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Washington Post, October 17, 1902
DE SARAK'S MYSTIC FEATS One Was to Transport a Cigarette Half a Block by Thought. Demonstrations by the General Inspector of the Supreme Esoteric Council of Thibet --- He Looks His Part. Amid surroundings suggestive of the land of the Mahatmas -- tapestries telling of far-off, dreamy, unreal, India : pictures in azure blue -- the color of the occult -- mottoes in Sanscrit, and the mystic symbols of the land of the sacred Nile, of Hindustan, and Thibet, Dr. Albert de Sarak, Count de Das, on Wednesday evening discoursed on the subject of occult science, later giving demonstrations, which, to say the least, were remarkable. Dr. de Sarak is the general inspector of the Supreme Esoteric Council of Thibet and is at present, living at 1443 Corcoran street. It was in his apartments that the demonstrations were given before a circle of about twenty-five, a number of them members of the Washington branch, known as the Directing Council of the Esoteric Head Center of Washington. Telepathy, the potency of thought as directly affecting material things, and the undeveloped magnetic forces in man, were dealt with in the talk of the adept, whose teaching is akin to that of theosophy, but far broader, say the members of the organization of which he is the guiding spirit. Dr. de Sarak, who is a native of Thibet, that practically unknown land, so full of the mystic to the remainder of the world, has the look of one of the Eastern magi. Slender, thin of face, with raven black hair, brushed straight back over a small but well shaped head, beard of deepest black, and eyes deep set and full of mysticism, with his Oriental garb, and seated under a yellow canopy, he makes no conflict between the outward impression of the man and the strange and somewhat weird teachings he promulgates. Concentration of thought and its vibration through the air explains, he declared, the so-called phenomena of occultism. Two tests were given. A cigarette was taken and marked in a manner unknown to the demonstrator, the distinguishing mark being the introduction into it of a small piece of wood. It was then given to the doctor, the windows and doors were guarded, and the audience was asked to suggest some spot to which it should be transported, the performer promising to transport it by the power of thought. The steps of a church, a half square away were named as the place. The lights were then turned low, and after several passes by the demonstrator, he announced that the cigarette would be found on the steps, as asked. Five of the party were sent to the church, while one held Dr. de Sarak. The cigarette was found and proved to be the one given by the visitor. The second test was the painting of a small picture by the Thibetan while blindfolded. Five bandages were used, four persons witnessing the work and assisting in the tying. A marine view, with mountains, clouds, and moonlight, was asked for, and the occultist was given five minutes to do the work. The picture was completed in a trifle over the time, the production being a creditable one. |