The Solitary Man-Uscript
Sherlock Holmes: Trifles
“so ardent a bicyclist must be full of energy” [SOLI] The latest installment in our review of Morley-Montgomery Award-winning articles is by Andrew Jay Peck, BSI ("Inspector Baynes"): "The Solitary Man-Uscript" from Vol. 22, No. 2 of The Baker Street Journal in 1972. Just who was the Solitary Cyclist? There are two cyclists in the story, and one is a young lady simply trying to get to her train safely; the other is a bearded man with sunglasses hunched over his handlebars. Only one of them can be our cyclist. It's just a Trifle. Don't forget to check out our...
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An Aborted Avatar
Sherlock Holmes: Trifles
“a strange, loud whiz” [EMPT] We came across a quite unusual observation — a Trifle, if you will — in an old issue of The Baker Street Journal. An article by Antony Boucher called "An Aborted Avatar." Boucher discovered a turn of the century play called The King of Gee-Whiz that involved Sherlock Holmes in a quite unusual setting. The play was co-written by L. Frank Baum, of The Wizard of Oz fame. It's just a Trifle. Another "Trifling Trifles" episode — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full episode — is coming your way in a few days. As a...
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Gypsies
Sherlock Holmes: Trifles
“general resemblance to an itinerant” [VALL] A term we don't hear as frequently these days is "gypsy." Unless you're headed to see a Sondheim musical, which is about an entirely different Gypsy (and one with Sherlockian connections too). Anyway, our focus here is on stories in which gypsies are mentioned (there are two; can you name them?) and a bit of historical context of gypsies in the Victorian era, including the documented experience of one exalted person. It's just a Trifle. Another "Trifling Trifles" episode — short-form content that doesn't warrant a full...
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On Stage and Off
Sherlock Holmes: Trifles
“before my biographer had come to glorify me” [GREE] Once again, we find ourselves in a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the theorist"-themed episode, where we look at a piece of old scholarship. This time, we share a chapter from William S. Baring-Gould's groundbreaking biography of Sherlock Holmes. Chapter V "On Stage and Off in England and America: 1879–1881" finds us in the two years leading up to Holmes and Watson meeting each other, while Holmes was beginning to run low on funds. His decision would mean a remarkable set of experiences ahead. It's just a Trifle. And we have some bonus...
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The Man with the Watches (The Apocrypha Part 2)
Sherlock Holmes: Trifles
“I would read as easily as I do the apocrypha” [VALL] The second in our series on the Apocrypha of Sherlock Holmes — stories that are not in the original Canonical 60 but that have some relevant interest. In this case, we have a story written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1898 and set in 1892 involving the mysterious death of a passenger on a train. The murderer is nowhere to be found and the man has an unusual number of watches on his person. A "well-known criminal investigator" writes a letter to the press with an explanation. We briefly discuss the story and the many theories as to the...
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The Alleged Use of Cocaine by Mr. Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes: Trifles
“you are mistaken about my alleged agents” [MAZA] Along with the calabash pipe, deerstalker cap, and Inverness cape, one of Sherlock Holmes's traits is the use of cocaine. But should it be? William H. Miller, M.D. F.A.C.P. won the Morley-Montgomery Award for his article in Vol. 19, No. 3 of The Baker Street Journal in which he asserted that we're mistaken in believing that Sherlock Holmes used cocaine. Don't believe us? Well, it's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and bonus...
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North American Businesses
Sherlock Holmes: Trifles
“the great North American Continent” [STUD] Picking up where we left off in Episode 428 ("British Businesses"), we're moving to the other side of the pond and doing a survey of businesses in North America that were mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Since there are decidedly fewer scenes and stories that took place in North America, we have far fewer to choose from. But not so few as to leave us without something interesting to say! It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and...
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The Mathematics of Mrs. Watson
Sherlock Holmes: Trifles
“As to your dates, that is the biggest mystification of all.” [CREE] It's not often that we get a piece of Sherlockian scholarship that had its origin in a mainstream publication. And in this case, it's from one of the original Sherlockians. In 1932, Ronald Knox set out to review two new Sherlockian books, but he managed to turn it into an essay that was a master class in chronology. It's just a Trifle. And stay tuned, as we have some bonus content on Ronald Knox for our supporters. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings...
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British Businesses
Sherlock Holmes: Trifles
“preoccupied with business matters” [COPP] If you came across the name of a business in the Sherlock Holmes stories, do you think you could identify which story it came from? What about the type of business it was? We put your Canonical skills to the test in this episode as we quiz you (and each other!) on some familiar and not-so-familiar business names from the Great Britain of Sherlock Holmes. It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and bonus content. Join our community...
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My Biblical Knowledge Is a Trifle Rusty
Sherlock Holmes: Trifles
“There is nothing in which deduction is so necessary as in religion” [NAVA] The Morley-Montgomery Award-winning article this month is "My Biblical Knowledge is a Trifle Rusty" by Henry T. Folsom, BSI ("The Golden Pince-Nez"), from The Baker Street Journal, Volume 15, No. 3. Rev. Folsom took the opportunity as a practitioner of the faith to examine the religious beliefs (or lack thereof) of Sherlock Holmes. Was he an atheist? Was he a believer? And if so, what form did it take? It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings...
info_outline“the sweat was pouring down my face” [BLUE]
Turkish baths come up in just two of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Quick—without looking it up, can you name which? We know Watson enjoys both of them; Holmes joins him for one.
In this episode, we discuss the origins and history of the Turkish bath, and specifically focus on the Victorian Turkish bath. Sit back and relax. This is just a Trifle.
Links / Notes
- Victorian Turkish baths (Wikipedia)
- In Hot Water with Watson (Margie Deck)
- Everything You Need to Know Before Your First Turkish Bath Experience (Matador Network)
- Soupy Sales sings "Pachalafaka" (YouTube)
- All of our social links: https://linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock
- Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com
Music credits