Fortean Society Magazine - No 04

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Fortean Society Magazine, dated May 1941, No. 4, is primarily dedicated to promoting and detailing the release of 'The Books of Charles Fort' in a single, comprehensive, and exhaustively indexed volume. The cover prominently features this announcement, highlighting that it contains the complete text of Fort's works, including 'The Book of the Damned,' 'New Lands,' and 'Wild Talents,' with an introduction by Tiffany Thayer.

'AT LAST! You Can Own The Books of CHARLES FORT'

The magazine extols the virtues of this collected edition, emphasizing its over 1200 pages of documentation that challenge the 'dogma of modern Science' and 'popular education.' It is presented as a 'Declaration of Independence of the human mind' and a 'Magna Carta of the thinking processes.' The introduction by Tiffany Thayer, Secretary of the Fortean Society, is noted to include reminiscences of Charles Fort, biographical facts, and an exposition of the Society's aims. The issue also lists notable individuals associated with the Society, including founders like J. David Stern and Ben Hecht, and new members such as Manly P. Hall and Scott Nearing, as well as deceased members like Oliver Wendell Holmes and Clarence Darrow.

The publication offers a money-back guarantee, allowing readers to return the book within a week if not satisfied. The price is set at $4.00, with the Fortean Society located at Box 192, Grand Central Annex, New York City.

'Babes in Arms' by Tiffany Thayer

This article, presented as the complete text of a manuscript written in 1937 and previously edited for KEN magazine, offers a critical perspective on societal conditioning and the manipulation of information. Thayer, adopting the persona of an infant, critiques the infantilization of the public through 'picture books,' 'music boxes,' and constant 'news' that maintain a state of 'adolescence.' She questions the invention and use of 'lie-detectors,' linking them to historical methods of divining falsehood and expressing concern about their potential for a 'terroristic Inquisition.'

Thayer also scrutinizes the 'free press' and its tendency to change its mind or get facts wrong. She discusses the sinking of a Greek freighter and the subsequent reporting, questioning the official narrative. The article touches upon the suppression of technologies like television, suggesting that economic interests and 'Public Policy' are preventing its widespread release. Thayer expresses fear for personal liberty, arguing that 'Democracy, Capitalism and/or Civilization' have made people infantile and susceptible to being 'sterilized or electrocuted' if deemed problematic by those in power.

The piece critiques the 'Institute for Propaganda Analysis,' viewing it as another form of propaganda that relies on 'education and science' as panaceas, which she believes have historically led to sterilization and confinement.

'THE NOTES OF CHARLES FORT'

This section continues a series of notes, resuming the story of 'Princess Caraboo' from a previous issue. It meticulously details the historical events surrounding Mary Baker, who posed as Princess Caraboo of Javasu. The notes, compiled from various newspaper clippings and sources, trace her appearance in Almondsbury, UK, in 1817, her examination by local authorities, her subsequent exhibition in Bristol, and the various individuals who were intrigued by her purported foreign origin and unknown language.

The narrative highlights the efforts to identify her, including the involvement of a Portuguese interpreter named Manuel Eynesso, and the eventual unmasking by a Mrs. Neale, who identified her as Mary Baker, a local girl. The notes detail her confession and subsequent journey to America, with the implication that she returned and lived a more humble life in Bristol, eventually dying in 1864 or 1865. The section also includes details about her daughter, Mary Ann Baker, who died in 1900 and was described as eccentric, and mentions her father possibly being a doctor and involved in the leech trade.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a critical stance towards established scientific and societal norms, echoing Charles Fort's own skepticism. There is a strong emphasis on independent thought and questioning authority, whether it be scientific dogma, governmental 'Public Policy,' or the narratives presented by the press. The inclusion of the 'Princess Caraboo' hoax serves as an example of deception and public gullibility, while Thayer's article directly addresses the manipulation of public perception and the potential for control through information and technology. The overall tone is one of challenging conventional wisdom and encouraging readers to think for themselves, aligning with the Fortean philosophy of investigating unexplained phenomena and questioning accepted explanations.