Mrs. Annie Besant

This peculiarly gifted woman is in her 5Oth year. Her hair is now rather silvery than dark; and what may be called the spiritual expression of her face has become intensified to a degree strikingly suggestive of a life in which contemplation predomínate- over artion, says Leslie's Weekly. The old-time persuasiveness of speech, far from having waned, is in more subtle force than ever. The limpid clearness of thought and scientiflc precisión of phrase, combined wlth sympathetic epontaneity, which count for so much in the charm of her discouse, are especially in evidence now that the material side of ocultism, so to speak, Is the subject of popular exposition. Order, system end self-control are the mainsprings of ter power over others. From her preeept and example proceeds an impression of the serene force of the inevitable. Most portraits of Mrs. Besant fail to suggest either the meditative grace of her features in repose or the winning animation of her mile. Her dress is picturesquely simple, consisting of soft white silk, with the chuddar, or shawl, thrown over one shoulder, after the fashion of the Indian woman. On the third flnger of the left hand she wears the famous signet ring of Mme. Blavatsky- an oriental onyx, engraved with the symbolieal device of the doublé triangle and the Sanskrit word Sat, signifying the divine existence. Altogether the English teacher presents a noble and lmpressive personality, with something of the outward semblance of what one might look for in a living champion of the ideal amid a sensual and material age.