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Detours, v. 1, issue 4, September 1940
Page 3
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Detours September 1940 1:4 3 ----------------------------- find such to be the case with The Worm Ouroboros. And again, in the July Fan we notice an article by an unnamed fan who observes that no poll which ranks high fans whom he would not rank high is reliable. The "objectionables", to be sure, have long since sunk out of sight, but the point is, Art's fan poll is a popularity contest not an attempt to discover Eternal Verities. The Methods of Genius C. Sam Youd If I am to be coaxed into actually liking any kind of mental or physical effort, the coaxing must be very subtle indeed. For physical effort I must first be wakened gently on such a morning that makes one want to help the sun clear his clouds and mists away. I must then be fed to exactly the right repletion with crisp rashers of streaky bacon and (on a separate plate) deliciously fried mushrooms -- unsliced. After this it would be fatal to allow me to relapse into my wonted lethargy, so my mentor must take me firmly by the arm and lead me to whatever must be done. Then he must point out the relation between the task on hand and the great cosmic scheme of the universe. I shall probably be asleep by now, but if I can be (again gently) awakened, it is quite within the adjuncts of possibility that I may do some not-too strenuous physical labor. For mental tasks a completely different technique is required. I must be taken, like a rosebud by the night wind, just when dusk is painting a lovely twilight against a celestial backdrop. The sun will have retired, and what wind there is must be warm (not sultry) and like the back of a fur-backed glove. Behind me there must be the memory of several strenuous sets of tennis and at least one lazy bathe. The above setting granted, set a typewriter and two roses before me, and retire discreetly. If I do not then produce something worthy of Shakespeare at least, you may with reason conclude that it is because I can't.
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Detours September 1940 1:4 3 ----------------------------- find such to be the case with The Worm Ouroboros. And again, in the July Fan we notice an article by an unnamed fan who observes that no poll which ranks high fans whom he would not rank high is reliable. The "objectionables", to be sure, have long since sunk out of sight, but the point is, Art's fan poll is a popularity contest not an attempt to discover Eternal Verities. The Methods of Genius C. Sam Youd If I am to be coaxed into actually liking any kind of mental or physical effort, the coaxing must be very subtle indeed. For physical effort I must first be wakened gently on such a morning that makes one want to help the sun clear his clouds and mists away. I must then be fed to exactly the right repletion with crisp rashers of streaky bacon and (on a separate plate) deliciously fried mushrooms -- unsliced. After this it would be fatal to allow me to relapse into my wonted lethargy, so my mentor must take me firmly by the arm and lead me to whatever must be done. Then he must point out the relation between the task on hand and the great cosmic scheme of the universe. I shall probably be asleep by now, but if I can be (again gently) awakened, it is quite within the adjuncts of possibility that I may do some not-too strenuous physical labor. For mental tasks a completely different technique is required. I must be taken, like a rosebud by the night wind, just when dusk is painting a lovely twilight against a celestial backdrop. The sun will have retired, and what wind there is must be warm (not sultry) and like the back of a fur-backed glove. Behind me there must be the memory of several strenuous sets of tennis and at least one lazy bathe. The above setting granted, set a typewriter and two roses before me, and retire discreetly. If I do not then produce something worthy of Shakespeare at least, you may with reason conclude that it is because I can't.
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