Doubt - No 23

Magazine Overview

Title: doubt
Issue: 20
Volume: 1
Date: 1931 A D the year 1 FS (1931)
Publisher: The Fortean Society
Editor: Tiffany Thayer

This issue of 'Doubt' magazine, the organ of The Fortean Society, edited by Tiffany Thayer, presents a collection of articles and reports on anomalous phenomena, scientific skepticism, and philosophical inquiries. The cover art, by Art Castillo, features a stylized observatory dome with a party hat and a sign reading 'HELP THE BLIND!', suggesting a critique of scientific or observational limitations.

Cover Story and Editorial Stance

The cover headline is "HELP THE BLIND!". The editorial section, under the heading "OUR COVER", discusses the U.S.P.O.'s issuance of a commemorative stamp honoring the White Elephant of Palomar, which the magazine criticizes as a foolish endeavor. It also mentions the 'Immortal Chaplains' stamp issue and proposes the Fortean Society's involvement in creating alternative designs. The magazine's stance is critical of official narratives and promotes a skeptical yet open-minded approach to unexplained events.

Castillo Writes: Questions and Answers

Art Castillo, the cover artist, poses several questions to the editor, which are answered in detail:

1. The Shaver Mystery: The editor states that 'AMAZING STORIES' material is science-fiction and not within the Fortean Society's purview, comparing it to detective stories which the police do not investigate.
2. Charles Fort's Livelihood: Fort's income primarily came from a small inheritance in real estate and securities, not his books, until about 1910 AD when he worked as a newspaper reporter and writer.
3. Petrillo and Lewis Nominees: Their names were listed because they were submitted by members, and the editor dismisses prejudice against them.
4. Fort's Reading of Nietzsche and Newbrough: Fort admired Nietzsche greatly, especially as a poet, but there is no indication he knew of Newbrough.
5. Fort's Trip to London: Fort traveled to London with his wife for general reasons and to seek reinvigoration for his writing, which had met with little success in the United States. He stayed after discovering the British Museum.
6. Calendar Confusion: The editor suggests using the Fortean Society's Perpetual Thirteen-Month Calendar to resolve confusion.

Articles and Reports

The Fortean Society's Activities and Publications

The magazine details the society's operations, including its address in New York City, membership availability, and annual dues. It also mentions that 'DOUBT' is available in principal cities and public libraries worldwide. The issue includes information on ordering back numbers and lists international contacts, such as Eric Frank Russell in England.

Fortean Phenomena and Sightings

ELEPHANT LAYS EGG: This section satirizes the Palomar observatory's purpose and suggests making photographs of scientists eating their own words. It also mentions the 'Whiffenpoof Raspberry Song'.

FIRST PRIZE: This section highlights unusual news items, including planes spraying DDT in Kobe, a sleeping sickness epidemic in Japan, a bishop's sermon interrupted by his crozier, and a debate on the abolition of hanging.

BIRDS CRASH: Reports on hundreds of warblers and a vireo crashing into the Empire State Building in New York City, with explanations ranging from 'mist' to 'heat'. Similar incidents are reported in Philadelphia and Nashville.

EXPLOSIONS ETC: A series of reports on unexplained explosions and detonations, including a 'silver ball' rolling down a street in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, a 'detonation' in Altadena, California, a 'streak of flame' in Roanoke, Virginia, and a 'tremendous explosion' aboard a vessel in New York Bay.

ARACHNEIDS: Mentions spider web-like material floating over the Pacific coast, with samples sent to the society.

RED SNOW 1422: An excerpt from 'The City of Genoa' by Robert W. Carden describes red snow falling in 1422, foreshadowed by a thunderbolt.

RED RAIN: Reports of reddish 'mud' blotches covering Portugal and a yellowish-red dust cloud over Hungary, with official explanations involving the Sahara and Ukraine, respectively.

GREEN RAIN AGAIN: A boy brought a bucket of green rain from Mobile, Alabama, to a newspaper office, but the date of the rain is unclear.

"LOWER" ANIMALS: A collection of unusual animal incidents, including a parrot screaming at a church, a bass socking a fisherman, penguins walking in a street miles from the sea, a black cat found swimming far from land, and a lion sighting in Washington D.C. that turned out to be a starved fox.

WE BREAK DOWN: This section introduces "Fort's Law for Explaining Mysterious Fires: Cherchez la Wonet," which posits that an adolescent female is often implicated in mysterious fires. It critiques the media's handling of the Macomb, Illinois, fire case.

SINISTER BARRIER: Announces the availability of Russell's book, described as a fantasy inspired by Fort's suggestion that humans are property.

CARR'S ROOM BEYOND: Mentions a new book by Robert Spencer Carr, offering a streamlined approach to the theme of Rider Haggard's 'She'.

NEARING'S REVOLUTION: Announces the second printing of Scott Nearing's 'Revolution of Our Time'.

SKY OBJECTS: This section compiles numerous reports of unidentified flying objects, including 'disks' and 'saucers,' from various locations, noting the concentration on inland sources and the use of terms like 'atomic spaceships'. It also includes reports of 'light green or blue' balls of fire, a 'saucer' in Greece, a 'sky octopus' in Stockholm, and a 'silver saucer' in Copenhagen.

TWO YEARS AGO: Recounts reports of mysterious explosions in Fort Erie, Canada, and a flaming object exploding over Arizona, Southern California, and Nevada, believed to be a meteor.

Fortean Losses

This section lists notable individuals associated with the Fortean Society who have passed away: Russell Maloney (New Yorker writer), Charles A. Beard (historian), and Montague Summers (priest and author on witchcraft).

German Forteanism

The magazine announces that it has several German Fortean writings in translation but lacks funds to hire English translators. It calls for volunteer translators.

Tentative Bibliography of Charles Fort

A detailed chronological list of Charles Fort's published works, including magazine articles, books, and serialized pieces, from 1897 to 1941, with publication details and notes on the Society's holdings.

Philosophical and Critical Essays

SOCRATES THE MARTYR by Warner Fite: This essay critically examines the traditional portrayal of Socrates as a martyr for free speech. Fite questions the historical accuracy of Plato's dialogues, suggesting they may reflect Plato's own philosophical conceptions rather than Socrates' exact words or motives. He points out the divergence among the 'Socratic schools' and suggests that Socrates, as depicted by Plato, might be seen as an intellectualist with aristocratic sentiments, whose handling of opponents could be seen as sophistry rather than genuine inquiry. Fite also analyzes the charge of impiety and Socrates' defense, noting the use of rhetorical strategies and the ambiguity surrounding Socrates' motives for accepting his death sentence.

PRO-SEMITIC NOTE: This section addresses criticism received by the Society regarding Ben Hecht's involvement in the Palestine conflict. The editor states that the Society does not curb individual actions but views Hecht's stance as narrow and discriminatory, deploring his taking sides in a tribal war.

MORE RENUNCIATIONS: The Society disavows support for the published opinions of individuals who were previously honored by the Fortean Society, including James Burnham, Norman Thomas, and Taylor Caldwell, due to their subsequent public acts.

ALOHA: Reports on the mysterious "bangugut" deaths in Hawaii, which primarily affected young male Filipinos, baffling medical professionals.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of 'Doubt' magazine include the investigation of unexplained phenomena (UFOs, fires, animal anomalies), a critical stance towards established science and authority, and philosophical explorations of historical figures and ideas. The editorial stance is one of skepticism towards conventional explanations, a promotion of independent inquiry, and a willingness to publish diverse and often controversial viewpoints, while also maintaining a critical perspective on certain political and social issues. The magazine champions the legacy of Charles Fort and his methods of collecting and analyzing anomalous data.

This issue of DOUBT magazine, identified by the page numbers 355-359, features a significant portion dedicated to the compiled notes of Charles Fort, presented chronologically. The magazine also includes an excerpt discussing the philosophical and historical context of Socrates' defense and trial, drawing from Plato's accounts and interpretations.

Socrates' Defense and Trial

The article delves into Socrates' defense, as presented in Plato's report, emphasizing his lack of fear and bias, regardless of whether the ruling power was a democracy or an oligarchy. It questions the extent of his defiance against the oligarchy, suggesting Plato's portrayal might exaggerate it. The author notes Socrates' claim of rectitude, a strict adherence to duty, even if it meant avoiding direct confrontation with unjust laws, as seen in his response to the order to arrest Leon.

The charges against Socrates were impiety (introducing new divinities) and corrupting the youth. The author suggests the impiety charge was more akin to treason, as Socrates failed to respect the city's gods. Socrates' defense, particularly against Meletus, is analyzed, with Socrates highlighting his belief in a guiding 'daimon' and his repudiation of materialism, linking his practice to the Delphic oracle's command. The concept of free speech is contrasted with the limited rights of citizens in ancient Greece, with Socrates asserting his right to teach based on his perceived superior wisdom, as named by the Delphic oracle.

The text explores the Socratic concept of modesty, where knowing one's ignorance is the highest form of wisdom. It references Plato's Gorgias, which prophetically depicts Socrates' trial, and contrasts this with the more direct and disdainful tone Socrates adopts in the Apology towards the jurors. The author suggests Socrates deliberately provoked the outcome, including the death sentence, by his contemptuous treatment of the court, especially when proposing his penalty. The political motive behind the prosecution, stemming from the recent oligarchy's reign of terror, is highlighted as the most obvious, yet often ignored, reason for Socrates' condemnation in 399 BC.

Charles Fort's Notes

The bulk of the magazine consists of meticulously transcribed notes from Charles Fort, organized chronologically starting from 1848. These notes, often written in a personal shorthand, document a vast array of unexplained phenomena reported in various publications. The notes are presented from two series: one for non-human phenomena and another for human-related events, alternating between them for consecutive entries.

Notable Entries from Fort's Notes:

• 1848-1849 (Winter): The "cemetery ravager" of Paris, identified as Bertrand, a French Infantry officer, is detailed. He dug up corpses, tore them to pieces, and was eventually shot by a spring gun in the cemetery. He confessed to mutilating only female corpses.
• 1849 (March): Bertrand's case is further elaborated, noting his strange monomania for women's bodies and how he evaded detection in cemeteries guarded by keepers and dogs.
• 1849 (May 3): An entry from Le Moniteur Universal describes the desecration of tombs in the cemetery of Est by an ouvrier fondeur named Bertrand, who was sentenced to three months in prison.
• 1849 (April 24): A "mysterious outrage" in Glasgow involved 20 bullets fired into a house, with no trace of depredators.
• 1849 (September 30): Mount Merapi in Java began erupting, accompanied by a hurricane that lasted until October 17th.
• 1849 (October 22): A violent earthquake occurred on Commander Island, Alaska.
• 1849 (November 31): Three quick explosions were reported in Charlotte, North Carolina, followed by a stone falling from the sky, described as a "blue, gritty rock."
• 1850 (January): A report from La Gazette des Tribunaux details a house near the Pantheon in Paris that had a "rolling sound" and strange phenomena.
• 1850 (May): A significant thunder storm in Kent, England, produced pieces of ice six inches long.
• 1850 (June): White mist or smoke enveloped Bermuda, linked to large forest fires in British North American Colonies.
• 1850 (July): Red rain was reported at Bonvilstone, Wales.
• 1850 (April 18-20): Near Byazid, lichens were found scattered over large tracts of land after rains and strong winds, a phenomenon previously unknown and possibly linked to locust damage.
• 1850 (April 18): A "shower of manna" was reported at Erzeroum.

Throughout these notes, Fort meticulously records dates, locations, sources (often scientific journals and newspapers), and brief descriptions of the phenomena, providing a rich archive of historical anomalies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the philosophical and historical examination of courage and defiance, exemplified by Socrates, and the systematic cataloging of unexplained phenomena by Charles Fort. The editorial stance, as represented by the presentation of Fort's notes, is one of open inquiry into events that defy conventional scientific explanation. The magazine appears to champion the idea that there are many occurrences in the world that are not easily understood or dismissed, encouraging readers to consider these anomalies seriously. The discussion of Socrates suggests an admiration for intellectual bravery and a willingness to challenge established norms, aligning with the Fortean interest in the unconventional and the unexplained.