THE LADIES’ WORLD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2660, 16 November 1909, Page 3

THE LADIES’ WORLD.

MORE ABOUT “JULIA.”

Under the heading, “Bridging the 'River of Death,” Mr W. T. Stead has an article in this month’s “Harbinger of Light,” a Melbourne publication. “For tlie last three months,” Mr Stead writes,-“I have been conducting at Mowbray House, Strand, London, an office which is called ‘Julia’s Bureau.’. This office* represents a tentative effort, made systematically, to build a bridge across the grave by which it is possible to Joanmunicate with those who have passed over to the other side after the change which is called death. It is named Julia’s Bureau, because the suggestion was first mado to me by , t friend of mine of the name of Julia A, Ames, whose communications received alter death by the means of automatic handwriting have been published under the title of ‘Letters from Julia,’ which have been translated into many languages, and have met with an extraordinary amount of support among men of all religions and of none. The business of the bureau is strictly limited to one tiling, namely, to endeavor to put into communication tlioso who are sorrowing for their beloved dead with the spirits of those whose bodies have been laid to rest in the earth. The result of three months’ experience lias been to confirm my conviction that it is perfectly possible to establish communications with those who sincerely love, even though they are divided b.y the grave, excepting under certain circumstances, in which it was inadvisable that such communication should be effected.” Here follows a detailed description of the modus operandi of the bureau.

Mr Stead then proceeds:—-“Nearly 100 cases have, been dealt with, and jhi no case has Julia’s opinion, dictated to the -secretaries, differed as to whether or not the case should he taken. In some cases her decision is conveyed in identical language, in others the language differs, but the purport is always the same. The decision yes or no is often accompanied by advice as to whether the personal attendance of the applicant is required or whether it be .sufficient that some article belonging to the deceased were sent to the bureau to enable the sensitives to get into touch with the person with whom it is hoped to get into communication.” From the- “Daily News” of September 11 the following is taken: Anyone who has lost a friend through death, and desires to receive some proof that that friend still exists, applies to the bureau with bis request. The bureau is open every day. There is a service held every morning, at which a vacant chair is left for Julia, who is seen clairvoyantly by the medium, who remains at tiie bureau (lor the purpose of receiving clients for their first sittings) until 1 o’clock. At tlie service, after a short prayer, all the auto-messages received by the ai?fcowriting mediums are read, and the business of the day and or the psychic developments discussed. Although the bureau was only established in April last it is now very busy. Six or seven cases per day are dealt with, and some SO per cent, of these have acknowledged that they have received evidential proof that they have been put into communication with the departed friend they sought. In answer to the question as to the kind of people who become clients of “Julia,” I was told that they were altogether of the educated and advanced classes. “I suppose,” I asked, “you get more women than men?” “Yes,' but the men we get arc of a decided’ type: doctors, professors, headmasters —barristers mostly.” “And you have every liope of success?” “Oh. yes,” said Mr Stead, “most decideulv. We are confident of success if the funds last, and Julia lias promised that they will.” So it remains ior this explorer of the other world to convince tins world of the genuineness of these messages, which surpass the Marconigramic' wonder. THE WOMAN TneTTHE SECRET. The Bank of England has, says an English paper, just brought a hornets nest about its ears by a protest raised against the employment of women on the ground that they cannot keep socrets. There has been a hot discussion on the subject, the argument seeming about .six on one side and half a doxeu on the other. Mrs Eustace Miles, a woman of wide experience iu such matters, declares that she has found all her women employees most honorable in keeping the secrets of their work. Tt can, says one writer, be strenuously denied that women arc less able to keep secret the' affairs of a business than men. Many large firms employ women in positions of great trust, and this would not be the case if they had been found unreliable after the manner alleged. Has it not been found, moreover, that male employees have betrayed trade secrets, and, so far, n:>r» it not always been a man who has panned hank robberies? Whether < r not it is necessary or advisable to throw opart certain fields of labor to women in the Bank of England and in Government offices, is a matter for. directors and those in authority over these places to determine for themselves, but it is most cortainlv as'unjust as it is absurd to dub the sex unfit for responsible positions on the ground that they have less capacity than men for keeping private such concerns of the establishments where they may bo engaged as it mav be deemed unwise to discuss off the premises. If this wore so, it would practically bring to a close the employment of all women in offices, places of business, and for secretarial duties. Doctors, dentists, novelists, dramatists, newspaper proprietors, all have to repose .some amount of trust m those u ho work for them, and all these are employers of women, who, apparently, do not betray the secrets of which their daily work puts them in possession. One had hoped this old-fashioned superstition about women being unable to keep anything to herself had died \vit.i many other exploded heliels alxmt hei sox.