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Acolyte, vol 1, issue 3, whole 3, Spring 1943
Page 19
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sorcery. The book. Yi King (pronounced Yee Ching), is the oldest of all books on that subject and was written long before Confucius. It was with this book and the shuffling of the tortoise-shell wands that the Door was opened. And Seabrook was there when it swung wide, altho the one who gazed across the threshold was a girl. His book, "Witchcraft", tells of this bit of applied occultism and also in it he remarks that G. K. Chesterton and Arthur Machen knew more than they cared to mention about various unclean cults which thrived in London. ----ooOoo---- LITTLE KNOWN FANTAISISTES by Harold Wakfield -oOo- Little known to the general run of fantasy readers, but holding a high place among writers of the macabre, is Sheridan Le Fanu. An Irishman in 1814. Almost a recluse after the death of his wife, Le Fanu became preoccupied with the supernatural. It was during this period he produced such magnificent stories as "In a Glass Darkly", "Uncle Silas", and "Wylder's Hand". Easily the best known of Le Fanu's stories is "Green Tea", in which through the excessive use of a particular kind of tea a clergyman's mind is left open to the assault of a familiar in the form of a hideous monkey. Even in the pulpit, it continually gibbers blasphemies in his ears, finally driving him to suicide. Hardly less well-known is "Carmillia", which, though in the traditional vampire story form, is handles with such extraordinary skill as to rank with Stoker's "Dracula" and Worrell's "The Canal" as one of the best of all vampire stories. "The Strange Story of Schalken the Painter" is a masterly handling of the spectre bridegroom theme and build up to a powerful climax. "Uncle Silas", in addition to an overpowering, oppressive atmosphere, has the distinction of having two of the most malignant characters in all weird literature: Uncle Silas - addicted to drugs - with his strangle immobile white face and glaring eyes; and the half-mad, drunken French governess capering wildly amongst the graves in the churchyard. In spite of their having been written during the last century, the stories of Le Fanu are strangely undated. Take for example this scene from "Wylder's Hand" where the aged Uncle Lorne appears--phantom or madman we are not certain which--to confront the villainous Lake in the tapestried room: "'Mark Wylder is in evil plight,' said he. "'Is he?' said Lake with a sly scoff, though he seemed to me a good deal scared. 'We hear no complaints however, and fancy he must be tolerably comfortable notwithstanding.' "'You know where he is?' said Uncle Lorne. "'Aye, in Italy; everyone knows that,' answered Lake. "'In Italy,' said the old man reflectively, as if trying to gather up his ideas. 'Italy... He has had a great tour to make. It is nearly accomplished now. When it is done, he will be like me---humano major. He has seen the places which you are yet to see.' "'Nothing I should like better, particularly Italy,' said Lake. "'Yes,' said Uncle Lorne, lifting up slowly a different finger at each name in his catalogue. 'First, Luous Mortis; then, Terra -- 19 --
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sorcery. The book. Yi King (pronounced Yee Ching), is the oldest of all books on that subject and was written long before Confucius. It was with this book and the shuffling of the tortoise-shell wands that the Door was opened. And Seabrook was there when it swung wide, altho the one who gazed across the threshold was a girl. His book, "Witchcraft", tells of this bit of applied occultism and also in it he remarks that G. K. Chesterton and Arthur Machen knew more than they cared to mention about various unclean cults which thrived in London. ----ooOoo---- LITTLE KNOWN FANTAISISTES by Harold Wakfield -oOo- Little known to the general run of fantasy readers, but holding a high place among writers of the macabre, is Sheridan Le Fanu. An Irishman in 1814. Almost a recluse after the death of his wife, Le Fanu became preoccupied with the supernatural. It was during this period he produced such magnificent stories as "In a Glass Darkly", "Uncle Silas", and "Wylder's Hand". Easily the best known of Le Fanu's stories is "Green Tea", in which through the excessive use of a particular kind of tea a clergyman's mind is left open to the assault of a familiar in the form of a hideous monkey. Even in the pulpit, it continually gibbers blasphemies in his ears, finally driving him to suicide. Hardly less well-known is "Carmillia", which, though in the traditional vampire story form, is handles with such extraordinary skill as to rank with Stoker's "Dracula" and Worrell's "The Canal" as one of the best of all vampire stories. "The Strange Story of Schalken the Painter" is a masterly handling of the spectre bridegroom theme and build up to a powerful climax. "Uncle Silas", in addition to an overpowering, oppressive atmosphere, has the distinction of having two of the most malignant characters in all weird literature: Uncle Silas - addicted to drugs - with his strangle immobile white face and glaring eyes; and the half-mad, drunken French governess capering wildly amongst the graves in the churchyard. In spite of their having been written during the last century, the stories of Le Fanu are strangely undated. Take for example this scene from "Wylder's Hand" where the aged Uncle Lorne appears--phantom or madman we are not certain which--to confront the villainous Lake in the tapestried room: "'Mark Wylder is in evil plight,' said he. "'Is he?' said Lake with a sly scoff, though he seemed to me a good deal scared. 'We hear no complaints however, and fancy he must be tolerably comfortable notwithstanding.' "'You know where he is?' said Uncle Lorne. "'Aye, in Italy; everyone knows that,' answered Lake. "'In Italy,' said the old man reflectively, as if trying to gather up his ideas. 'Italy... He has had a great tour to make. It is nearly accomplished now. When it is done, he will be like me---humano major. He has seen the places which you are yet to see.' "'Nothing I should like better, particularly Italy,' said Lake. "'Yes,' said Uncle Lorne, lifting up slowly a different finger at each name in his catalogue. 'First, Luous Mortis; then, Terra -- 19 --
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