MRS. ANNIE BESANT.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 236, 29 June 1908, Page 5

MRS. ANNIE BESANT.

Mrs. Annio Besant, who is to visit New Zealand nost month, is a woman remarkable both for her varied abilities and interesting career. She is considered by many to be one of the best public speakers, who have ever visited us. Born in London in 1847, Mrs. Bdsant's education was taken charge of by a wealthy lady, Miss Marryat, sister of Captain lilarryat, the novelist Mrs. Besant grew up:strongly religious, inclining to the devotional type. In 1874 sho commenced her work as a lecturer on free thought and sccial reform. In 1884 Mrs. Besant was led to make a study of socialism, in order to dotermine her position' with regard to it, with the result that she ended by being convinced of the economic soundness of its basis. In 1887 she was elected a member of bho London School Board for Tower Hamlets, an offico which she held until 1890. In 1891 Mrs. Besant becamo vice-president of tlio Theo3ophical Society, and on the death of Colonel Olcott, last year, she was elected president. Since the death, of Madamer Blavatsky, Mrs. Besant has dovoted nearly nil her time and energies to the cause of the Thcosophical-Society.

A mayor in Paris finished a marriage ceremony will tho words, " You aro united." The * wedding party- had just left when he Tcmembered that ho had omitted part of the formula, and that consequently tho marriage was invalid. He promptly opened tho, window, and shouted after them, " I say, you know it is in the name of tho law that jou are united."