THE AFRICAN TIMES AND ORIENT REVIEW

London, England

February-March 1913

(pages 263-264)

LEADING LIGHTS IN LITERATURE—AND OTHERS.

Book Four. By Frater Perdurabo and Soror Virakam [Mary d'Este-Sturges]. (Wieland & Co., 33, Avenue Studios, Fulham Road, S.W.)

The price of this book is not three pence but one shilling. One is “a” and “a” is one—according to Qabalistic enumeration. So, in some ways this book may be described as A.1. Inside we learn that the price is four groats or one shilling net. Hitherto we had thought that a groat was worth four pence. Evidently the odd groat represents a discount of one-fourth of the gross price, which you can claim when paying the 3 groats or one shilling net.

It is noticeable that everything so far as practicable is “on the square,” and made subservient to 4. The pages, for instance, are printed on forms 4 inches by 4 inches.

Presumably the publisher, in sending this book to us for review, was under the impression that the unlimited genius and talent at our disposal embraced an expert knowledge of Voodoo, Juju, Qabalah, and Magic. Indeed, we learn that “Book Four” is but the precursor of a twin volume on “Magick”—with a K.

Although the authorship of this exotic exudation of esoteric exegesis is attributed, on the title, to Frater Perdurabo and Soror Virakam, a note at the beginning tells us that “This book is intentionally not the work of Frater Perdurabo,” as “Experience shows that his writing is too concentrated, too abstruse, too occult, for ordinary minds to apprehend.” We should shay sho ! The book, then consists of a record of some disjointed fragments of his (Frater Perdurabo’s) casual conversation (duly noted by Soror Virakam) which it is hoped “may prove alike more intelligible and more convincing.” So mote it be !

So we set our ordinary minds to work with the idea of apprehending.

After a poem by “Crowley Aha” (Ha-ha !) and a photograph of a gentleman, whose hair and beard seem to be shouting for the attention of the barber’s shears; and who appears to be indulging in a Sitz Bath on the shore of some Grecian Isle—or who otherwise might easily be mistaken for the “Wild Man of Borneo” when “out of town”—we come to Part I, entitled “Meditation, or the way of attainment to Genius or Godhead, considered as a development of The Human Brain.”

In 18 pages of “Preliminary Remarks” we get the foundation of the argument and the premises of what is to follow. We learn that the geniuses who were the accredited founders of the world’s great religions had one point in common; they went away beyond human ken (into the wilderness presumably) where they discovered the secret source of energy which explains the Phenomenon of Genius. On their return, with this tremendous power to back them up, they started the revolutions which upset the existing evil state of things and made multitudes of disciples. Anyone by following out definite rules can go and do likewise. An indication of the method is given in the succeeding chapters on Asana, Pranayama, Yama and Niyama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, and Samahdi. (The Indian names of certain mental states and conditions.) These are described in plain English, and evidently are most adapted to the requirements of those who can afford to leave the hustle of modern conditions of life, and enter into a retirement favourable to the indulgence of remaining for hours in some particularly painful and tortuous attitudes, in the attire which Nature has bestowed at birth (vide photo of a gent who seems to be emulating a foetus in its pre-natal moments). Can it be F. Perdurabo? Finally, students are invited to offer themselves as probationers for instruction, and must possess certain books, which can be secured on payment of the modest sum of Six guineas, $31, or 156 francs. What ho!

A clever book, and well worth a shilling, as it gives you a “run for your money!”

Thus, the short cut to the attainment of “Genius.” We hope we may be pardoned for humbly suggesting that a cheaper and quite as practical a cut, is to become a regular, faithful subscriber and reader of The African Times and Orient Review.

FRATER AD INFINITUM.