A Scion Society of The Baker Street Irregulars
Numismatists Do Not Fear Change
“There’s an east wind coming, Watson.” – His Last Bow (LAST) I am sure that many of us have been concerned and perhaps upset by the coming of Decimalization. It strikes me as being one of the most idiotic things since the United States tried Prohibition. Surely a lot of tourists have had difficulties with… Continue Reading
“There’s money in this case …” – A Scandal In Bohemia (SCAN) In The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet, son Arthur asks father, Alexander Holder, for 100 pounds. The father “… was very angry, for this was the third demand during the month. ‘You shall not have a farthing from me’, (he) cried, on which… Continue Reading
Sherlock Holmes as sketched by Sidney Paget, considered the master Holmes portraitist. We all know who Sherlock Holmes was, the greatest detective of Victorian England in all of literature. I’ll be willing to bet that most readers of this column have also read some, if not all. of the stories that are called by fans… Continue Reading
“The Capital and Counties Bank, Oxford Street branch, are my agents.” – The Adventure of The Priory School (PRIO) London in 1894, when Sherlock Holmes returned from his incognito foreign journeying, was enjoying the Golden Age of British Imperial investment and expansion, bringing an enormous accretion of wealth to the Capital City of the Empire.… Continue Reading
“… Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow …” – The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle (BLUE) A lot of Sherlockians have a warm place in their hearts for The Blue Carbuncle. It’s the only Canonical adventure that takes place at Christmas time, and in telling the story, Dr. Watson creates a charming… Continue Reading
“Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travel-worn and battered tin dispatch-box with my name, John H. Watson, MD, Late Indian Army, painted upon the lid.” – The Problem of Thor Bridge (THOR) Watson’s Tin Box, a BSI scion that meets in Columbia, Maryland, shares… Continue Reading
” It’s the precious stone.” – The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle (BLUE) The Countess of Morcar’s blue carbuncle was the stolen gemstone that was the central element in The Adventure of The Blue Carbuncle. Recent technological advances in the minting process have allowed color and other design elements to be added to coinage the last several years.… Continue Reading
“‘Data! Data! Data!‘ he cried impatiently. ‘I can’t make bricks without clay.’” – The Adventures of The Copper Beeches (COPP) This column is composed of material (Data!) developed for a short course called Appreciating Sherlock Holmes that I teach twice a year in the Community Education Life Enrichment Program for a local community college. It is composed… Continue Reading
Seventeen thoughts for further ponderance of the case at hand – The Blue Carbuncle (BLUE) THE WATSONIAN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION Perhaps it’s an all-too basic question that we all pondered on before, but it needs to be asked whenever this story comes up: Why was Watson visiting the man we think of as his best friend on… Continue Reading
” … a luxurious club …” – The Adventure of The Five Orange Pips (FIVE) Over the years, Philadelphia’s The Sons of the Copper Beeches have met at many locations. On Friday, February 20, 1953, they met at the headquarters of the Union League of Philadelphia. The Union League dates back to December 27, 1862, when… Continue Reading