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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Wilfred Merton
Foyers N.B.
21/6/09. [21 June 1909]
My dear Schmeichen [Wilfred Merton],
Victor [Victor B. Neuburg], that holy Illuminated Man of God, is engaged in the practice of the Eight Jhanas, and asks me to do his correspondence and keep his mind undisturbed.
It was a wise and kind letter of yours. I think the flat in town might be tried; the objection is that V. hates his aunt who lives with them; and the worst of it is that the more he knows of life and at the worse he will hate such people. More especially, he has an exceedingly refined mind, and a large one; that will not make for Harmony in the Home!
I shall hope to get something doing over his songs, which I believe in. Of course he would rather die than consent to such 'prostitution of his Art'. In vain I point out that Shakespeare and Swinburne are sung in 'drawing rooms——But when we have the business in train, we will get his consent all right. If you have a wealthy publisher, you might give him a job as reader, though God knows if he'll take it. As for me, silver and gold have I none, but I will always put him up when he wants it, til the brokers turn me out into the street. I wish you had been able to come up here: it's rather jolly.
So long—see you in July—
Ever yours,
Aleister Crowley.
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