Reminiscences of the Swami

Sarah Ellen Waldo

NY 1895

of the Swami's early classes in NY:
Those first classes!. How intensely interesting they were!  Who that was privileged to attend them can ever forget them! The Swami dignified, yet simple, so gravely earnest, so eloquent, and the close ranks of students, forgetting all inconveniences, hanging breathless on every word!

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 It required no little courage to walk up Broadway beside that flaming coat.  As the Swami strode along in lordly indifference, with me just behind, half out of breath trying to keep up with him, every eye was turned upon us, and on every lip was the question: "What are they?"  Later I persuaded him to adopt more subdued clothing for the street.

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From a letter to Miss Hamlen
Dated April 23 1895

You will be pleased to know that the Swami has returned and will hold a class tomorrow as usual, He asked me to notify the members of the classes, so as I fortunately had the list of the Wed. class [of which she had charge], that you sent me last week, I was able to do so. If you will kindly let me have the lists of the Sat. & Mon. classes, I will send them postals too. I will be over early tomorrow morning.
                                                                                                Yours sincerely,
                                                                                                        S.E.W.

- Edited by Frank Parlato Jr.