Author: Selena

Knitter. Librarian. Mom. Web Monkey.
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On May 24th…

“Chips” writes:
There is no activity recorded for May 24th in our Chronology. So, we are going to stray into one of my passions in the Sherlockian world.

From my Limerick Corner: I have a rather large collection of Sherlockian Limericks, and I am going to post a few on the case that our chronological dating just started on yesterday. The first limerick is by a rather well-known Sherlockian.

The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
by Isaac Asimov, BSI

Poor old Phelps faces prospects of doom
And yet all he can do is fume.
The pact’s gone — He was sentry —
There’s no sign of an entry
But our Holmes can decode the locked room

The next one was composed by a gentleman I had the pleasure of meeting and corresponding with on the first Sherlockian discussion forum on the Internet. The group is the Hounds of the Internet, which is still going, and I have the pleasure of being a member of it.

The gentleman I met was posting quite wonderful limericks of his own creation, one for every short story in the Canon. After talking about each limerick as he posted them, he asked for my email address as he had a little gift for me he wanted to send me. I received a copy of every one of his limericks with his permission to publish wherever I felt Sherlockians would enjoy them. I miss Don every day when I hear of or read a limerick… which is every day. I still wish I could have talked him into writing a limerick or two for each of the 4 novels. His answer was always the same, “I am too lazy to do that, It might take too much work.”

Rest in peace, Don.

The Adventure of the Naval Treaty
by Don Dillistone

Responding to Phelps’s entreaty
Holmes found the lost Naval Treaty
But the absconder
Was not from Yonder,
But brother to Phelps’s own Sweetie.
–Don Dillistone, April 2002

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On April 27th…

April 27, 1891: Holmes learned Moriarty had escaped. [FINA]

On the Monday morning Holmes had telegraphed to the London police, and in the evening we found a reply waiting for us at our hotel. Holmes tore it open, and then with a bitter curse hurled it into the grate.

“I might have known it,” he groaned. “He has escaped!”

“Moriarty?”

“They have secured the whole gang with the exception of him. He has given them the slip. Of course, when I had left the country there was no one to cope with him. But I did think that I had put the game in their hands.[…]”

Jared Harris as Moriarty in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Date provided by the volume A Day-by-Day Chronology of Mr. Sherlock Holmes, according to Zeisler and Christ, compiled and edited by William S Dorn.

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On April 5th…

Illustration by Sidney Paget for The Strand Magazine (1893)

April 5, 1883: Grant Munro stayed home from his office for a second day. [YELL]

I determined to say nothing about the former to my wife, for she is a nervous, highly-strung woman, and I had no wish that she should share the unpleasant impression which had been produced upon myself. I remarked to her, however, before I fell asleep that the cottage was now occupied, to which she returned no reply.

Source
A Day by Day Chronology of Sherlock Holmes according to Ziesler and Christ by William S Dorn DWNP, BSI.

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Quiz Results: Tuscan Luxury

Enrico Solito (“Devon”) sent us a very tricky quiz question indeed, with the only correct answer coming from the team of Sheila Holtgrieve (“Daisy”) and Margie Deck (“Mopsy”), who wrote:

Engraved portrait of Giovanni Boccaccio by Raffaello Sanzio Morghen (1822)

The Tuscan is Giovanni Boccaccio.  He famous book, the Decameron, was found amongst Enoch J. Drebber’s pocket contents in the house at Lauriston Gardens (STUD, p. 30).  It was found with the luxury items of a gold watch by Barraud of London, a heavy gold chain, a gold ring, a gold pin with rubies in the bull dog’s head, and a Russian leather card case.  Wow—this man had some bucks!

Also, the history of the Decameron plus some story threads in the individual stories may have some relation to/similarity with A Thousand and One Nights. mentioned in NOBL, p. 296 in connection with the luxuries of the “epicurean little cold supper” that Holmes ordered.

Honourable Mention goes to Robert Perret (“Sampson”), who suggested:

Do you perhaps refer to Goldini, the proprietor of a garish restaurant in BRUC? I understand his cigars, likely the famous Toscanos, are less poisonous than one might expect.

Well done, all three of you, and thank you again, “Devon”!

If you’ve been bitten by the bug to create your own Canonical Quiz, send questions (and answers, please!) to Selena.

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A Consultation with the John H Watson Society

On April 13, 2013, the John H Watson Society held its very first “consultation” – toasts were given, food was eaten, and drinks were drunken. It’s high time this tradition was revived, and the upcoming 221B Con gives us the perfect opportunity!Watsonian badge ribbons

Of course, those who have perused the Con Schedule know that the weekend is already jam-packed. But you need to eat (and drink).

(Trust me on this; I’m a mom.)

Join me (“Selena Buttons”) in the bar area of the Atlanta Marriott Perimeter Center for conversation, drinks, munchies, and an all-round good time on Saturday, April 8, at 10:00pm EDT. Internet permitting, there will also be an open Google Hangout for those of you who can’t make it to Atlanta to join in virtually. There will be “Watsonian” badge ribbons, too.

Hope to see you there!

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State of the John H Watson Society 2017

We are approaching the Society’s fourth birthday in April, and it has been a full year since I stepped into the role of “Boy in Buttons”. It has been a year of changes and challenges – some expected, and some not. I wanted to take a moment to look back, and then a moment to look forward.

Looking Back

Society Symbol designed by Ariana Maher (JHWS “Carla”)

During the last year, we made some significant changes to our membership structure. We moved from two-year memberships beginning at any time to annual memberships based on the calendar year. We introduced a Paperless Membership option, for those who prefer to receive publications in digital form. Membership beginning and renewal dates are now easily found on our Member Page. You can easily renew your membership, too.

Our members were active in the larger Sherlockian world in the last year, attending 221B Con in Atlanta, the Birthday Weekend Festivities in New York City, and “Watson Washington” in Seattle. The Society was a sponsor of “Watson Washington”, as well, and two of our members were Guests of Honor, while several members spoke on panels, including a very special panel called “A Society for our Dear Doctor”.

We published new titles in our Fiction Series and our Monograph Series, and we continued to publish our outstanding journal, The Watsonian, the next issue of which is currently in production.

Our website has been busy, with daily Tid Bits from Ron Lies (JHWS “Chips”) and regular book reviews by Elise Elliot (JHWS “Lucy”). Thanks to Margie Deck (JHWS “Mopsy”), several members were interviewed as part of our Friend & Biographer series, giving us a chance to get to know each other better. More of those interviews will be published in the coming months.

I am very proud of all that we have accomplished, and I look forward to the future of the John H Watson Society!

Looking Forward

As many of you know, the Watson Society has always been a labor of love from dedicated volunteers. The Society has no paid employees, and it has taken a team to keep everything running smoothly. That team has been fairly flexible, with folks stepping in as needed.

As we look toward the future, we are moving toward a more formal structure. We will be defining more of the leadership and board responsibilities and bringing some new people into those positions. Our long-time Treasurer, Andrea Stewart (JHWS “Asta”) has stepped down from the role and passed it on to our “Mopsy”.

Being an online society, with our membership spread far and wide, we hope to provide more opportunities for members to connect and communicate. Some possibilities are a full discussion forum here on the site, virtual hang-outs and video chats, and in-person meet-ups at larger events. We want to hear from you about what you want to see!

When I first found the John H Watson Society, I knew that it was the place I wanted to be. Don Libey, the original JHWS “Buttons”, made it a warm and welcoming site that valued both “the wisdom and background of great Sherlockians and the enthusiasm of those newly drawn to The Game”. We remain the open and inclusive worldwide online Sherlockian society, and we remain mostly about having fun. Thank you for joining, commenting, reading, and participating in whatever way you enjoy.

Best,

-Beth Gallego, “Selena Buttons”

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On March 15th…

Joaquim de Almeida as Sherlock Holmes

Joaquim de Almeida was born March 15, 1957, in Lisbon, Portugal.

In 2001, he played Sherlock Holmes in the Brazilian film O Xangô de Baker Street, based on the 1995 novel by Jô Soares (published in English as A Samba for Sherlock). He won a Portuguese Golden Globe for Best Actor for the role.

Source:
Information provided by the volume A Curious Collection of Dates by by Leah Guinn (JHWS “Amber”) and Jaime N Mahoney (JHWS “Tressa”).

Posted by The Dynamic Duo: Ron (JHWS “Chips”) and Beth (JHWS “Selena Buttons”)

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Sherlock’s Delight and Watson’s Dream

Yes, those are definitely oranges.

Given the happenings involving the “Five Orange Pips”, I’m not sure “delighted” is the adjective Holmes would use upon encountering some oranges, but this fruit crate label certainly caught my attention.

From the information I could find, Ted W Holmes purchased the Blanton Packing Co warehouse in Pasco County, Florida, in 1956. He used it for two weeks every December to package gift fruit as a hobby until his death in 1989. In 2000, his son donated the entire packinghouse to the Pioneer Florida Museum Association for use as a citrus museum. The building and its contents were dismantled, moved, and reassembled for exhibit at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village. The Association plans to re-construct it as a working educational structure on their property. (It doesn’t look like the project has gotten very far. That’s a shame.)


While looking for information on the Holmes Fruit Co, I also found a nearly identical label for “Watson’s Dream” oranges. We’re always glad to see Watson get equal billing! Even if it’s still Holmes in the picture. I’d like to know more about the Holmes Fruit Co – I couldn’t find much out there. It looks like it only operated at Christmastime, and it’s not clear if the fruit was sold as a seasonal gift or perhaps given away. What do you think?

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A Quiz – and a New Book! – from Italy

This week’s quiz question comes from Enrico Solito (JHWS “Devon”), who asks:

Who is the Tuscan connected with luxury in the Canon?

For full marks, name the Tuscan and explain the Canonical connection. Send your answers by email to the JHWS Quizmaster by March 26.

We’re also pleased to announce that our “Devon” is among the contributors to His Everlasting Bow: Italian Studies in Sherlock Holmes, edited by Alessandra Calanchi (JHWS “Bianca”) and Stephen Knight, published by Aras Edizioni.

The description from the publisher sounds most intriguing:

Are Sherlock Holmes studies outdone? Has everything already been said and written about Baker Street, the Baskervilles, and the like? This volume answers these questions and dispels any doubts on the matter by presenting some of the most recent and original Italian scholarship focussing on the Sacred Canon and its long-lasting legacy in the international arena. From coding strategies to collecting Sherlockiana, from war(s) in Afghanistan to literary tourism, from the TV series of the 1960s to today’s tweets, His Everlasting Bow marks the state-of-art studies in the field and opens new fascinating trajectories of interpretation and research. The contribution of eminent scholars is matched by some outstanding pastiches and the experimental work of a group of young researchers.
Professor Stephen Knight’s foreword is simply the icing on the cake. And a treat is in store for the Sherlock Holmes Society of Italy Uno Studio in Holmes, as this volume is intended as a gift on the occasion of its 30th birthday (Florence 1987). His Everlasting Bow is also dedicated to the memory of Nando Gazzolo (1928-2015), the only Italian actor who has ever interpreted the Great Detective.

Contributors (in order of appearance): Valerio Viviani, Gabriele Mazzoni, Caterina Marrone, Enrico Solito, Stella Mattioli, Enrico and Fabio Petrella, Alessandra Calanchi and Nando Gazzolo, Marco Grassi, Luca Sartori, Gian Italo Bischi, Raniero Bastianelli, Matteo Bischi, Ruben Costa, Luisa Fanucci, Elena Garbugli, Adele Guerra, Francesca Secci, Stefano Serafini.

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On March 2nd… Beeton’s Birthday

by Julian Portch, photograph of crayon drawing, (circa 1853)

On March 2, 1831, Samuel Orchart Beeton was born in London.

To the rest of the world, if the name Beeton means anything, it brings to mind Isabella Beeton’s classic Book of Household Management, a staple reference for British households for well over a century and, as of this writing, still in print.

In the world of Sherlock Holmes, however, the name means only one thing: Beeton’s Christmas Annual. More specifically, it means the 1887 edition with its image of a boy lighting a lamp and the title, A Study in Scarlet, featured so prominently that it dwarfs all the others, and may as well be the only one in the magazine. Which is, of course, how it should be.

The eponymous publisher of the Christmas Annual did not live to see this particular issue, having died of tuberculous ten years before. He had a rapid rise to the top and just as fast a fall. Before he died, Beeton found himself forced to sell off to Ward, Lock, and Taylor.

Original copies of the magazine are valuable collector’s items, considered “”the most expensive magazine in the world” by the Antique Trader Vintage Magazines Price Guide. A copy sold at Sotheby’s in 2007 for $156,000.

Source
From the great volume A Curious Collection of Dates by Leah Guinn (JHWS “Amber”) and Jaime N Mahoney (JHWS “Tressa”). Additional information from Randall Stock’s “Best of Sherlock Holmes“.

Posted by Chips and Selena Buttons, co-columnists.

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On February 26th… An Artist

Illustration by F H Townsend for The Sign of Four (1913)

Illustrator Fredrick Henry Townsend was born in London on February 26, 1868.

He is one of the lesser known artists who drew Sherlock Holmes illustrations for Sherlockian stories and other magazines and books. Mr Townsend also illustrated works by other authors of the era, including Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, and Charlotte Bronte. He is perhaps best known for having been the first Art Editor of Punch magazine.

Sources
Information came from the volume A Curious Collection of Dates, by Leah Guinn (JHWS “Amber”) and Jaime N Mahoney (JHWS “Tressa”), with additional information from Spartacus Educational.

Posted by The Dynamic Duo Co-columnists, Ron (JHWS “Chips”) and Beth (JHWS “Selena”).

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Villainesses, Adventuresses, and Other Canonical Women

In front of him, in the full glare of the electric light, there stood a tall slim, dark woman, a veil over her face, a mantle drawn round her chin. [CHAS]
Last week, author Michelle Birkby [Elise Elliot (JHWS “Lucy”) has reviewed both The Women of Baker Street and The House at Baker Street as part of our Dr Watson’s Library] was featured in iNews with an article called “The Female Villains in Sherlock Holmes Were Ahead of Their Time”.

Comparing the women in contemporaneous works – like Collins’ Armadale, Braddon’s Lady Audley’s Secret, and Dickens’ Bleak House – with some memorable Canonical women – like Sophy Kratides, Kitty Winter, and the unnamed mysterious lady who appears in “The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton” – she says:

The bad women of Victorian literature lose. They have to, or what’s the world coming to? They are hanged, or kill themselves to save their loved ones, or just go mad.

No matter what their crime, if they deviate from the perfect Victorian woman, they must be punished.

Except for the female villains of the Sherlock Holmes stories. They get away with it.

(Why was a certain obvious name left off that list of “memorable Canonical women”? Birkby states right off the bat that “Irene Adler, from A Scandal in Bohemia, is, despite nearly every screen adaptation ever, not a villain.” Her reasons for this assertion are very clearly laid out, just in case anyone needed convincing. And for more on the topic, see Esther Inglis-Arkell’s io9 post from 2013, “Why can’t any recent Sherlock Holmes adaptation get Irene Adler right?”)

A good number of Canonical women defy the Victorian ideal of femininity, whether they be villainesses, adventuresses, or something else entirely. Birkby offers some thoughts on why this might be. What do you think? Who is your favorite Canonical woman (villain or not!), and why?

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Test Your Canonical Knowledge

Sherlockian author Tim Symonds let us know about a Canonical quiz he composed over at Education Quizzes: Fictional Characters – Sherlock Holmes. (Wait a second…. What’s this fictional business?!) I scored 100%, but the best part is the additional information revealed once you submit your answer to each question.

Tim Symonds is author of five novels about Holmes and Watson. The most recent is Sherlock Holmes and the Nine-Dragon Sigil. (A review will be posted later this week, so watch this space!)

It’s the year 1906. Rumours abound that a deadly plot is hatching – not in the fog-ridden back-alleys of London’s Limehouse district or the sinister Devon moors of the Hound of the Baskervilles but in faraway Peking. Holmes’s task – discover whether such a plot exists and if so, foil it.

China’s fate and the interests of Britain’s Empire in the Orient could be at stake.

Holmes and Watson take up the mission with their customary confidence – until they find they are no longer in the familiar landscapes of Edwardian England. Instead, they tumble into the Alice In Wonderland world of the Forbidden City in Peking.

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Is Elementary Better Than Sherlock?

Noah Berlatsky recently posted an essay at Splice Today called “Elementary is Better than Sherlock”. He argues that the CBS series is better than the BBC series. In the end, he makes the bold assertion that “it is in fact the best Sherlock show.”

Being something of a nitpicker myself, I find some of his claims a bit specious, and his focus seems to center on proving why BBC Sherlock is worse than Elementary, rather than why the latter is better than the former. He echoes some of the complaints heard elsewhere about the fourth season (and especially the final episode) of Sherlock.

Still, the head-to-head comparison of Sherlock Holmes as written for CBS and portrayed by Johnny Lee Miller and Sherlock Holmes as written for the BBC and portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch is interesting to chew on. Their respective Watsons come under examination, too. Berlatsky favors the way Liu’s “Watson not infrequently catches details in a case that Sherlock misses” over the way “Freeman’s John Watson really is as far beneath Sherlock mentally as Sherlock says he is.”

I know we have BBC and CBS fans among our members. Elise Eliot (JHWS “Lucy”) contributed a thoughtful essay on “Why Joan Watson is Exceptional” to the Fall 2016 issue of The Watsonian. In the Spring 2015 issue, Michael J Quigley (JHWS “Roy”) and Christopher Zordan (JHWS “Flash”) compiled a list of eight key Watsonian traits. They measured several Watson portrayals against this rubric: Freeman’s John matched 8/8, and Liu’s Joan made a good showing with 6/8. (One of the two missing traits is patriotism as evidenced by military service. Joan as a former Army doctor would have been really cool. I wish the folks behind Elementary had made that a part of her story.)

Personally, I’m a fan of both shows. If you love one or both of the shows, I’d love to hear why in the comments.

[This should go without saying, but, well, it is the Internet, so…. We at the Watson Society firmly believe that we can have different opinions and discuss them without attacking one another. Be excellent to each other.]

[Comments have been set to moderation.]

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Call for Submissions: Watsonian Deadline Approaching!

Calling all Writers and Illustrators!

This is a reminder that the deadline for the Spring 2017 issue of The Watsonian is February 15th, which is coming up soon.

The Society welcomes scholarly papers, articles, original fiction, miscellanea or other submissions. One need not be an experienced or academic writer; some of our most engaging articles come from individuals with a love for the writing and appreciation for the pleasures gained over the years.There is always room for your research, thoughts, ideas and creativity. The Society is an inclusive group; we desire interested Watsonians to take part and to approach the Society with innovative projects. Whether you are a first time author is not important; that you try is what counts.

Submissions should be up-to-date Word documents and sent via email attachment to: pippin@johnhwatsonsociety.com.

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Trifles!

Scott Monty, JHWS “Woolley”, and Burt Wolder, JHWS “Taylor”, have launched a brand-new podcast called “Trifles” – and we all know there’s nothing more important than trifles!

You might be familiar with them as the hosts of the excellent podcast, “I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere”. How is this different? While IHOSE is a long-format podcast that covers a wide range of happenings in the Sherlockian world, “Trifles” consists of weekly 15-minute episodes focused on Canonical topics.

I’ve listened to the first four episodes and found them delightful. There are so many delicious topics to chew on, so I’m looking forward to many more! Give them a listen and let us know what you think in the comments.

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Crafty Fans

“Geek Mom” Lisa Tate posted “Crafting the Detective: My History of ‘Sherlock’ Projects” over at GeekDad the other day, sharing some pretty nifty Sherlock-inspired craft projects she’s done.

I recently finished an especially Watsonian project myself, a pair of socks in a pattern inspired by the cabled jumper worn by Martin Freeman’s John Watson in the first season of BBC Sherlock.

The pattern is available (with some helpful tips for certain parts!) at Sherry Menton’s site, The Textured Knitter.

I’ve also tried my hand at some Sherlockian papercrafts, like the origami black lotus flower and Barachiki’s fancy paper snowflakes. (The original snowflake tutorial is gone from tumblr, but there’s a copy on Archive.org here.)

Have you done any Holmesian or Watsonian craft projects? Have you seen some interesting projects from other fans?

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Beacon Society Jan Stauber Grant Applications Available

A good number of our members are also affiliated with the Beacon Society. (If you’re not familiar with this excellent organization, please do check out their recently redesigned web site.) They currently invite applications for the Jan Stauber grant.

The Beacon Society proudly announces that, once again, grants to U.S. and Canadian teachers, librarians, Sherlockian literary societies are available. The grants, in honor of a wonderful Sherlockian, Jan Stauber, will provide up to $500 to fund the development of a project that will introduce young people to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s stories about his famous fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes.

Interested individuals and organizations are invited to apply for the Beacon Society’s major funding project. The grant period will be from 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.

The Beacon Society is a not-for-profit affiliate of the Baker Street Irregulars, the New York City-based group of Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts founded in 1934.

More information on the grant, as well as the grant application may be found at the Society’s website: http://www.beaconsociety.com/the-jan-stauber-grant.html

We encourage you to apply and look forward to hearing about the projects!

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Membership Page Update!

Have you visited our Society Members page lately? It’s had a bit of a remodel. You can now see members by name or by moniker without having to go to a different page!

Members can also now easily see their joining date and current membership end date. Please have a look and let “Selena Buttons” know if you catch a mistake or if you have additional information (like local scion society memberships) to add to your listing.

Speaking of membership end dates, if your membership ended on December 31st of 2016, now is a great time to renew, so you don’t miss out on the upcoming Spring issue of the Watsonian. If your membership ends on June 30th of 2017, you can renew your membership through December 2018 now and not have to worry about missing the fabulous Fall Watsonian.

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Congratulations to Six Members Receiving BSI Honours

The Society extends congratulations to six members on their investitures into the Baker Street Irregulars at this past weekend’s Annual Dinner in New York.

They are:

  • Charles Blanksteen, JHWS “Patch”, BSI “Cavendish Square”
  • Ross Davies, JHWS “Maximus”, BSI “The Temple”
  • Bonnie MacBird, JHWS “Lady”, BSI “Art In the Blood”
  • Charles Prepolec, JHWS “Jasper”, BSI “The Man with the Twisted Lip”
  • Michael Quigley, JHWS “Roy”, BSI “A Large Brass Bound Safe”
  • Christopher Zordan, JHWS “Flash”, BSI “Bunsen Burner”

All of the members of the Society join in extending our congratulations on this distinctive honour for all of you.

The Society also thanks the fine gentlemen at “I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere” – AKA Scott Monty, JHWS “Woolley” and BSI “Corporal Henry Wood”, and Burt Wolder, JHWS “Taylor” and BSI “Third Pillar from the Left” – for keeping us up to date on the goings-on via Twitter.