Category: News

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Today, March 4 . . .

March 4, 1881: Drebber was poisoned and died. Or was it a justifiable retribution? A woman’s wedding ring was found.

March 4, 1881: “What on earth is this?” I cried, for at this moment there came the pattering of many steps in the hall and on the stairs, accompanied by audible expressions of disgust upon the part of our landlady.

“It’s the Baker Street division of the detective police force,” said my companion gravely; and as he spoke there rushed into the room half a dozen of the dirtiest and most ragged street Arabs that ever I clapped eyes on.”  From A Study in Scarlett.

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Weekly Forum: 2015 #10 Details . . . Details . . .Details

This week’s forum concerns the nagging details that separate the Canonical masters from the apprentices, and are the hallmark of the Sherlockian psyche.

Throughout the Canon, Dr Watson wrote references to illumination; specifically, lamps.  How many different types of lamps are found in the Canon . . . interior, exterior, celestial . . . .?

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March . . . Daily Happenings by Holmes and Watson

Ron Lies “Chips” has provided the Members with a calendar of Canonical events for March.  Check back at “Chips’ Tid Bits” periodically and see if you remember these daily happenings and can name the book or story.

March 3, 1881: Businessmen Drebber and Strangerson bid adieu to Madame Charpentier.

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Weekly Quiz: 2015 #10 A True Mystery

RESULTS:  No one successfully plumbed the depths of the quiz question this week.

ANSWER: Peregrine Phillips was from Bristol.  He invented the process to distill H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) commercially at low cost.  He was, therefore, considered the 19th century “Father of H2SO4” which was called commonly “vitriol.”  From there, you can quickly get to Kitty Winter, the pain of Baron Gruner, and ILLUS.  Vitriol is also mentioned in BLUE.  The real Baron Gruner died in 1860, well before the story, but he apparently was borrowed by Watson for authenticity.

Okay. You don’t care for genealogy.  Here is a deductive mystery for this week:

This Bristol Peregrine was indirectly the cause of pain to a European nobleman who died in 1860.  Identify the nobleman, the Peregrine, the link, and the story or book in which the reference occurs.

Please submit solutions to this very difficult quiz question to Buttons by noon Wednesday, March 4.

Good luck!

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Le Guide du Film Sherlock Holmes by Thierry Saint-Joanis

The Society has received a copy of the astounding new publication detailing the research accomplished by our esteemed Member and Leader of Societe Sherlock Holmes de France, Thierry Saint-Joanis “Tristan” with the collaboration of Society Member Alexis Barquin “Olivier,” Bernard Oudin, and Stephen Almaseanu, and with thanks to la Cinematique Francaise.

Essanay film

The large-format, 66 page publication provides in-depth articles, reviews, original documents, profiles and a plethora of photos of the various actors, clips, sets, and a wealth of additional information on the recently discovered 1916 film originally made by Essanay and starring the incomparable William Gillette as Sherlock Holmes and Edward Fielding as Dr Watson. One must believe that reading the book may just be more enjoyable than watching the movie; it truly is that good.

As this film was only recently discovered, the publication is absolutely masterful for its scope and coverage, as well as detailed documentation of the film, in so short a period of time. Our French colleagues have demonstrated their remarkable scholarship as well as publishing skills with this magnificent book.

The Society extends its admiration and congratulations to Societe Sherlock Holmes de France, and to Thierry Saint-Joanis, Alexis Barquin, and their associates for producing this seminal work on this milestone film in the Sherlocian milieu.

Requests for information on obtaining a copy may be sent to:  http://www.sshf.com/boutique.php

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Weekly Forum: 2015 #9

This week’s forum asks you to name your favourite character from the Canon in a film or TV series.

henry baker

For instance, Buttons’ all-time TV series favourite character is Mr Henry Baker as played by Frank Middlemass from the Granada Television series “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” starring Jeremy Brett and David Burke in the 1984 production of “The Blue Carbuncle.”  Frank Middlemass (d.2006) was the quintessential British Museum antiquarian, pub tippler, and wearer of a bowler hat. The equanimity with which he meets life’s misfortunes shows his wonderful British resolve and hopeful positiveness or, as Dickens’ irrepressible Wilkins Micawber says, “Something will turn up.”

Who is yours?

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A Discovery?

Our valued Member, Kumar Bhatia “Bobbie” from UAE, sends us word in The Guardian of the discovery of a new story, potentially written by the Literary Agent, and found in an attic in Scotland. Already, there has been an outpouring of media attention to this event from across the geographical and the Sherlockian worlds.

In a number of discussions by noted Sherlockians on respected blogs, the weight of the proof would seem to necessarily fall on the side of proving its authenticity; most comments cite numerous reasons for doubting its provenance as being written by the Agent.

Here at the good doctor’s consulting rooms, we will await the definitive diagnosis, doubtless to come from the hobs and nobs of the Sherlockian milieu. Instead of declaiming, we have decided to have a nice meat pie and a pint, sit quietly on our stool, and await further news from the Scottish Borders.

As always, we are indebted to Kumar Bhatia, our “Bobbie” and a proven “bloodhound” for breaking news in the world of Baker Street.

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Weekly Forum: 2015 #8 Something Different!

This week, we are trying something a bit different:  you create the topic or topics for the week’s discussion. They can be on the Canon, the characters, fandom, TV, radio, film, cosplay, London, or whatever enchants your imaginations.

Please add a comment and ask a question or comment on a topic and let’s see who responds.  We can have as many topics, comments, replies and re-replies as members care to provide.  Here is your chance to participate with that one burning topic you have been wanting to talk about for years! Go for it!

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Weekly Forum: 2015 – #7 Continuing the Forum on Canon Residence Names

NEW DISCOVERY UPDATE:  12 February 2015

After a close review of the entire Canonical text, Buttons has added a number of corrections, as well as seven new entries to the Canonical Residence Names List found on the February 3rd post. The new entries include: Aston Manor; Boscombe Hall; Capleton; Charlington Hall; Elrige’s Farm; The Gables; and Westbury House.  Corrections or additions (in italic) include: Stoke Moran Manor House; Myrtles (Latimer); Ridling Thorpe Manor; Appledore Towers; and Oxshott Towers (Folliot/Ffolliot).

We now believe this to be the accurate and definitive listing of Canonical Residence names and the occupants; however, we always welcome corrections, additions, and questions pertaining to the catalogue of names.

This week we would like to continue the discussion on the Canonical Residence names that was begun last week.  Please add your comments to this topic that has stimulated quite positive interest.

We are hoping to evolve an article or possibly a joint monograph from the discussion.  An interesting bit of information was discovered by Buttons this week while reading through an eighteenth century register of British Manors. A manor and manor house dating from the fifteenth century was located at Reigate in the County of Surrey.  The description, in many ways, fits the description of one of the houses in The Reigate Puzzle. Additional research is being done and perhaps a brief article could be written on these similarities.  The Manorial history of Great Britain and the Lordships of the Manor evidence is full of fascinating vignettes and may offer some insights to the residence names chosen by Dr Watson for the stories.

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Member Bill Mason “Billy” Honoured

Our loyal Member, Bill E Mason “Billy” from Tennessee scored an Honours Hat Trick recently.  He was invested in the BSI as “White Mason,” was named a Master Bootmaker (MBt) by the Bootmakers of Toronto, and was appointed Head Light (President) of The Beacon Society. The Society extends its warmest congratulations to “Billy” for a trio of achievements well-deserved.

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Weekly Forum: February 3, 2015

NEW INFORMATION:  February 6, 2015

The Weekly Forum for February 3, 2015 asks about the British tradition of naming their homes. From those dwelling names throughout the Canon, what conclusions can we make regarding Dr Watson’s choices of those names for his stories?  Has there been a Catalogue of Canonical Residence Names created by anyone in the past?  Is this a literary endeavour worthy of addressing by the Society?

A Canonical Compendium of Residences and Occupants

The John H Watson Society

February 6, 2015

Listed are the names of the residences and occupants named in the stories and books of the Canon. It is the Society’s hope that, eventually, Members will chose one or more of these residences and offer research on the place names and the British tradition of naming homes. The Society envisions individual or cooperative articles for The Watsonian or perhaps monographs arising from this research into the Canonical Nomenclature of Residences. Please contact Buttons if you have interest in writing an article or monograph.

Canonical Residences  and Occupants                   Story/Book

Abbey Grange (Brackenstall)                               ABBE

Albermarle Mansion (Melville)                            WIST

Appledore Towers (Milverton)                             CHAS

Arnsworth Castle                                                   SCAN

Aston Manor                                                           3GAR

Baskerville Hall (Baskerville)                               HOUN

Birchmoor (St Simon)                                           NOBL

Birlstone, Manor House of (Douglas)                  VALL

Boscombe Hall (Turner)                                       BOSC

Briarbrae (Phelps)                                                 NAVA

Briony Lodge (Adler)                                            SCAN

Camden House                                                       EMPT

Campden Mansions (La Rothiere)                       BRUC

Capleton (Backwater)                                            SOLI

Carriton’s                                                               SUSS

Carston Castle (Holdernesse)                               PRIO

Cedars, The (St Clair)                                           TWIS

Charlinton Hall (Woodley)                                   SOLI

Cheeseman’s (Ferguson)                                       SUSS

Chiltern Grange (Carruthers)                              SOLI

Copper Beeches (Rucastle)                                   COPP

Crane Water (Armitage)                                       SPEC

Deep Dene House (Oldacre)                                  NORW

Dingle, The (Harringby)                                       WIST

Elrige’s Farm (Elrige)                                           DANC

Fairbank (Holder)                                                 BERY

Folkstone Court                                                     HOUN

Forton Old Hall (Williams)                                  WIST

Gables, The (Stackhurst)                                      LION

Grosvenor Mansions (St Simon)                          NOBL

Hales Lodge (Barker)                                            VALL

Harvey’s                                                                 SUSS

Hatherley Farm (Turner)                                     BOSC

Haven, The (Bellamy)                                            LION

Haven, The (Amberley)                                         RETI

High Gable (Henderson-Murillo)                         WIST

High Lodge (Oldmore)                                          HOUN

Holdernesse Hall (Holdernesse)                           PRIO

Hurlstone Manor House (Musgrave)                   MUSG

King’s Pyland (Ross)                                             SILV

Laburnum Lodge (Brown)                                   SIXN

Lachine (Barclay)                                                  CROO

Lafter Hall (Frankland)                                        HOUN

Manor House                                                          GREE

Mapleton (Backwater)                                          SILV

Merripit House (Stapleton)                                   HOUN

Myrtles, The (Latimer)                                         GREE

Nether Walsing (Stone)                                         WIST

Odley’s                                                                    SUSS

Oxshott Towers (Folliot/Ffoliot)                          WIST

Poldhu Cottage (Holmes and Watson)                DEVI

Pondicherry Lodge (Sholto)                                 SIGN

Popham House (Eccles)                                        WIST

Purdey Place (Hynes)                                            WIST

Ridling Thorpe Manor (Cubitt)                           DANC

Shoscombe Old Place (Falder)                             SHOS

Stoke Moran Manor house(Roylott)                   SPEC

Thor Place (Gibson)                                              THOR

Three Gables (Maberley)                                      3GAB

Torrington Lodge (McFarlane)                            NORW

Tredannick Wartha (Tregennis)                          DEVI

Tuxbury Old Park (Emsworth)                            BLAN

Vicarage, The (Elman)                                           RETI

Vernon Lodge (Gruner)                                        ILLU

Westbury House (Doran)                                      NOBL

Wisteria Lodge (Garcia)                                       WIST

Woodman’s Lee (Carey)                                       BLAC

Yoxley Old Place (Coram)                                    GOLD

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Weekly Forum: January 27 2015

This week’s Forum topic is one that has had little, if any, explication from the textual Canon: stationery.

What evidence exists of the various writing papers, envelopes, calling cards, invitations, pens, pencils, etc. that would be generally thought to be found in a Victorian Stationers Shop?  Prepare to be surprised.

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New Website Platform Soon

The Society is moving to a new website platform/operating system soon.  Our Webmistress, Beth Gallego “Selena” has been working for several months to convert over our entire website history and every post ever made. This has been a HUGE project for “Selena” and one the Society is truly indebted to Beth for doing, and doing so well.

For the next few days, Buttons will play with and experiment on the new system in order to learn its ins and outs.  Next week sometime, we expect to “flip the switch” and “Selena” will turn on the new site.  You will also have to experiment a bit–click here, click there, click everywhere–and discover what new features exist.

Thank you, “Selena” . . . Thank you Beth Gallego.  As you may remember, Beth is a librarian in Burbank, California and is involved with Sherlockian groups and other Sherlockian librarians.  She will be attending 221B Con in April and, hopefully, participating in discussions of the Society.

More on this topic later.