192 Life and Sport on the Pacific Slope 



licensed by the Lord Chamberlain, but in America, 

 and particularly in the West, you can dance the 

 hula-hula upon the tables of stone, and none will 

 interfere. 



Since the exposure of Madame Blavatzky, Theoso- 

 phists have split up into camps : those who still 

 believe in the priestess of Isis, and those who don't. 

 The priestess, it will be remembered, unveiled Isis ; 

 then in her turn she was unveiled, and the veil of 

 mystery that encompassed a most remarkable woman 

 was rent in twain. Heading the evidence of fraud 

 that was submitted, it would seem incredible that 

 any sane person should still believe in Madame 

 Blavatzky, but so it is. Theosophy, however, being 

 esoteric in its teaching, appeals to the few ; whereas 

 Spiritualism appeals to the many, the many who — 

 as the immortal Barnum observed — like to be 

 humbugged. It is true, of course, that a counterfeit 

 coin does not impeach the value of the gold piece, 

 but the most ardent Spiritualist will not deny that 

 the bad coins have had an enormous circulation. 

 Much of the so-called phenomena of Spiritualism 

 has been explained by science, a little still remains 



— inexplicable. But the men of science who have 

 given the subject attention, assert that science will 

 reveal what is now hidden and will do it without 

 the assistance of spirits. The Homes and Slades 

 and other wizards who fairly enchanted alike be- 

 lievers and sceptics have been proved charlatans ; 

 but the mediums who advertise in the newspapers 



— unselfish women, for the most part, who, remain- 

 ing poor themselves (their fee is only a dollar), de- 

 vote their lives to making others rich — increase 



