ut
what dribbles out of them is very commonplace when it is not pompously
silly. They inhabit higher planes of life than our greatest saints and
sages, but somehow they have done nothing for Tibet, which is one of the
poorest, dirtiest, and most degraded countries on earth. Still, they are
going to give a tremendous lift to the civilisation of Europe; and if we
live long enough we shall see what we _do_ see. Mahatmas are really the
distinctive feature of Theosophy; it is absolutely nothing without them;
and, in our opinion, they are a most farcical swindle Madame Blavatsky
created _these_ out of her own fertile imagination, she put them where
they could not be found, and she said, "If you want to know anything
about them come to me; I am the chosen vehicle of their sublime
revelations." And if you laughed at her Mahatmas, she was capable
of indulging in expletives that would strike envy into the soul of a
trooper. How curious it is, if these Mahatmas are real personages,
that they do not communicate with _our_ Masters of Wisdom. Why do they
neglect our Spencers and Huxleys? Why do they choose to speak through
a woman like Madame Blavatsky, or a popular lecturess like Mrs. Besant?
Why are they so fond of the ladies? Cannot they have some dealings
with _a man_, a man of great eminence as a philosopher, of high and
undisputed character, and of vast influence with the educated and
thoughtful classes? Why, in short, do the Mahatmas confine their
attention to smaller persons _with fish to fry?_

Relying upon these Mahatmas, and upon Madame Blavatsky, her great guide,
philosopher, and friend, Mrs. Besant has an extremely easy task. She
makes no attempt to prove, she simply asserts, and it seems to be a
kind of blasphemy to ask for evidence. She dishes everything up in Hindu
terminology, on the ground that "the English language has as yet no
equivalents." But will it ever have them? Never, we suspect, by
the assistance of Theosophists. The oriental lingo is part of the
fascination to those who like to look profound on a small stock of
learning. Besides, it imposes on the open-mouthed; and, if the Hindu
terminology were translated into vernacular English, they would probably
exclaim, "Good God! there's nothing in it." It is all very well for Mrs.
Besant to pour out second-hand praise of "technical terms." We all know
their value. But how is it we have not got them already? Because--and
this is the only answer--because we are ign