|
Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Kenneth Grant
die
[postmarked Aylesbury 21 Jan 1945]
C∴ F∴ [Care Frater]
93
Thanks for yours of 18th. You mustn’t tempt me to discuss Secret Glory [1]; too much to say. This pleurisy is a joke, but on the “Punch” level. No pain, no dyspnoea beyond my normal ration, temperature never over a 100° & that goes down to normal or near it every night. Then in A.M. it’s up again! Pure perversity.
The local witch doctor has given me the “newest” ju-ju, with the most fantastic precautions; he was obviously afraid to prescribe it! But I shall start tomorrow 8 A.M. if this fool thermometer keeps on jumping about.
I think both your estimates on the high side, unless you want to live en prince. Even in London there are quite decent boarding-houses at £ 2.2.0. The country is always cheaper. Don’t lump clothes with smoke & drinks. You want 2 or 3 suits at not less than £ 16.16.0 then they last 10 years or more; and the appearance is worth money. Shoes you can get at £4 - £6. Shirts about £ 2.10.0. Really, one rule only; the dearest things are the cheapest. (I’m an expert, by the way, & can help a lot with advice and introductions.) Avoid cheap cigarettes as the very devil. Best is: pipe only, and real tobacco. One smokes less, & so saves in the long run; besides, you don’t poison yourself, and you feel like a man. Drink: at your age, the less the better. Beer would be good if you could get it; but can you? I’ll ask; I don’t drink it myself. Bar cocktails; whiskey is good in strict moderation; but the proprietorial brands are mostly muck. “Black Label”, “Haig”, “Dimple”, “Victoria Vat”, and some of the special merchants like Hedges & Butler. But 9 times in 10 it is best to say no.
At present wine is not to be bought.
I am working out a plan that may help you. Also, there are ways of dodging taxes; I know some.
I got the smokes, thanks. What do I owe you?
93 93/93
Hoping to move
F∴ly [Fraternally]
666.
1—A novel by Arthur Machen published in 1922.
|
[Saturday]
or next
[Thursday or Friday].