Native-grown American Substances, and their Effects [vague gener

[Bill Millard]

Today's Electronick Post affords a rare Opportunity for a bit of 
good-natur'd Razzing of a Friend within the Pynchon-Community . . .
















Behold a sample of the Prose of our Eric,-- who from this Excerpt 
clearly appears to merit the Honorifick "Professor Weinstein," a 
sober and erudite Poetickal and Litterary Gent,-- as written 
whilst he was in Albion, before his recent Journey to the barbarian 
Shores of the American Colonies:

> Wallace  Stevens' very late, very great poem "The Rock" is divided
> into three parts. The last part is called Forms of The Rock In a
> Night Hymn. I'm not pretending any great concordance here--for
> there are differences of theme and register. Yet there is something
> which resonates between these two small lyrical nodes at the edge
> of monumental achievement. If any of you don't know the poem, I
> hope you enjoy this excerpt: [ . . . ] 

No Madness therein.  In contrast, here is Eric, after his famous, or 
perhaps notorious, American Visit:

> Thought you'd tried everything? YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET! Learn
> to Read BIG books! Develop the tricks of idea Extension! Bring your
> *weirdest dreams* to rampaging LIFE! Turn off the air-con and
> breath the bug-gy air, you elderly wimps!

>  WISE UP! *They're* out to get you. And your car. And you
> inflatable equipment.  And your portable, almost paid-up M.I.N.D.

> The "different" are being silenced by a global conspiracy-- and by
> faulty PA wireing, also. WEIRDOS ARISE, (slowly, not all at
> once)!! You probably already knew that the British and U.S.
> Governments are a SHAM- something propped up there for you to
> *blame*. But did you know that the *real* "powers that be" are not
> even *people*? That they are actually shambling, unbelievable,
> unmentionable, unthinkable THINGS??

> YES! [S.h.e.l.l.]  *IS* AN ALIEN AND STILL THREATENS THIS PLANET! ...

> Dr. Nay, High Diddly Do
> Hairy Tunnel Under Manchester Airport
> Gin.Fitz.

And so forth.  Whether Eric penn'd this Sample of Prose, or found it 
somewhere on the Webb and selected it for our Edification, one must 
in either case consider the assorted References in _Mason & 
Dixon_ to America as a wild, mysterious, and magickal Region, and 
perhaps speculate about the nature of that Country's unusual Effects 
on our Eric. . . .

y'r ob'd't etc., 
Bill

(Hi, Eric. Hope you're feeling OK...)