doesn't get snoopy and start reading the refuse, there will be no ill effects on anyone—(providing the editor hadn't read it in the first place—and in the case that he did—well, there's places for people like that. New editors are cheap nowadays, anyway.)

FAMOUS FANTASY FANS

2—Conrad H. Ruppert

Heart disease was CHR's means of becoming introduced to science fiction. Confined to bed he was given a copy of Science and Invention which he read and re-read many times, liking its science fiction story, "The Man on the Meteor" by Ray Cummings, best of all. He never lost one whit of his interest in fantasy fiction, and has become a keen judge of what is best in this field.

Always retiring in nature, he first came to notice in a vigorous campaign he conducted for increasing the membership of the International Scientific Association, and for innovating a Science Fiction Week. Hugo Gernsback was so pleased with this latter idea, and with CHR's work in trying to put it over, that CHR was awarded a $50 prize in the "What I Have Done for Science Fiction" contest that Science Wonder Quarterly conducted at that time.

His pet idea for many years was to issue a science fiction fan magazine. The Depression decided him upon the desperate expedient of launching the SCIENCE FICTION DIGEST without adequate preparation. Unwilling to take any credit for the work he appointed Maurice Z. Ingher as the Digest's editor, but when Mr. Ingher was forced to resign because of other duties, he reluctantly took the editorship. There is plenty of testimony to satisfy all as to the success he has attained with his little magazine, the SCIENCE FICTION DIGEST.

As for his age, and other personal points, he is 21, unmarried, and considers life quite thrilling. He is a printer by occupation, being one of the partners of the ARRA Printers, who have given the fans several science fiction pamphlets.

Though he declares he is not modest, he cannot be convinced that he has done anything unusual. It is his courage and determination that has carried the 'Science Fiction Digest' through the rough spots of its career, and it is stern judgement that selects the articles and stories which so please the readers of SFD, or FANTASY Magazine, as it will be called.

The word "weird" as meaning bizarre probably originated with Edgar Allan Poe, who was one of the greatest coiner of words. Is his poem "Ulalume," he speaks of the country of "Weir" from which the word "weird" was derived to describe anything horrible or unique.