. (irst !e !ere tol" that the ten"er !oul" arrive at A:>/ p..hen that tie cae$ !e in&uire" again an" !ere tol" in ten inutes. Ten inutespasse"$ an" !e !ere tol" in fifteen ore inutes. (inally the officers cae on boar"$ !esho!e" our passports$ !ere given lan"ing tickets$ an" tol" to go "o!n belo! in rea"iness

to boar" the ten"er.ell$ !e stoo" "o!n in !hat seee" like one of the hol"s of the ship for fully three-&uarters of an hour$ ore or less hu""le" against the !all$ !hile a !hole ary of sailorsan" ste!ar"s transferre" baggage an" cargo fro the ten"er to the ship. e !ereabsolutely horror-stricken to see the !ay the baggage !as han"le"$ heavy !ar"robetrunks "roppe" to the floor an" bange" aroun"$ large suitcases thro!n up on top of a largepile of saller an" ore fragile pieces$ until !e !on"ere" if by the tie !e sa! our o!nbaggage there !oul" be anything !hole about it or in it. 5o!ever$ there really !assplen"i" syste about the operation$ an" !ith lightning-like rapi"ity$ the ste!ar"sseparate" first$ secon"$ an" thir"-class baggage$ that !hich !ent in the stateroos frothat !hich !ent in the baggage-roo$ an" again$ that !hich !ent in the hol" of the ship#

an" finally$ !hen to our great surprise !e ha"n*t been hit by a single piece of flyingbaggage$ !e !ere tol" !e coul" leave the ship an" go on to the ten"er. 't !as like takinga glipse into eternity$ !alking gingerly "o!n the gangplank !hich oine" the ship to the


78/103

ten"er. (irst !e !ere tol" to step up carefully an" not trip$ an" then !e !ere cautione" notto hit our hea"s on the lo! opening$ an" in looking "o!n !e sa! the turbulent !aterbeneath us.

(ortunately for us$ the 0ustos officials !ere on the ten"er$ so that eant !e !oul"not have to "elay in the "ark "ocks after !e reache" shore. they "i" not bother to openour luggage$ erely asking the lea"er ho! any cigarettes he ha"$ an" e !hether ' ha"

any perfue or spirits4 ' ight have ans!ere"$ %8nly high spirits.% 't took us over an hourto go fro the Statendamto the Southapton "ock$ so !e "i" not reach lan" until alostten thirty. 7n" no! ' !ill leave you !hile !e are getting ashore$ an" continue oura"ventures in the ne


79/103

8n our arrival at --- there !as a essage that )r. 2arker !oul" like one of us to callhi up if !e arrive" before ten. 2ut as !e "i" not$ )r. (ussell calle" hi up in theorning. e foun" that there !ere still soe "ifficulties about the lease of the preisesfor hol"ing eetings$ etc.$ an" as )r. 2arker e


80/103

feel as though !e !ere greeting ol" frien"s. 7n" the holly$ real English holly$ !ith theberries ust beginning to re""en in preparation for 0hristastie? The leaves are a "arkgreen an" each one polishe" brightly$ ust as though soeone ha" varnishe" the$ an"!ith the bright re" berries peeping fro beneath the leaves$ they a"e a !on"erfulpicture. 8n our "rive thither$ rs. I ha" pointe" our places !hich she sai" !ere real bogs$of the kin" one rea"s about in soe stories$ an" 6. "e P. sai" it !oul" be interesting to

coe across one. So she sai" she !oul" try to fin" one for us. 2ut all una!ares$ as !e!ere !an"ering through the forest$ !e foun" our bog right before our eyes$ or rather un"erour feet. 7n" !e "eci"e" !e coul" enoy our trap ust as !ell !ithout e


81/103

of the buil"ings$ !e sa! the cathe"ral spires to!ering above the lan"scape. Thosechurch-buil"ers of ol" certainly kne! !here to buil" their churches to give the acoan"ing position. 8n our approach to the cathe"ral !e passe" the 2ishop*s palacean" gar"ens$ !hich are enclose" !ithin a high !all$ an" !e !ere sorely tepte" to scalethat !all to see !hat !as on the other si"e.

Stonehenge is situate" right in the i""le of Salisbury Plain$ !hich e


82/103


83/103

e !ere et ie"iately by rs. 2arker$ !ho took us all to see the ne! 5ea"&uarters$although they !ere not rea"y to hol" the eetings sche"ule" for that night. 't is a splen"i"four-story house$ !ith a baseent$ a beautiful hall for hol"ing eetings$ !hich can beenlarge" by eans of a sli"ing "oor$ an" the location of the house is all that coul" be"esire". The front looks out on a broa" resi"ential avenue line" on each si"e !ith trees$ itis a"acent to a branch of the 2ritish useu$ has four goo" bus-lines running near to it$

besi"es an Un"ergroun"$ all of !hich features ake it easier for people to atten" theeetings$ an" in every !ay ' believe the +ea"er !as "elighte" !ith it. e ha" great fune


84/103


85/103

the sky. 2ut the vie! fro the top !as agnificent. e coul" look "o!n upon at least siSan (rancisco$ to +os 7ngeles$8ctober /$ 1931

)ear (rien"s: e are trying to ake the train go faster$ an" this is no i"le est. Thisorning !e lost t!enty inutes taking on e/$ then the train sche"ule !as change" to B:3C$ an" no!$ unless thetrain akes up for lost tie soe!here$ it !ill be nine o*clock before !e get to +os7ngeles. To ba"? 5o!ever$ !e have no ore Pullans to sleep in$ or rather notto sleepin$ an" no ore packing to "o?? M

--------------M 't turne" out that the train instea" of arriving in +os 7ngeles at B:3C "i" not arrive

until 1C:3C p.. o!ing to an acci"ent on the track !hen !e !ere ust out fro Ventura$!hen the train ran into a truck !hich soeone tol" us ha" becoe stalle" on the track$an" though nobo"y !as hurt in the slightest$ as the t!o en in the truck upe" to safety$it took t!o hours to clear the track of the "ebris fro the truck$ !hich !as sashe" into aillion pieces$ an" to procure a ne! engine$ as our ha" been hurt so ba"ly that it !as outof coission$ so they sai". So although !e a"e the auto-trip fro +os 7ngles to Point+oa in three an" a half hours$ it !as not until t!o o*clock in the orning that !e "rovetriuphantly through the gate$ an" up the

On Tour With G de P - Savage

Documents

Transcript of On Tour With G de P - Savage