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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Gerald Kelly
Bis Rue Campagne Premiere. Paris.
die
[Undated: circa January 1903?]
My dear Gerald.
I am not in a state to write. The crimson paper is being put up to-day. V.H. Soror Perseverantia [Alice Simpson] 5=6 is coming at 2, Sybil at 5, E. [Elaine Simpson] at 8. And many of other fearful destinies are on me.
I wrote to your poor mother a letter purely to take her mind away from the operation, as you used the word "disturb". It would have been worse than useless to have written a letter of condolence. I asked E. and she approved of what I did write. 'Twas a difficult task you set me, and I hope didn't strike as being callous. All the Quarter, like the good Quarter it is, is frightfully concerned. Anyone would give their best painting to the flames if thereby they could secure a successful result for Saturday. Thanks for writing about poetry: I can do no better than reply in same strain. I enclose your lists with X against required ones on white sheet, but I want all on the blue.
Something may be worth saving. I want (Just looked up Tarot: the symbols are very favourable indeed) you to bring over here all the special (vellum or India) copies of my Works. I wrote for them and K.P. [Kegan Paul] would not. There was also a Zahnsdorf binding for S. of O. [Soul of Osiris] and M.T. [The Mother's Tragedy]. Can you find and get this vol? Enclosed is authorization.
Well you show them A.D. and P. [Ascension Day and Pentecost] and find out if they decline to publish on grounds of blasphemy: if so, the name of a good but "notoriously infidel" publisher.
I will fulfil all your communications. The Hawers letter is characteristic!
Yours very disturbedly—the best of wishes and luck to all!
Aleister Crowley.
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[Thursday]