DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Pluto, v. 1, issue 4, September 1940

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Pluto, v. 1, issue 4, September 1940

Page 6

The Story Behind Our Cover

Foreword: Few works of art, such as the watercolor painting on the cover of this month's issue, can boast the hazardous experiences [underline]this[end underline] priceless bit of ancient art endured. How this incredible and aged canvas came into our hands after fantastic adventures among submarines and thieving Arabs, is a story we propose to relate here and now. A noted linquist and world-traveller on our staff, Mr. H.P.Pong (no relation to the per-son who signed the painting) came upon this amazing picture while traveling in the wilds of the upper Amazon; and with beads and fire-water pumped from a dying Indian chief the entire story of its travels and history. The brilliant and limitless education of Mr Pong was called into play to dechiper many words and signs now relegated to lost languages, and many times, as the old Indian told the story of the painting, Mr Pong was forced to draw upon almost forgotten phrases and tongues used by peoples when the world was young. However, he completed the stupendous task, and assembled practically a complete story of the painting. We give it to you herewith, not one word abridged. Mr. Pong thoughtfully inserts explanatory footnotes and translations where needed to guide the reader over difficult phrases. The old Indian's story:
- The editors

-------

     The painting originated in a faraway place (said the dying Indian chief) called Ivory Tower. ((A [underline]tower[end underline] is a place where people keep watch. [underline]Ivory[end underline] probably denotes the material of which the tower was built.)) Leslie Pong was a futurian artist ((a futurian is one who gazes into the future. This is probably why the Ivory Tower was built---they keep watch in the Tower for the future)) who struggled thru life poor, but being high spirited and far-minded, put his (her?) thoughts and dreams down on canvas. The painting herewith displayed is probably his (her?) masterpiece.
     In the center of of the circle we see part of a long, cigar-shaped object known in those ancient days as a spaceship. ((A [underline]spaceship[end underline] was a vessel that displaces space in front, and pushed it out behind, thus propelling itself.)) Below the spaceship and slightly to the left is a sun. ((A [underline]sun[end underline] is something you can draw with a nickel.)) The artist used this quaint method calling attention to himself (herself?), at the same time imparting the subtle hint that he (she?) the artist, was brilliant.
     Over to the right o the sun is a Christmas tree. ((A [underline]Christmas tree[end underline] is a large plant that blooms only on Christmas, an ancient holiday. Of incidental note is the fact that modern bioloigist have never discovered the secret of forcing this tree to bloom at one certain day in the year only. They now claim the ancients used a secret chemical called [underline]money[end underline] to force the tree to bloom at will.)) The Christmas tree was worked into the picture because the artist was in the holiday mood, it being the third of July and probably nearing Christmas tree day. ((We know that the picture was finished the third of July because of the pos [continued on next page]

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The Story Behind Our Cover Foreword: Few works of art, such as the watercolor painting on the cover of this month's issue, can boast the hazardous experiences [underline]this[end underline] priceless bit of ancient art endured. How this incredible and aged canvas came into our hands after fantastic adventures among submarines and thieving Arabs, is a story we propose to relate here and now. A noted linquist and world-traveller on our staff, Mr. H.P.Pong (no relation to the per-son who signed the painting) came upon this amazing picture while traveling in the wilds of the upper Amazon; and with beads and fire-water pumped from a dying Indian chief the entire story of its travels and history. The brilliant and limitless education of Mr Pong was called into play to dechiper many words and signs now relegated to lost languages, and many times, as the old Indian told the story of the painting, Mr Pong was forced to draw upon almost forgotten phrases and tongues used by peoples when the world was young. However, he completed the stupendous task, and assembled practically a complete story of the painting. We give it to you herewith, not one word abridged. Mr. Pong thoughtfully inserts explanatory footnotes and translations where needed to guide the reader over difficult phrases. The old Indian's story: - The editors ------- The painting originated in a faraway place (said the dying Indian chief) called Ivory Tower. ((A [underline]tower[end underline] is a place where people keep watch. [underline]Ivory[end underline] probably denotes the material of which the tower was built.)) Leslie Pong was a futurian artist ((a futurian is one who gazes into the future. This is probably why the Ivory Tower was built---they keep watch in the Tower for the future)) who struggled thru life poor, but being high spirited and far-minded, put his (her?) thoughts and dreams down on canvas. The painting herewith displayed is probably his (her?) masterpiece. In the center of of the circle we see part of a long, cigar-shaped object known in those ancient days as a spaceship. ((A [underline]spaceship[end underline] was a vessel that displaces space in front, and pushed it out behind, thus propelling itself.)) Below the spaceship and slightly to the left is a sun. ((A [underline]sun[end underline] is something you can draw with a nickel.)) The artist used this quaint method calling attention to himself (herself?), at the same time imparting the subtle hint that he (she?) the artist, was brilliant. Over to the right o the sun is a Christmas tree. ((A [underline]Christmas tree[end underline] is a large plant that blooms only on Christmas, an ancient holiday. Of incidental note is the fact that modern bioloigist have never discovered the secret of forcing this tree to bloom at one certain day in the year only. They now claim the ancients used a secret chemical called [underline]money[end underline] to force the tree to bloom at will.)) The Christmas tree was worked into the picture because the artist was in the holiday mood, it being the third of July and probably nearing Christmas tree day. ((We know that the picture was finished the third of July because of the pos [continued on next page]