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expressions of friendly feelings among the three delusional Christs. Leon was less withdrawn, more friendly, and he was, much of the time, in contact with reality. He was, in other words, getting better. It is our guess that Leon did not want to get better. He did not want to get any closer to us, or to Joseph or to Clyde. He was only too aware of the implications of getting better, and he was frightened of them. He had become sick originally for very good reasons, and the reasons had not changed. Thus, although he needed companionship, he wanted it only up to a point, and this point had already been reached and passed. He was beginning to care too much for Joseph and Clyde (and perhaps for us too), and he needed to return to his earlier state of isolation from his fellow man.

January 22, 1960

Report on discussion meeting of Friday.

Talked about optometry; and Mr. Joseph Cassel, Sir, said he needs glasses, he said he spoke with Dr. Prince, Sir, and he made an excuse and passed it off, Mr. Joseph Cassel, Sir, would like to have a pair of glasses, if Devine Providence permits.

We discussed dung.

We sat in meditative silence. We opened meeting 5:20 p.m. with verse 2 of America. Closed meeting with verse 3. Closed meeting 6:00 p.m.

Dr. R. I. Dung

January 29. At a meeting, I mention to Leon that I had noticed an article about Sir Edmund Hillary in Life magazine. Hillary was going on an expedition to look for the Yeti, the Abominable Snowman. Leon responds emphatically and angrily: “I have news for Sir Hillary. He better not go there. The Yeti people did not invite him and they do not want to be bothered.”

February 12. Today we witness what is to be one of the last manifestations of the positive feelings which had prevailed before Leon changed his name. The three men have just finished peeling potatoes in the vegetable room (they had been transferred because the work was easier for Clyde), and Joseph and Leon move toward the door, about to leave. Leon halts at the door, saying: “Just a minute, Benson is still cleaning.”

February 26. A snowstorm prevents us from attending the meeting today. Arrangements are made by phone for an aide to meet with the men, and to record the proceedings on tape.

Leon is chairman. There is a period of silence while he signs his name—Dr. R. I. Dung Sir—on the Chairman List. They sing America. More silence.

“The floor is open for complaints,” Leon finally says. “If there are no questions or problems to be discussed, we can be in silence. You can snooze or snore as far as I’m concerned, and enjoy yourself in silence.”

Silence. The aide asks Joseph if he has anything to discuss. “The chairman’s duty is to bring up a subject,” Joseph comments. To this, Leon responds: “I discovered you get ensnared if you talk for the sake of talking.”

Joseph talks about the snowstorm and about his stomach getting better. Clyde says Joseph is looking better. Joseph discusses going back to work.

The aide tries to get Leon to talk. Leon says he’s resting. On the urging of the aide, Clyde talks about his money, whereupon Leon discourses briefly on the misuse of hands and feet as negative behavior. But the three men soon lapse into silence again and when Leon is once more reminded of his duties as chairman he says merely that silence is golden. He then goes to the toilet.

For a while Joseph talks about his job and about the fact that his wife does not want him to be released from the hospital, and Clyde speaks further about his carloads of money. When Leon returns from the toilet, Joseph says it’s time to adjourn. “Excellent idea, sir,” Leon agrees. They sing and adjourn.

June 13. Today we obtain some further insights into why Leon spends so much time in the toilet. He tells us during the daily meeting that he has made a relic by taking nine sheets of cigarette paper and blessing them with actual seed. He has blessed eight sheets, five without trimming, three with. He prays in the toilet. Joseph says that you can’t bless without the proper materials. To this, Leon replies that Joseph has a penis and testicles