THE CHINA MAIL, AUGUST 24, 1939..
TO-DAY'S STRANGE STORY OF REAL PEOPLE
THE WEIRD COUNT DE DAS
(By VINCENT TOWNE) "Yes, Monsier, I am a Buddhist, as are my masters in Thibet. Understand however, that this is not a religion: which I am here to teach, but a science-the science of the soul which does not conflict with any re- ligion."
The face before me was that of a shiek of the desert. The hair was of the blackest and so was the beard, sparse at the side but rather full in front and not long..
My host thus speaking was Dr. Al- who bert de Sarak, Count de Das, told me that he was the son of a "Rajah of Thibet and a French Mar- chioness." It was in November, 1902, that I had called on him for an inter- view and for permission to attend one of his seances. I was then a member of the Society for Psychical Research and an enthusiastic investigator of so-called psychie phenomena.
trate vision through opaque mentall transpose
bodies, head. The other was a man. The himself to I had been reading of his seances
anyhorse slowed into a walk just before and public exhibitions in Paris-how suggested locality and prophesy the reaching the house. It halted direct- he had thrown a young woman into a future of his clients as well as of their | ly in front of us, then backed a few feet and the rear wheel went upon cataliptic trance, made a bridge of her absent friends. stiffened body and driven wild lions As the result of my interview, I was the sidewalk opposite. Then it went across it; how he had shattered "dis-invited to one of these seances. In the jon.
The Count then retired and return- tant panes of glass by simply shout-back parlour upstairs we were greet- ing at them; how he had stiffened a fed by the Doctor, who wore a sort ofed gowned in white. He then distri- upon buted among those present large nap- large serpent into catilepsy and used Masonic collar of gold braid,
kins and halls of absorbent cotton it as a walking stick; how he had which was embroidered a triangle.
After caused fish to mature from eggs in a
the meeting was called with which several of us securely
himself few seconds.
to order he seated
upon bound his eyes. Then he asked me inta dais
before
ä
table to lead him to an arm chair in the
The Count had lately arrived Washington and the papers were full of miracles he had performed at the Scottish Rite Temple, he being a 33d degree Mason. My interview was at his home in Corcoran St. He lived there at the headquarters of the "Supreme Council of Thibet" of which he was the General Inspector. He had out circulars announcing private sean- ces during which he would demons-
draped in yellow upon which far end of the rear apartment, which incense was burning in a brazier. Be-I did.. Seated in the chair his chin of the hanging down upon his breast, he re- hind him was a gilt image
mained for some time, until' suddenly Buddha.
After presenting a long discourse in he arose, walked directly to a man French the Doctor passed into a rear next to me and without fumbling, took room, donned a long robe of light blue | the latter's watch from his pocket, material and returned.
reading it correctly to the second. He "I demonstrated at the last meet- next proceded to an easel, adjoining and white ing how this power-which I called a table containing blue
and 'yud' could be exerted against hu-water-colours
several brushes. man beings. You remember that I One of the women present requested caused the man to fall from his that a moonlight scene in Thibet be bicycle. To-night I will exert the reproduced. Simultaneous movements power against an animal," he said. of two brushes, dipped into the two He stated that the lights would all colours, transformed the letters into be extinguished; that those present a clouded ský through which a moon In Grip of Rheumatism would be stationed at the front win-was bursting. Below was outlined a
for 15 Years
HER HANDS WERE ALL OUT OF SHAPE
proves:-
"For about 2 years I hardly went out, it was such a painful effort to walk owing to rheumatism. My hands
small hall room.
to maintain absolute silence. covered both windows