|
Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Louis Umfreville Wilkinson
16 Jan 1945
Dear Louis
Do What Thou Wilt is the Whole of the Law.
I have been down with Pleurisy and still am. The result is my mind is so muddles I don’t know where I am about anything. But of course all my plans for moving across to Hastings are at present in the water. I have reported the situation to Oliver [Oliver Wilkinson]. In the delirium of my anguish I got as so often happens a new idea, and I really think quite a good one. It is a new spelling game, quite different, and I think excessively engaging. Here is a copy of the rules:
1. Open any book and pick any word. Announce it.
2. First player, after 15 seconds, announces the next word in that dictionary. (No limitations to a “word” as in Fore and Aft.)
3. After one or more words as may be agreed, Umpire says “right” or nearest to “right”. Winner moves up as boys in a class.
I have an idea that this may be improved, but am much too tired, after a cascade of medical accidents, to think out any more to-night. Let me know what you think and tell me how you are. I don’t know how long it will be before I can move to Hastings so please communicate with me here until further information is available. I need hardly say that it would aid my convalescence if I were to set unworthy eyes upon your noble countenance, To save time Miss [Janet] Taylor[1] is signing this for me.
Love is the Law, Love under Will.
p.p. J.T. [Janet Taylor]
P.S. Asked whether there was anything unusual about an adult having the mental age of nine, Major Alexander replied that at one time the United States authorities drew the line for induction into the Army at a mental age of nine. It was now eight. The average mental age of the vast majority of serving man in the Army, not counting ranks from N.C.O., was 14. In the last war it was 19”.
All my apologies. I must confess after 30 years that I had always looked upon your view of America as slightly jaundiced. It is my own humility. I couldn’t believe that people were as awful as you said. Now I know that you were indulging in hyperbole, but not meiosis
1—Crowley's secretary at the time.
|