The Wheat of Virgin Spaces

Talking of old frauds, read this description of a dinner, by Aleister Crowley; say what you like about the Wickedest Man in the World, he knew how to live…

From the Simon Iff series “Suffer the Little Children”, originally published in 1917:

“The wind was somewhat taken out of his sails by the appearance of Simon Iff at dinner in full evening dress.  He had ordered the meal, moreover:  oysters, clear green turtle, pompano en papillote, mallard duck au sang with coeur de palmier salad, bavaroise au chocolat, and a savoury invented by himself consisting of Toast Melba spread with mushrooms, anchovies, olives and pimento made into a paste.  This was covered with bay-leaves, on which was spread a mixture of caviar, raw onions, ginseng, and Bombay Duck, sprinkled lightly with powdered hashish.”“The wine list was equally elaborate.  Cocktails consisting of two teasepoonfuls of liqueur brandy, one of Curacoa, and one of laudanum preceded the repast.  With the oysters he caused Chablis to be served, with the soup Tokay, with the fish Chateau Yquem.  The duck was accompanied by Mumm Cordon Rouge 1904.  The sweet was enriched by a marvelous sauce with a basis of Creme de Cacao, and the savoury fortified with an astonishingly fine Burgundy of incomparable body and bouquet.  The coffee was Turkish, prepared by Simon himself at the table, and perfected by the addition of an aromatic consisting of essential oil of cedar-wood and ambergris.”“The liqueurs were Green Chartreuse of the original shipping, a particular Absinthe from a private still belonging to a friend of Simon Iff living in Switzerland among the crags of Jura, and an introuvable Metternich brandy.  With the nuts came Château Margaux, Port, and a Madeira dating from William the Fourth.” 

Well, to start this seems just right: a pun on the French proverb “Dans le doute abstiens-toi” - When in doubt, abstain. But when you’re in the Doubs region - the home of La Fee Verte - why then, have an absinthe like everyone else. It’s in that spirit of green-tinged excess that I offer these occasional thoughts, comments and travel reports. So pull up a chair, carefully - for absinthe must never be rushed - pour yourself a large Verte, and, as that old fraud Hemingway said, let its “tongue-numbing, brain warming, idea changing liquid alchemy” work its magic.