Doubt - No 20

Magazine Overview

DOUBT, No. 20, is the magazine of The Fortean Society, edited by Tiffany Thayer, and dated 1931 AD, which is designated as the year 1 FS (Fortean Society). The cover features a striking illustration of a mythological figure wielding lightning bolts, symbolizing the society's assertive stance.

Editorial Stance and Society Leadership

The editorial states that with this issue, the Fortean Society actively assumes leadership of the 'entire human race.' It asserts that the natural state of man is 'Forteanal,' characterized by skepticism, and that adults rarely succeed in extinguishing this innate disbelief in children. The society claims to be the most numerous and sensible clan, therefore needing to take 'no guff from any minority whatsoever.' The editor declares that the society receives its mandate directly from the people who have ever expressed doubt, appointing the Fortean Society as their spokesman and defender.

The cover art is described as a spirit drawing of Charles Fort on 'The Other Side,' having dethroned the Hebrew 'Yaweh' and taken possession of Jupiter's thunderbolts. This is presented as conclusive proof of Fort's 'heavenly supremacy,' even though the drawing by Cham was made in 1857, decades before Fort's birth.

Fortean University: A New Era of Disbelief

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to the establishment of the 'Fortean University' (FU), presented as a 'university of disbelief' for those who can bear to be enlightened. This university aims to be a co-educational monastery without walls, with its campus being co-extensive with its student body, and playing fields in various global locations. Its study halls are public libraries worldwide.

The FU offers a unique syllabus and degree system: B.A. for completing Fort and three other subjects, M.A. for six other subjects, and Ph.D. for nine other subjects plus a 'NEW IDEA.' The subjects offered are:

1. FORT: The primary subject, named after Charles Fort, with 'THE BOOKS' as the textbook. It focuses on a point of view of informed skepticism, critical methods, and suspended judgment.
2. DRAYSON: Corresponds to 'astronomy,' named after Alfred Wilkes Drayson. It addresses perceived impossibilities in current astronomical theory and explores Drayson's hypothesis of a 'second rotation' of Earth.
3. CAHILL: Named after B.J.S. Cahill, originator of the Butterfly Projection. This subject focuses on theoretical cartography and presenting a map of a spherical Earth on a plane.
4. GILLETTE: Named after George Francis Gillette, focusing on 'cosmology' or 'cosmogony' and a 'Unitary Conception of All Natural Phenomena.'
5. LONC: The perpetual search for instances of the figure '1.618+' in nature, mathematics, and architecture, equivalent to 'relativity.'
6. GEORGE: Equivalent to a course in 'taxation,' named after Henry George. Students are instructed by the Georgist School.
7. MALTER-STUART: Equivalent to 'ontology,' named after George H. Malter and Henry Clifford Stuart. It critiques established thought and proposes a return to simpler means of knowing.
8. GESELL: The study of money, named after Silvio Gesell.
9. KORZYBSKI: General Semantics and Non-Aristotelian Systems, based on Alfred Korzybski's 'Science and Sanity.'
10. CREHORE: Theoretical atomics, emphasizing 'the steady states' of the Crehore atom.
11. GRAYDON: Embraces areas of mathematics, physics, etc., with a focus on the 'Graydon Periodic Table.'
12. IKTOMI: The study of 'conservation' of natural resources.
13. KNIGHT: Refinement of an ancient 'superstition' about when fish bite, based on John Alden Knight's work.

Examinations are conducted annually, with questions published in local newspapers, and degrees awarded upon successful completion of theses.

News and Reports: A Fortean Perspective

The magazine includes various reports and anecdotes that align with the Fortean interest in the unusual and unexplained:

• Aleister Crowley: The death of Aleister Crowley ('666, the Beast of Revelation') is reported, noting that he was previously thought to be alive.
• Arthur Machen and Max Planck: Deaths of Arthur Machen and Max Planck are noted.
• Fortean Expeditions: An exploration party is organizing in Albuquerque to go into Headless Valley, Canada, to investigate legends.
• Unusual Occurrences: Reports include frogs and fish falling from the sky, strange lights, unexplained explosions, unusual animal behavior (e.g., rats deserting a steamer, swifts attacking houses), and peculiar physical phenomena (e.g., a bog rolling over a highway, a piano telling time).
• Scientific Skepticism: The magazine questions scientific explanations for phenomena, highlighting instances where scientists are 'stumped' or where established theories are challenged.
• Political and Social Commentary: There are critical remarks on government, conscription, and the economic state of England and France, with a focus on the impact of 'dollarocracy' and the perceived fatigue and resignation of the populace.
• Oddities: Reports include a 'Manx cat' with rabbit-like hindquarters, a mechanical brain at UCLA, and a priest's statement about the death of FDR.
• **

This issue of DOUBT magazine, identified by its page numbers 307-311 and likely from October 1952, is published by The Fortean Society and priced at $1.00. It features a cover headline "I MUST TELL SOME ONE SO IT MIGHT AS WELL BE — YOU" signed "STUART X", and a bold editorial statement from the same author expressing dire warnings about societal decline and impending revolution.

Contents and Articles

Personal Accounts and Observations

The issue begins with an account of the mysterious deaths of Tom Conway and his family, highlighting the unexplained nature of their demise. It also includes a section on "Dinosaur Prints" offering the purchase of fossilized footprints, and brief reports on anomalous events like a tree shedding leaves and moisture, and a hollow, burning maple tree.

A significant personal narrative is provided by "Iktomi," who reflects on his writing process, his unique approach to language, and his past publications like "America Needs Indians!" and "Maka Ihangya." He contrasts his instinctive writing style with conventional grammar and literary pursuits, noting his difficulty in engaging with subjects he finds uninteresting.

Editorial and Societal Commentary

The cover story, attributed to "STUART X," presents a stark and critical view of the current state of affairs, warning of material and biological weakening by "mis-rulers" and predicting a revolution in the USA, potentially leading to a Russian takeover after widespread malnutrition and civil war. The editorial also criticizes politicians and their "filthy lucre," and mentions "Perfidious Albion" and the concept of "science as pre-diction."

Fortean Notes and Catalogues

A substantial portion of the magazine is dedicated to "More Notes of Charles Fort," continuing the chronological catalog of anomalous events. This section meticulously lists occurrences from the 1840s, including:

• Meteors and Fireballs: Numerous entries detail sightings of meteors, fireballs, and bolides across various locations in Italy, Cuba, America, Europe, and Asia, often noting their size, trajectory, and associated sounds or detonations.
• Seismic Activity: Reports include significant earthquakes in China, Peru, Argentina, and Calcutta, as well as shocks and tremors in various parts of the USA, Italy, and Scotland.
• Weather Anomalies: Unusual weather events are documented, such as destructive hurricanes and gales in America, heavy rains and floods in Italy, France, and Australia, hailstones in Italy, and a violent storm in France with falling ice.
• Other Phenomena: The notes also cover phenomena like whirlwinds, unusual lightning, tidal waves, unusual insect swarms, and even reports of a "ghost in daylight."

Reader Contributions and Society News

The magazine includes sections for reader contributions and society news. "MFS Sheeley" reports on an unexplained rock-fall in Portland, Oregon, and a historical account of "small white stones" falling in the Sellwood district. A "LOST SHEEP" section lists members who have lost contact with the Society, requesting current addresses. There is also a note on "CREDIT FOR DATA," instructing contributors to put their name on all submitted material.

Hoernlein Writes

This section features a humorous and self-deprecating piece by "Hoernlein" questioning the concept of "initial velocity" for rocket ships, drawing parallels to V-2 rockets and suggesting a more gradual acceleration.

Book and Magazine Advertisements

The final pages contain advertisements for various publications and books, including "America NEEDS Indians" by John Millis, "RAPE OF THE MASSES" by Chakotin, and "The Books of Charles Fort" (a compilation of his major works). It also promotes "Progressive World," a Freethought-Progressive Magazine.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the cataloging of unexplained phenomena (Fortean events), personal narratives of unusual experiences, and critical commentary on societal and political issues. The editorial stance, particularly from "Stuart X," is one of deep concern and alarm regarding the state of the world, advocating for a radical re-evaluation of leadership and societal direction. The magazine consistently emphasizes the importance of documenting anomalies and challenging conventional explanations, reflecting Charles Fort's legacy of investigating the unusual and the unexplained.