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Phanny, v. 3, issue 4, Spring 1945

Page 13

13            PHANNY           13

a pretty fair conception of the type of history you are talking about. They went to considerable pains to tie up the historical past with the present, and stressed relations between historical and present day activities and standards. 
This discussion of Statemanship is generally good, although I would not agree with all of it. It has definitely not been proved, regardless of the apparent logic of the matter, that, for instance, the man with outstanding success in the business world will be the most successful at handling public money. The shortsighted "good sound business methods" on one Jones made a profit of 300,000 dollars on loans--and at the same time, held up the purchase of quinine until after the Japs had taken the quinine-producing islands; held up paying a slight increased price for natural rubber from South America, so that it was unprofitable for the South American peoples to harvest wild rubber; and held up the loaning of money for synthetic rubber plants until long after the need was apparent to every schoolboy. All this, because it didn't look like good business to go ahead; I wonder if it was good business to hold back on all these things? If it was, then we don't want good business in Government! And Hoover, I seem to recall, was also an outstanding businessman; his leadership was rather faulty, was it not? Of course, examples can be found of outstanding business men who have been very successful and very useful in government office; but also, many examples of men who were not business men, but who have succeeded in business aspects of Government, are to be found.
But of course, I agree with the need for good training and practice in clear thinking on the part of every man, woman, and child. That will come, perhaps, when the insane insistance [sic] on ultra-"practical" courses for all children is diminished and replaced by a program destined to teach people how to interpret the written and spoken word, and how to write and speak themselves. But it won't come about through the voluntary action of those in high places; it will have to come about through the action of those who will benefit by the change. Their number is legion, but they will have to be taught what they are missing, and what they have to gain by the change. And a little "practical politics" may be necessary, if they are to accomplish anything; how else are they to overcome those who are versed in all the devious ways of this ancient art? -- That's a neat job of draftsmanship on the cover; I like it. 
FANTASY AMATEUR. -- Seems to contain everything needed, and a little that isn't; not much of the latter, however. Appearance of contents is satisfactory, although far from the usual Shaw standard of excellence in typography; a situation which probably isn't Larry's fault. The cover is quite satisfactory. 
THE PRECIPITANT. -- No discussion of this appears necessary. Despite a tendency toward unnecessarily mocking and derisive style, the facts of the case appear to be clear. We got ourselves into a ludicrous situation, and it is up to us to get ourselves out of it. The petition is the simplest way out.
A TALE OF THE 'EVANS. -- Tanner's contributions are certainly very acceptable. His "Impressions...." seem but to confirm those of all save He of Whom Fandom No Longer Speaks; and that knock is a boost. The verse, "Azathoth" is new to me, and with my lack of interest in things Lovecraftian in general, it is a little surprising how impressive I find this versified version of the crux of the Lovecraft Mythos. Which only seems to add to my feeling that Lovecraft wasn't so hot as as story teller; others seem able to do better with the material provided by HPL. I don't accept the philosophy of "Azathoth," but I admit its consistency is with the superficial aspects of life.
BEYOND. -- Something ought to be done to insure the Rosco shall receive future mailings. Of course, while he is stationed near Los Angeles, he can at least see the envelopes of L.A.mems, but he still has his own coming. -- "So Is Man" is rather good for its type. "Passing of the Slaves" presents a clear, sharp picture, although the verses seem to have an odd sort of discontinuity, related, probably, to the matter of conforming exactly to the stanza form. The two "Fables From Amerc" display somewhat less freshness and imagination than was apparent in the first ones published; or is this merely the result of familiarity on my part? -- The idea of the cover is excellent, but I would

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13 PHANNY 13 a pretty fair conception of the type of history you are talking about. They went to considerable pains to tie up the historical past with the present, and stressed relations between historical and present day activities and standards. This discussion of Statemanship is generally good, although I would not agree with all of it. It has definitely not been proved, regardless of the apparent logic of the matter, that, for instance, the man with outstanding success in the business world will be the most successful at handling public money. The shortsighted "good sound business methods" on one Jones made a profit of 300,000 dollars on loans--and at the same time, held up the purchase of quinine until after the Japs had taken the quinine-producing islands; held up paying a slight increased price for natural rubber from South America, so that it was unprofitable for the South American peoples to harvest wild rubber; and held up the loaning of money for synthetic rubber plants until long after the need was apparent to every schoolboy. All this, because it didn't look like good business to go ahead; I wonder if it was good business to hold back on all these things? If it was, then we don't want good business in Government! And Hoover, I seem to recall, was also an outstanding businessman; his leadership was rather faulty, was it not? Of course, examples can be found of outstanding business men who have been very successful and very useful in government office; but also, many examples of men who were not business men, but who have succeeded in business aspects of Government, are to be found. But of course, I agree with the need for good training and practice in clear thinking on the part of every man, woman, and child. That will come, perhaps, when the insane insistance [sic] on ultra-"practical" courses for all children is diminished and replaced by a program destined to teach people how to interpret the written and spoken word, and how to write and speak themselves. But it won't come about through the voluntary action of those in high places; it will have to come about through the action of those who will benefit by the change. Their number is legion, but they will have to be taught what they are missing, and what they have to gain by the change. And a little "practical politics" may be necessary, if they are to accomplish anything; how else are they to overcome those who are versed in all the devious ways of this ancient art? -- That's a neat job of draftsmanship on the cover; I like it. FANTASY AMATEUR. -- Seems to contain everything needed, and a little that isn't; not much of the latter, however. Appearance of contents is satisfactory, although far from the usual Shaw standard of excellence in typography; a situation which probably isn't Larry's fault. The cover is quite satisfactory. THE PRECIPITANT. -- No discussion of this appears necessary. Despite a tendency toward unnecessarily mocking and derisive style, the facts of the case appear to be clear. We got ourselves into a ludicrous situation, and it is up to us to get ourselves out of it. The petition is the simplest way out. A TALE OF THE 'EVANS. -- Tanner's contributions are certainly very acceptable. His "Impressions...." seem but to confirm those of all save He of Whom Fandom No Longer Speaks; and that knock is a boost. The verse, "Azathoth" is new to me, and with my lack of interest in things Lovecraftian in general, it is a little surprising how impressive I find this versified version of the crux of the Lovecraft Mythos. Which only seems to add to my feeling that Lovecraft wasn't so hot as as story teller; others seem able to do better with the material provided by HPL. I don't accept the philosophy of "Azathoth," but I admit its consistency is with the superficial aspects of life. BEYOND. -- Something ought to be done to insure the Rosco shall receive future mailings. Of course, while he is stationed near Los Angeles, he can at least see the envelopes of L.A.mems, but he still has his own coming. -- "So Is Man" is rather good for its type. "Passing of the Slaves" presents a clear, sharp picture, although the verses seem to have an odd sort of discontinuity, related, probably, to the matter of conforming exactly to the stanza form. The two "Fables From Amerc" display somewhat less freshness and imagination than was apparent in the first ones published; or is this merely the result of familiarity on my part? -- The idea of the cover is excellent, but I would