Notes from Blackdog Bog: Alice and Mushrooms

“This time Alice waited patiently until it chose to speak again. In a minute or two the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its mouth and yawned once or twice, and shook itself. Then it got down off the mushroom, and crawled away in the grass, merely remarking as it went, 'One side will make you grow taller, and the other side will make you grow shorter.'” 1

During a recent trip north, a friend and I ended up tromping through the woods in pursuit of wild mushrooms. No, not morels – those are sought in the spring – but Chanterelles – bright orange fungi that resemble anemones one would find while diving a reef. We trudged up and down a rolling

Chanterelles in the wild

forested landscape and managed to collect close to three pounds of these delicious treats.

Records indicate that Chanterelles have been collected and eaten as long ago as the 1500s – not surprising because their apricot aroma and peppery taste makes them a delightful addition to nearly any dish. If you go collecting, be aware that imposters are prevalent in the same habitat.

That things are not always as they seem, reminds me of my recent reread of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (and who doesn’t love the hookah smoking caterpillar perched on the magic mushroom?). I can confidently report: it’s a weird read. The prose is messy, challenging, and nonsensical. It is also, however, a delight. Who can’t smile when such word play is proffered?

'And how many hours a day did you do lessons?' said Alice, in a hurry to change the subject.

'Ten hours the first day,' said the Mock Turtle: 'nine the next, and so on.'

'What a curious plan!' exclaimed Alice.

'That's the reason they're called lessons,' the Gryphon remarked: 'because they lessen from day to day.' 2

This tale of Alice, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit, Bill the Lizard, the Queen, and others was actually banned at one time in U.S. school systems because of perceived sexual references and in China because animals spoke and were portrayed at the same level of humans. In other words, Lewis’ speech wasn’t deemed “correct.”

I believe we face some real challenges to free speech and true intellectual debate because of the tightening noose of political correctness. I might be particularly sensitive to the phenomenon since I work on a university campus that once had a speech code – violation of which could result in discipline up to and including expulsion or termination.

Now, I don’t advocate being hateful or inconsiderate. I do, however, believe that one should be able to speak freely whether or not one’s words are popular. I’d never support the marching Nazis, but I’d support their right to march. Their stance on most things, to me, is abhorrent and offensive – guess what, I have no Constitutional protections against being offended. I do, however, have Constitutional protections for my speech.

I acknowledge that freedom of speech hasn’t always been played on a level field – many groups and individuals have been suppressed in our great nation’s history. That wasn’t right. Similarly, it isn’t right to suppress any individuals or groups today.

But, back to the caterpillar; enjoy Grace Slick’s performance at Woodstock some 44 years ago: