Here is an interesting topic that should generate some discussion:
Did Dr Watson and Mr Holmes support the monarchy? Any evidence pro or con?
Denny Dobry “Kirby” has a Quiz Posted on Quiz Page!
“Chips” Tid Bits Feature the New “On This Date”
Take a look at Ron Lies’ new daily postings on “Chip’s Tid Bits. Great fun!
“Chips” Adds: “On This Date”
Our Master of the Canonical Tid-Bit, Ron Lies “Chips” has added a wonderful new feature to his posts: the “On This Date in the Canon.” He will list the Watsonian/Sherlockian occurrences on key dates from his researches into the good doctor’s writings.
Here is this week’s:
To All:
A little behind on my posting but I am in a group of irregulars myself.
“Chips.”
On This Date:
January 1st Saturday 1881, Stanford introduced Holmes to Watson.
January 2nd Sunday 1881, Watson moved into 221B Baker Street.
January 3rd Monday 1881 Holmes moved into 221B Baker Street.
January 3rd Saturday 1903 James Dodd received an amicable reply to his letter from Mrs. Emsworth.
January 4th Monday 1885 Joseph Openshaw received 5 Orange pips.
January 4th Sunday 1891 Holmes crossed Moriarty’ s path.
January 5th Monday 1903 James Dodd traveled from London to Bedford and thence to Tuxbury Old Place January 5th Monday 1903 James Dodd sees the face of Godfrey Emsworth at his bedroom window.
January 6th Wednesday 1886 Wednesday Charles Augustus Milverton called upon Holmes at 221B Baker Street.
January 6th Tuesday 1903 Colonel Emsworth tells James Dodd that he must leave Tuxsbury Old Park the next morning, January 6th Friday 1888 Jack Douglas shot and killed Ted Baldwin
and the most IMPORTANT:
January 6th Friday 1854 Sherlock Holmes was born!
Weekly Forum: January 6
As the new year begins, it is time to resume our Weekly Forum and to continue generating interesting joint articles for the journal, as well as have some fun whilst speculating on the unending mysteries of the Canon.
Based on the evidence of both Watson and Holmes, which do you believe The Agency prefers: Capital crimes or non-capital crimes? In which cases do we find our two partners experiencing the most zest, passion and determination?
The Fourth Garrideb Formed
Greg Ruby “Robin” of The John H Watson Society announces the formation of The Fourth Garrideb:
The Fourth Garrideb was formed on August 9, 2014 during the World’s Fair of Money in Chicago with 7 founding charter members “of the finest period.” TFG is a group of Sherlockian coin collectors and numismatists who are looking to document the 175+ numismatic items featuring Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Arthur Conan Doyle and related items. In addition, we look for numismatic references within the Canon and related stories.
TFG posts irregularly (60 posts to date since our formation) about Canonical and Conanical numismatics at www.FourthGarrideb.com. TFG has the motto of “Numismatists Do Not Fear Change.” TFG was recognized as a scion of the Baker Street Irregulars in September and is also a member club of the American Numismatic Association.
Lifetime memberships are available for $22.10, with details at fourthgarrideb.com/join-us. Those joining now will be considered charter members “of the Alexandrian School,” while those joining after the charter period will be considered as “the rest of a bad lot.” Members receive email notifications of when new posts are published, a membership certificate and a Garrideb dekadrachm (which we do not recommend polishing as Nathan Garrideb was doing).
TFG will be mainly a virtual society, but hopes to have meetings with other Sherlockian societies in conjunction with major coin shows around the country. Tentative arrangements are being made for 2015 in Portland, Oregon and Chicago for the spring and summer conventions of the American Numismatic Association.
Member of The John H Watson Society are encouraged to explore this interesting new group at their website.
Fascinating New Book by Member Chris Music “Russell”
Please see Dr Watson’s Library for news of a new book by Chris Music, “Russell” about the great scion club The Amateur Mendicant Society.
Festive Christmas Quiz by the Pawky Puzzler Posted on Quiz Page . . . “Compliments of the season”
Weekly Forum: December 16, 2014
The Holidays do take their toll on participation in the Weekly Forum and the Weekly Quiz; however, we will “Keep Calm and Carry On.”
Anyone care to expand the “back story” on: Henry Baker; the British Museum; Mr Windigate, the landlord of the Alpha Inn; and Mr Breckinridge of Covent Garden Market?
Author Diane Gilbert Madsen notes . . .
We received this from our Member, Diane Gilbert Madsen “Lass” . . .
Today, Dec 9th in 1934, NBC broadcasted “The Case of Vamberry the Wine Merchant” with Hector and Lovell.
I was fortunate to appear in Omni Mystery News. Hope you will enjoy.
Lass
Take a look at the very nice review! Thank you, “Lass.”
Weekly Forum: December 9
Once again, the great wheel of the seasons has revolved and we find ourselves approaching the Winter Solstice. Do you believe Doctor Watson wrote of the astronomical influences? If so, perhaps you would care to comment on those observations he made. Are they purely secondary to the stories, or are they part-and-parcel of the events and outcomes? For example, we know of the good doctor’s mention of the equinoctial gale, but is it influential or symbolic–indeed, part of–the events in the story ?
Here, for your pleasure in language, is Doctor Watson’s extraordinary paragraph from FIVE:
It was in the latter days of September, and the equinoctial gales had set in with exceptional violence. All day the wind had screamed and the rain had beaten against the windows, so that even here in the heart of great, hand-made London we were forced to raise our minds for the instant from the routine of life, and to recognize the presence of those great elemental forces which shriek at mankind through the bars of his civilization, like untamed beasts in a cage. As evening drew in the storm grew higher and louder, and the wind cried and sobbed like a child in the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the fireplace cross-indexing his records of crime, whilst I at the other was deep in one of Clark Russell’s fine sea-stories, until the howl of the gale from without seemed to blend with the text, and the splash of the rain to lengthen out into the long swash of the sea waves. My wife was on a visit to her aunt’s, and for a few days I was a dweller once more in my old quarters at Baker Street.
Are there other examples of this astronomical atmosphere and periodicity of Nature in the Canon?
New Quiz is Posted and a Special Christmas Quiz by Margie Deck “Gwen” is Coming
We are back with this week’s quiz. And, on December 19 we have a wonderful new quiz by The Pawky Puzzler, Margie Deck “Gwen.” This is a 50 question holiday quiz to occupy your mind during the annual Christmas visit of Cousin Eddie (“That there’s an RV, Clark. Don’t you go gettin’ attached to it though, we’ll be taking it with us when we leave here next month.”)
A Brief Hiatus
Both this week’s Quiz and Weekly Forum will take a brief hiatus, so you can enjoy your holiday time with family and friends. We will return on Friday, December 5 with the Quiz, and Tuesday, December 9 with the Weekly Forum.
Weekly Forum: Country Houses
Which of the numerous country houses in the Canon are the most memorable? Is there a house that was as much of a character in the story as the characters?
Ron Lies “Chips” is Home!
“Chips” is home after his surgery and doing well. He thanks everyone who sent along good wishes. His TidBits will be returning soon! We’re all happy you are back to Watson and Holmes! His email is: relies2@outlook.com
Call For Papers
The Society is accepting papers, articles, fiction, humor, and miscellanea for the April 2015 issue ofThe Watsonian. Unlike most journals, we do not have a backlog of submissions and we will have space in the forthcoming journal for material submitted by February 15, 2015.
Submission guidelines are found in the current issue. We would remind authors that we prefer all articles to use endnotes rather than footnotes at the bottom of the pages. Footnotes are pre-formatted by Word and we have to remove them prior to creating the final printing files. Plus, endnotes are much easier for the author, the editors, and the designer. Please do not use super-script numerals in the text; rather, please use regular numerals in brackets in this style at the point of an endnote in the text: This signifies an endnote [1], [2], [3], etc.
Members will receive the first of our new publication, The Fiction Series, with their copy of the April 2015 issue of the journal. It is a longish short story titled The Duke’s Study by Luca Sartori “Victor,” a Member and a student at the University of Urbino in Italy.
The Society especially encourages first-time writers. One does not need to be a “scholar” or an “expert.” These are terms that have little relevance in a Society like ours where everyone’s thoughts and efforts are welcome, whether in print or online.
Writers need not be concerned about the editing experience; we are kind and helpful, and we attempt not to make it difficult or tedious. We exist as a Society to have fun and our journal has the same purpose. Please give some thought to writing about that topic in the Canon you have always thought about and send us your submission.
Send all submissions to Buttons: buttons@johnhwatsonsociety.com
Weekly Forum: Watson as Partner in the Firm
Could we attempt the creation of a catalogue of the books and stories and concise summary of each of Doctor Watson’s positive influences, actions, and additions to the various cases?
Such a listing and capsule summary would assist in viewing in one list the good doctor’s overall contributions to the firm over the years. Perhaps one Member might pick a book; another a second book; others individual cases, or collections such as The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes, or The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
With adequate participation by our esteemed Members, and with complete coverage, we would quite possibly have a thorough and unique review that could be completed as a blog-string paper for the journal
Dan Andriacco “Dutch” has Kind Words for The Watsonian
Our valued Member and noted Sherlockian author, Dr Dan Andriacco “Dutch,” has reviewed the October issue of The Watsonian and offers some very kind words for our authors. Dan quotes the issue as 160 pages, rather than the 180 pages as readers will discover. Btt, as Dan says, all pages are chock-full of great content on Watson and even a few on Holmes.
Dan has several new books–all very well-written and fascinating–in his Sebastian McCabe and Jeff Cody series. Take a look at his always fun website:
Weekly Forum: November 4, 2014
In NORW Dr Watson writes in the beginning of the story, ” . . . and I at his request sold my practice and returned to share the old quarters in Baker Street.”
Note, that Dr Watson uses the word “request.” He might have said, invited, asked, suggested, intimated, or any other such word. But, he wrote “request.”
Why would Holmes “request” Watson to return, and why would Holmes arrange to have Watson’s practice purchased and provide the money for the purchase himself?
What is going on here that we have not seen all these years? This is very fertile ground for ploughing.
October Journal Has Mailed
The October issue of The Watsonian is in the mail. You should receive it soon. Let us know what you think. Thanks.
The Editorial Team