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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Louis Umfreville Wilkinson
[On the Notepaper of the Hotel McAlpin, New York]
1 August 1917
Too busy to answer your most charming letter yesterday. I’ll hope for another soon, when the short stories are finished. The ‘action’ gets faster; after chapter VIII there’s not much discussion. But one had to explain the theory on which the operation rested. [refers to Moonchild]
I’m using your plea for better morals in this month’s International, and shall want something for next month—one of those short stories, perhaps. We can’t pay much yet, as you know, but it will be good for you to get your name up don’t you think? Anyhow, come up and see me about it as soon as you can. Ring Farragut 9777 between 10 and 12 any day and you’re pretty sure to get me.
I hope your trouble is vanishing steadily; I think it should, daily, from what you told me.
I’m very dull this morning—occupied, like Martha, with details of magazine construction. There’s going to be a hot time in the old town in about a month. I’m going to revolutionize the whole show. So come up soon; amen
A.
[Included with the letter was a prospectus, titled “The International for August,” which discusses the changes in the magazine’s policy.]
The International for August.
The very striking and unusual cover of THE INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE for August would seem to indicate a new departure in the policy of the paper. This is fully borne out by the contents. The magazine maintains its high standard of literature, but a great deal of attention has evidently been paid to covering all departments of thought with clean cut decision. Among the new features we notice a very startling departure which cannot fail to attract all those who are interested in those branches of knowledge which the war has brought into such urgency.
There seems to be a great revival of interest in all so-called occult matters throughout the world, and we are glad to see a contribution of striking interest called the “Revival of Magick,” from the pen of the most world-famous of its students.
The fiction is on an astonishingly high level. Felo De Se, by Aleister Crowley, is one of the most humorous studies of suicide that has ever been printed.
The magazine is inaugurating a powerful campaign on behalf of better morals. No parent should miss reading the astounding article of Dr. Louis Wilkinson, the famous lecturer and author.
A word on the editorial policy of the paper: This seems to take the view of the practical man of the world on all human affairs, without national or political bias. It is evident that “International” is to be no meaningless title. We shall follow with interest the future development of this magazine.
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