Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 56 — page 118: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

SYMBIOSIS and curse the weather. And that was the way of it on the night that George Burnett arrived to see his friend Montague. John’s house was one of those old Victorian places with a high wall round it, and over the top of the wall at the back you could get a glimpse of glass and white- painted wood which was the top of his “Crystal Palace.” It was the excuse that John always. put forward when he was asked why he, a bachelor, should want such a great place to himself. Of course there was Rayson, who had been with John for years, and who looked after him, the house and the Crystal Palace. ““Good evening, sir,” Ray- son greeted him in the hall. He took his master’s coat and noticed that the corners of his master’s lips were inclined to droop. “I have put a little hot whisky in the den,” he went on, “and there is a Mr. Burnett waiting to see you.’ Rayson took the coat and scarf which John gave 117 him and then disappeared in the direction of the kitchen, to produce, a little later, an excellent meal. During the meal the two friends exchanged their news, and afterwards, with pipes glowing and sighs of appre- ciation at Rayson’s efforts, they settled in the den. John stretched his corduroy- clad legs to the fire and blew smoke to the ceiling. “I’m very content here. Not that I should have that out- look. Entirely wrong, as old Physis would say. He doesn’t believe in contentment. For a botanist I have never met a man so discontented.” ““Who’s Physis?’ asked Burnett with interest. **Just another research man, but he looks as old as the hills and has a _ hundred different theories about plants. He thinks the vegetable king- dom will revolt against man one day and refuse to be pushed about, eaten, culti- vated, mutated and experi- mented with any longer.” “Well, it’s an original idea,” comicloooks.com