Perdurabo

by Richard Kaczynski

  4 Academy, 19 Oct 1895, 48(1224): 323.

  5 “English Opera,” Times (London), 17 Oct 1895, 34710: 6.

  6 “The Opera Season,” Times (London), 2 Aug 1897, 35271: 2. Hermann Klein, Thirty Years of Musical Life in London, 1870–1900 (New York: Century Co., 1903), 437–8. “Royal Opera, Covent Garden,” Punch, or the London Charivari, 22 May 1897, 244. Opera Glass 1897, 4(6): 86. “Royal Opera, Covent Garden,” Musical Times 1897, 38 (1 Jul): 461–2, 384. A. C. R. Carter, The Year’s Music: Being a Concise Record of All Matters Relating to Music and Musical Institutions (London: J. S. Virtue & Co., Ltd., 1898), 132–6. Times (London), 22 Apr 1899, 35810: 5. “Royal Opera,” Times (London), 17 Jun 1899, 35858: 8. Frank Moore Colby, Edward Lathrop Engle, and Harry Thurston Peck, The International Year Book: A Compendium of the World’s Progress During the Year 1898 (New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1899), 561. “Editorial Bric-a-Brac,” Music: A Monthly Magazine Devoted to the Art Science, Technic and Literature of Music, Dec 1899, 17: 183. “Operatic Notes,” Punch, or the London Charivari, 23 May 1900, 364. “Royal Opera,” Times (London), 18 Jun 1900, 36171: 9. “The Opera Season,” Bookman 1900, 11: 220.

  7 Confessions, 204. However, Strong’s name does not appear on any GD membership rolls (Robert A. Gilbert, personal communication).

  8 Confessions, 204.

  9 All her press cuttings refer to her as “Miss Susan Strong,” and I have not found any record of her marriage. Unless other information should come to light, it is possible that this was a convenient excuse on her part for putting off their marriage. Alternatively, the couple may have been so estranged that he never came up in the press.

  10 Oscar Thompson, The American Singer: A Hundred Years of Success in Opera (New York: The Dial Press, 1937), 198–9. Francis Cowley Burnand, The Catholic Who’s Who and Year-Book (London: Burns & Oates, 1908). 380–1.

  11 Stanley Sadie, The New Grove Dictionary of Opera (London: Macmillan, 1992).

  12 Published as the epilogue to Carmen Sœculare (1900).

  13 See, e.g., “Heat’s Holocaust in the Five Boroughs: 87 Deaths and 178 Prostrations Mark Hottest July 1 on Record,” New York Times, 2 Jul 1901, 1. “Philadelphia’s Hottest Day: 102 Degrees; Highest Ever Recorded—Thousands of Industrial Workers Compelled to Quit,” New York Times, 2 Jul 1901, 2. “Whole Country Swelters: Weather Bureau Points Out High Temperature Records, but Promises No Immediate Relief,” New York Times, 2 Jul 1901, 2. “Fierce Heat Lays Low Many: Deaths and Prostrations All Over the Country—No Relief in Sight; Terrible Suffering Here—Hospitals Rushed,” New York Tribune, 2 Jul 1901, 1. “Highest Ever Recorded: Philadelphia Has 102 Degrees—Every Hospital Busy,” New York Tribune, 2 Jul 1901, 2. “A Cool Wind Fans City: Northeast Breeze Drives Out the Heat; The Day Doubly a Celebration—Many Deaths Still Reported, but They Were of Those Who Had Long Suffered,” New York Tribune, 5 Jul 1901, 1. “Heat Brings Death to Over 200 Persons; Several Hundred Others Collapse in Stifling Atmosphere; Stores and Offices Close,” New York Times, 3 Jul 1901, 1. “Heat Keeps Up Work of Death,” New York Tribune, 3 Jul 1901, 1. “Storm Breaks Heat Grip on Boston; Seventy Deaths, Due Directly to Intense Weather, the Record in New England,” New York Tribune, 3 Jul 1901, 3. “New Jersey Deaths Again Reach 100,” New York Times, 4 Jul 1901, 2.

  14 593 in Aleister Crowley, “Art in America,” English Review, Nov 1913, 578–95.

  15 The Mother’s Tragedy, rpt. Works 1: 178–9.

  16 Oracles, rpt. Works 2: 29–30.

  17 The Vision and the Voice, the Cry of the 29th Aethyr RII.

  18 John Hamill, quoted in Martin P. Starr, “Aleister Crowley: Freemason!” Ars Quatuor Coronatorum 1995, 108: 150.

  19 Crowley says that he both met Medina-Sidonia and received his 33° in “the City of Mexico” (Confessions, 202–3; The Book of Lies, commentary to Chapter 33). Elsewhere, he reports that he founded the LIL with Medina-Sidonia in Guanajuato (The Equinox 1910, 3(1): 269), about 230 miles northwest of Mexico City.

  20 J. F. C. Fuller notes the Enochian parallel in “The Temple of Solomon the King,” The Equinox 1910, I (4): 45fn. The timing of these events can be reconstructed from several sources: In his “Prologue” to John St. John, Crowley notes that he “received the mysteries of L.I.L. in October” [The Equinox I(1, supplement): 8]; however, this reception must have pre-dated Crowley’s founding of the order with Don Jesus de Medina-Sidonia, as Crowley’s Enochian visions were recorded on November 14 and 17; according to Confessions and “The Temple of Solomon the King,” their meeting happened after these dates. The poem “Venus,” op. cit., has the note “Written in the temple of the L.I.L., No. 9, Central America.” Finally, in Temple of Solomon the King, Crowley writes, “At the End of the Century: At the End of the Year: At the Hour of Midnight: Did I complete and bring to perfection the Work of L.I.L.” (45).

  21 Rough working notes of the rituals of LIL are pencilled into the back of Crowley’s Jan–May 1901 diary in the Yorke Collection.

  22 These experiments are described in part in The Equinox 1910, 1(4): 107 et seq.

  23 See, e.g., Ezequiel Ordóñez, Observaciones relativas a los volcanes de México (México: Imprenta del Gobierno Federal, 1894). Ezequiel Ordóñez, “Notas acerca de los ventisqueros del Ixtaccihuatl. Mexico,” Memorias y revista de la Sociedad Científica 1894, 8: 31–42. Las rocas eruptivas del suroeste de la Cuenca de México (México: Oficina Tip. de la Secretaría de Fomento, 1895). José G. Aguilera and Ezequiel Ordóñez, Expedición Científica al Popocatapetl (México: Oficina Tip. de la Secretaría de Fomento, 1895). Ezequiel Ordóñez, “Bosquejo Geológico de México,” Boletin del Institute Geológico de México 1897, no. 4–6. Ezequiel Ordóñez, Les volcans Colima et Ceboruco (México, n.p., 1898). For his obituary, see “Ezequiel Ordóñez,” New York Times, 10 Feb 1950, 22, and Everette Lee DeGolyer, “Memorial, Ezequiel Ordonez (1867–1950),” AAPG Bulletin 1950 34(5): 985–9.

  24 Oscar Eckenstein, “Mountaineering in Mexico,” Climbers’ Club Journal 1903, 5(20): 159–67.

  25 Alpine Journal 25: 268–72, quoted by Eckenstein, “Mountaineering in Mexico.”

  26 Eckenstein, “Mountaineering in Mexico,” 161.

  27 Oscar Eckenstein, quoted in “Editorial Notes.” Climbers’ Club Journal 1901, 3(12): 199–200 gives a detailed account of all these climbs, See also Crowley’s Confessions.

  28 Crowley, Unpublished essay on yoga and magic, Yorke Collection.

  29 Eckenstein, “Mountaineering in Mexico,” 161.

  30 Confessions, 216.

  31 Eckenstein, “Mountaineering in Mexico,” 163.

  32 “Metempsychosis,” from Oracles (1905), rpt. Works 2: 33. “Night in the Valley,” from the same collection, was also written at this time.

  33 As Eckenstein wrote, “I was rather upset in my inner works … We both had a good deal of trouble from our canned provisions on several occasions and we gained some valuable experience on the subject.” Eckenstein, “Mountaineering in Mexico,” 166.

  34 “Poetry,” Westminster Review, Jun 1908, 155(6): 715–6.

  35 Quoted in Stephensen, Legend of Aleister Crowley, 44–6.

  36 Eckenstein, “Mountaineering in Mexico,” 167.

  37 “Mr. Dooley Climbs Popo,” Mexican Herald, 21 Apr 1901, 12(233): 13.

  38 Confessions, 223.

  39 Written on May 12, 1901, it appeared in Oracles (1905), rpt. Works 2: 33–4.

  40 AC to Gerald Kelly, 26 Apr 1901, Old D6, Yorke Collection.

  41 See biographical appendix, unexpurgated Confessions. See also Crowley’s “Sirenae” from The Argonauts (1904), where Mary Beaton is one of the dedicatees.

  42 Crowley, “Art in America,” 580.

  43 Confessions, 226.

  44 Diary, 22 May 1901.

  45 Diary, 26 May 1901.

  46 “The Twenty-Second Day” from Alice: An Adultery, reprinted in Works 2: 74.

  47 Diary, 1 Jun 1901.

  48 AC to Gerald Kelly, n.d., 1901, New 4/Old D6, Yorke Collection.

  49 “Tria
ds of Despair,” from Oracles, rpt. Works 2: 34–6.

  50 AC to Gerald Kelley, n.d., New 4/Old D6, Yorke Collection.

  51 From Stephensen, Legend of Aleister Crowley, 41–3.

  52 “Poetry,” Westminster Review, Oct 1901, 156(4): 476. “Above Average,” The Academy, 26 Oct 1901, 1538: 379–80.

  53 Register of marriages, Saint Savior, Paddington, P87/SAV, item 013. The groom—son of Ignatz and Julia Witkowski of Leipzig—was baptised as an adult the day of his wedding (Register of baptisms, Saint Saviour, Paddington, P87/SAV, item 004). Although The Life and Letters of Sir John Hall includes a photograph of Alice Simpson holding her grandchild in Hong Kong in 1901, the marriage would appear to have been short, although whether due to death or divorce is not stated; however, Witkowski is never mentioned, and the text states that Elaine “is married to Herr Wölker in the service of the Kaiser. Frau Wölker has inherited some of her grandfather’s wonderful adaptability to new environments, which makes her so popular in German society” (p. 544).

  54 Ponnambalam Rámanáthan’s works are: On Faith or Love of God: As a Fruit of Sound Teaching (Farmer & Sons, 1897); The Gospel of Jesus according to St. Matthew, as Interpreted to B.L. Harrison by the Light of the Godly Experience of Sri Parananda (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner Co., 1898); An Eastern Exposition of the Gospel of Jesus according to St. John, Being an Interpretation thereof by Sri Parananda by the Light of Jnana Yoga (London: W. Hutchinson, 1902); The Spirit of the East Contrasted with the Spirit of the West (New York: the author, 1905); and The Culture of the Soul among Western Nations (London: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1906).

  55 M. Vythilingam, The Life of Sir Ponnabalam Ramanathan, 2 vol. (Colombo: Ramanathan Commemoration Society, 1971), 494–511.

  56 Crowley, Magick without Tears, 157. He is quoting the introduction to his “translation” of the Tao Teh King, which remained unpublished until 1976.

  57 Oracles, rpt. Works 2: 36–37.

  58 AC to Gerald Kelly, n.d., Old D6, Yorke Collection.

  59 AC to Gerald Kelly, n.d., Old D6, Yorke Collection.

  60 The Equinox 1910, 1(4): 166.

  61 Book Four, 32.

  62 Confessions, 254.

  63 Oracles, rpt. Works 2: 38–43.

  64 Oracles, rpt. Works 2: 37–8.

  65 Confessions, 261.

  66 Confessions, 259.

  67 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, January to December 1902 (Calcutta: Asiatic Society, 1903).

  68 Oracles, rpt. Works, 2: 43–4.

  69 Orpheus, Book III, rpt. Works 3: 177.

  70 Aleister Crowley, “On a Burmese River: From the Note Book of Aleister Crowley,” Vanity Fair (UK), 24 Feb 1909, 232.

  71 Appearing in Oracles, rpt. Works 2: 48.

  72 “Guy John Fenton Knowles, 1879–1959.” Alpine Journal 1959, 64(299): 288–9.

  73 Confessions, 279.

  74 In his Confessions, Crowley said that Knowles “knew practically nothing of mountains” (279). Similarly, the account in Berge der Welt likewise reports that Knowles was an inexperienced mountaineer who was enlisted primarily as a financier for the expedition. See “Im Jahre 1902 greift ein Schweizer den K2 (8611 m) an,” Berge der Welt 1948, 1: 111–20.

  75 “Mr. Guy Knowles, Benefactor of the Fitzwilliam,” Times (London), 8 May 1959, 54455: 15. Alumni Cantabrigienses.

  76 51 in Aleister Crowley, “The Expedition to Chogo Ri: Leaves from the Notebook of Aleister Crowley,” Vanity Fair (UK), 8 Jul 1908, 51–52.

  77 “Heinrich Pfannl, Wien,” in Adolfo Hess, Saggi sulla psicologia dell’alpinista: Raccolta di autobiografie psicologiche di alpinisti viventi (Turin: S. Lattes & C., 1914), 435–47.

  78 Peter Grimm, “Pfannl, Heinrich,” in Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften. Neue deutsche Biographie (Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2000), 20: 300. “Aiguille du Géant,” Jahrbuch des Schweizer Alpenclub 1990 36: 262. Österreichische Alpenzeitung 1900, 22: 344–5. Club alpino italiano, Bollettino del Club alpino italiano 1900, 34/35: 200. Club alpino italiano, “Cronaca Alpina: Nuove Ascensioni,” Rivista Mensile: Pubblicata per cura del consiglio direttivo 1900, 19: 352–3. “Historical roots” at http://www.bergrettung-stmk.at/muerzzuschlag/geschichte_e.htm (accessed Apr 23 2010). He was a popular speaker, and a collection of his talks—incluidng his account of the K2 expedition—was published posthumously as Heinrich Pfannl, Was bist du mir, Berg? (Wien: Österreichischer Alpenklub, 1929).

  79 Confessions, 51.

  80 Sam Hield Hamer, The Dolomites (London: Methuen, 1910).

  81 “Oesterreichische Alpen-Zeitung,” Rivista Mensile 1899, 21/22: 153. Zeitschrift des Deutschen und Österreichischen Alpenvereins 1902, 33: 264.

  82 Dr. Viktor Wessely, “Karakoram-Erinnerungen,” Österreichische Alpenzeitung: Organ des Österreichischen Alpenklub, Sep 1934, 56(1149): 271–4.

  83 Dr. H. Pfannl, “Eine Belagerung des Tschogo-Ri (K2) in der Mustaghkette des Hindukusch (8720m),” Zeitschrift des Deutschen und Österreichischen Alpen-Vereines 1904, 35: 88–104. Alternately, Jacot-Guillarmod summarized their goals as “a sporting ambition to break all former rcords in mountaineering, but scientific observations will also be made, and the flora and fauna of the Himalayas, of which scientists have so little knowledge, will not be neglected” (“A Great Climb: To Conquer the Himalayas and Mount Everest,” Daily Chronicle, 13 May 1902; with thanks to Glyn Hughes, Hon. Archivist, Alpine Club.)

  84 “Ascensions et passages en 1897 des membres des Sections romandes du C. A. S.,” l’Écho des Alpes 1898, Supp. 1, 4.

  85 “Jules Jacot-Guillarmod, 1868–1925,” Berge der Welt 1948, 1: 191–8. “Dr. Jules Jacot-Guillarmod, 1868–1925,” Alpine Journal 1925, 37(231): 348. Charles Biermann, “Nécrologie: Le Dr. Jules Jacot Guillarmod (24 décembre 1868–5 juin 1925),” Bulletin de la Société Neuchâteloise de Géographie 1926, 52–4. Eugène Pittard, “Nécrologies: Jules Jacot-Guillarmod,” Le Globe: Organe de la Société de Géographie de Genève 1927, 23–4. Marcel Fleury and Mireille Stauffer, “Le Docteur Jules Jacot-Guillarmod,” http://​www.fond​ation.lig​niere​s.org/​download/​050201_​resume_​dr_jules_​jacot_​guillarmod_​par_g_​terrier​.pdf (accessed Apr 23 2010).

  86 Confessions, 51.

  87 Confessions, 51.

  88 Galen Rowell, In the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods (San Francisco: Sierra Club Books, 1977). On p. 38, Rowell reports an interview where Guy Knowles agrees that Conway put obstacles in Eckenstein’s way to prevent him from climbing K2.

  89 A, Ferrari, “La spedizione del 1902 mei monti del Karakorum (Himalaya),” Rivista Mensile 1902, 21(11): 397–9.

  90 Pfannl, “Eine Belagerung des Tschogo-Ri,” 90.

  91 Paraphrased from Confessions, 303.

  92 Although this sounds harsh by today’s standards, it was some twenty years later that Gandhi began to stage his protests against British colonialism. Only then was light shone on Britain’s brutal attitude toward the Indians. It was 1947—the year of Crowley’s death—before India gained independence. This is not to excuse Crowley’s behavior, but to place it in the context of his times.

  93 Op cit.

  94 247 in Aleister Crowley, “The Expedition to Chogo Ri, V: Leaves from the Notebook of Aleister Crowley,” Vanity Fair (UK), 19 Aug 1908, 246–7.

  95 Pfannl, “Eine Belagerung des Tschogo-Ri,” 104.

  96 Rowell, Throne Room, 90.

  97 Ronald W. Clark, Men, Myths and Mountains (NY: Thomas Y. Crowell, 1976), 104.

  98 Aleister Crowley, “On the Kinchin Lay: I. Prospect and Retrospect,” Pinoeer, 10 Aug 1905, 3–4 (with thanks to Glyn Hughes, Hon. Archivist, Alpine Club).

  99 “The Earl’s Quest,” from Oracles, rpt. Works 2: 49–51.

  100 310 in Aleister Crowley, “The Expedition to Chogo Ri VI: Leaves from the Notebook of Aleister Crowley,” Vanity Fair (UK), 2 Sep 1908, 310–1.

  101 372 in Aleister Crowley, “The Expedition to Chogo Ri VII: Leaves from the Notebook of Aleister Crowley,” Vanity Fair (UK), 16 Sep 1908,
372–3.

  102 For Eckenstein’s obscurity, see Dean, “Oscar Eckenstein,” which notes the absence of an Eckenstein obituary in every climbing journal.

  103 Francis Younghusband, The Epic of Mount Everest (London: E. Arnold, 1926).

  104 Dr. J. Jacot Guillarmod, “Un record dans l’Himalaya,” Jahrbuch des Schweizer Alpenclub 1903, 38: 212–27. “Séance du 20 Février 1903,” Société Neuchateloise des Sciences Naturelles Bulletin 1903, 31: 373–8. “The Western Himalayas,” Geographical Journal 1904, 23(1): 121–33. Jules Jacot-Guillarmod, Six mois dans l’Himalaya, le Karakorum et l’Hindu-Kush; voyages et explorations aux plus hautes montagnes du monde (Neuchâtel: W. Sandoz, 1904).

  105 Rudolf Cyriax “A Conquest on K2,” Times (London), 8 Aug 1938, 48067: 6.

  Chapter Five • A Rose by Any Other Name

  1 Born in Calcutta around 1877, Sybil Meugens was one of three children to Edith Meugens (1901 UK Census, St. Mary Magdalene, Sussex, RG13, piece 869, 103: 40). Of his later painting of her, Crowley wrote, “The lady is an Anglo-Indian of Dutch extraction—mistress of Bimby ‘Hawkes,’ Gerald Festus Kelly and anyone else she could get. Lived in wind-mills, Martello Tower, etc. and is now probably Red Cross, YMCA” (PH:LF Crowley, 63, Photographic Collection, Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin). She studied art with Stephen Haweis (1878–1969) and at the Académie Colarossi; returning to art after a four-year hiatus, she injected her “Oriental sympathies and her leaning to the occult” into her oil paintings. some of which were exhibited at the West End’s prestious Ryder Galleries in 1915. For more on Meugens, with examples of her artwork, see Arthur Reddie, “Still-Life Paintings by Sybil Meugens,” International Studio, Apr 1915, 55(218): 130–4, and Malcolm C. Salaman, “The Art of Miss Sibyl Meugens,” International Studio, Jun 1919, 67(268): 49–57.

  2 Peter Adam, Eileen Gray: Architect-Designer (New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1987), 37.

  3 AC to Gerald Kelly, 12 Aug 1903, Old D6, Yorke Collection.

  4 “Small Brown Armchair Sells for £19 Million,” Telegraph (London), 25 Feb 2009.