xxxviii IN MEMORIAM: ELLIOTT COUES. 



but such was our confidence in each other's honest intention and unreserved frank- 

 ness that we could, and did many times, argue on different sides, both orally and 

 in writing, with an energetic earnestness that would have been highly dangerous 

 to our continued friendship if we had not understood each other so well. And 

 first among his most eminent characteristics was his love of truth, and he was 

 constantly striving with all the force of his energetic nature to search it out and 

 take its teaching to himself wherever he might find it, careless where it might lead 

 him or what preconceived views or opinions it might overthrow or destroy. He 

 believed with Carlyle that " there is no reliance for this world or any other but 

 just the truth, there is no hope for the world but just so far as men find out and 

 believe the truth and match their own lives to it." It was therefore in his search 

 for truth and an attempt to apply the principles of physical science to psychical 

 research that in 1880 he became attiliated with the Theosophical Society of India 

 and was elected President of its American Board of Control, and was continued in 

 that office for several years. He was much interested in the subject and investi- 

 gated its principles and methods with his usual thoroughness, even visiting Europe 

 in company with Madame Blavatsky and other prominent members of the sect, 

 and his connection with this and kindred societies resulted in the production of 

 several publications such as " Biogen " and the "Daemon of Darwin." But the 

 knowledge that he gained of this interesting but peculiar doctrine was not of that 

 satisfying character as to cause him to hold fast to its tenets, nor to enable him to 

 retain his respect for its leaders, and although he gives no reasons for the action, 

 yet in the memorandum in which he records his election as President in 1885 and 

 his re-election in the following year, with characteristic frankness he states that he 

 was expelled from the Society in 1889. Those of us who have little sympathy 

 with the claims asserted by the disciples of Theosophy cannot but regai'd his 

 expulsion from the Society as having conferred a greater honor upon him than his 

 election to the Presidency, and can easily imagine the action he may have taken in 

 the Council to cause such a result after he finally satisfied himself that the doctrine 

 could not substantiate its claims. He detested shams of all kinds and hurled the 

 full force of his invective against those who had proved themselves unworthy or 

 who strove to appear entitled to more than was their due. 



As a critic in certain lines he was unrivalled and exhibited the highest practice 

 of the art in his reviews, dwelling most upon what was meritorious in the treat- 

 ment of the subject before him, for he believed true criticism was to seek that 

 which was praiseworthy rather than something to condemn. But no one could be 

 more caustic in his treatment, nor wield a sharper weapon, when he found that 

 praise would be misapplied and it would be kinder to act as the skilful surgeon 

 does, create wounds in order that the patient's recovery might be more sure and 

 lasting. Rarely, however, for one who published so much, was he severe in his 

 writings, though none had the power to be more so ; but when, from whatever the 

 cause that influenced him, he permitted himself to indulge in phrases that would be 

 remembered and might possibly leave a sting, he set down " naught in malice," 

 but employed a phraseology that he honestly believed was best suited to the case 

 in hand, and after some such severe articles had been issued, he has spoken to me 



