I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

Episode 304: Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders

<h4 style="text-align: center;">“One of the most precious public possessions of the empire” [BERY] </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04k_uQqUB_e4zzZXFZ-Ouelqaonx5hYKuWs09OjJQ7n2Sm7zk4wApvtY-SStrM3SQUPTtQUFM8523fdzu6LjwCDqzfLGF5OQzyLLjqd6kkUIRMjLk2Dcw4P12zzv0j2TmIakKrRptU1ccVLEbuh7unoP3rIHuILtyg7dqkyj5PlKK6RMY__GWXPp7zp_B/s2544/ihearofsherlock304-header.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2013" data-original-width="2544" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04k_uQqUB_e4zzZXFZ-Ouelqaonx5hYKuWs09OjJQ7n2Sm7zk4wApvtY-SStrM3SQUPTtQUFM8523fdzu6LjwCDqzfLGF5OQzyLLjqd6kkUIRMjLk2Dcw4P12zzv0j2TmIakKrRptU1ccVLEbuh7unoP3rIHuILtyg7dqkyj5PlKK6RMY__GWXPp7zp_B/w640-h506/ihearofsherlock304-header.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><p>Joel Meadows began what eventually became <i><b>Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders: The Gene Genie</b></i> in 2002 while working on <i>Tripwire</i> as a quarterly print magazine.</p><p>He tells us the story of how it took two decades to bring this vision to life with illustrator Andy Bennett, and what the plans are for part two of the story. The initial Kickstarter for part one was wildly successful, and the Kickstarter for the sequel is under way. </p><p>The praise has been effusive: </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>“A darn good romp” – Guillermo del Toro, Oscar-winning director</li><li>“Classic Sherlock Holmes! You can smell the chimney-smoke and feel the clatter of hooves. Here’s the character we all know and love, given a fresh polish for the 21st century!” – Ian Rankin, <i>Rebus</i></li></ul><p></p><p>The fusion of history and mystery form Joel's perfect nexus, and he's extending his efforts from graphic novel to a novella next. </p><p>We've moved the <b>Sherlockian News</b> to an exclusive bonus track for <b><a href="https://ihose.co/ihosepatron" target="_blank">supporters</a></b> (watch for that to drop), and added a new segment: "<b>The Learned Societies</b>," all about activities going on in in Sherlockian groups. In this episode, we cover some of the BSI Weekend activities.</p><p>Madeline Quiñones had diligently prepared an installment of "<b>A Chance of Listening</b>," her review of Sherlockian podcasts, that we missed last epsiode, so we make up for it this time. And of course the <b>Canonical Couplet</b> quiz awaits to test your Sherlockian knowledge. The winner, chosen at random from all correct answers, will receive <i>Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders</i>. Send your answer to comment @ ihearofsherlock .com by February 14, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.</p><p>If you become a <a href="https://ihose.co/ihosepatron" target="_blank"><b>supporter</b></a> of the show, not only will you help to ensure we can keep doing what we do, covering file hosting costs, production, and transcription services, but we have thank-you gifts at certain tiers and ad-free versions of the episodes for all patrons.</p><div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock304.mp3" target="_blank">Download</a> [Save As] | File size: 57.3 MB, 59:21</h3><iframe title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/35093180/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/3d3f42/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes/font-color/FFFFFF" height="192" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" style="border: none;" data-dashlane-rid="6c0a29db702d2ca8" data-dashlane-classification="other"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap: nowrap; word-break: normal;"></div><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.episodes.fm/258126625" target="_blank">Listen to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere anywhere you get podcasts<br /></a></span><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;">Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-hear-of-sherlock-everywhere/id258126625?ls=1">Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/30WtRn1mnXfAtX7YaeRY5Y">Spotify</a>; listen to us <a href="https://www.episodes.fm/1198869691">wherever you listen to podcasts</a>.</h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><h2 style="margin: 0px;">Sponsors</h2><div style="margin: 0px;"><ul><li>Exclusive for IHOSE listeners from <a href="https://mxpublishing.com/" target="_blank">MX Publishing</a>: codes for <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT14AxBwqMqON1zScLBHRecf2hd-2Q7fR-hHdlRDTrBS9K5w/viewform" target="_blank">5 free audio books</a>.</li></ul></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Would you care to advertise with us? You can find <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/p/contact.html#.Vc1Qx7JViko" target="_blank">more information here</a>. Let's chat!<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul></div><h2><b>Links</b></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li><i><a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tripwire100/sherlock-holmes-and-the-empire-builders-the-gene-genie" target="_blank">Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders: The Gene Genie</a></i> (Kickstarter)</li><li><i><a href="https://tripwiremagazine.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tripwire Magazine</a></i></li><li>Social media links: Joel Meadows on <a href="https://x.com/joelmeadows1" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/joelmeadows.bsky.social" target="_blank">BlueSky</a>, <i>Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders</i> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/792026212415533" target="_blank">Facebook Group</a>, <i>Tripwire Magazine</i> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TripwireMag" target="_blank">Facebook</a></li><li>Previous episode mentioned: <a href="https://ihose.co/ihose173">Episode 173: Another Case of Identity</a></li><ul></ul><li>Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at <a href="http://linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock">linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock</a>.</li></ul><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: column;"><a href="https://goodpods.com/leaderboard/top-100-shows-by-category/fiction/mystery?indie=false&period=month#37883168" target="_blank"><img alt="goodpods top 100 mystery podcasts" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/leaderboard_badges/fiction_mystery_top50_month.png" style="height: 77px; width: 250px;" /></a><a href="https://goodpods.com/leaderboard/top-100-shows-by-category/fiction/mystery" style="color: #6f6f6f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 4px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Goodpods Top 100 Mystery Podcasts</a></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians to find us.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.</div><div style="font-family: "times new roman";"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br />

Episode 304: Sherlock Holmes and the Empire Builders

“One of the most precious public possessions of the empire” [BERY] Joel Meadows began what eventually became Sherlock Holmes and the Empire...

+ Read more »

by Scott Monty

The 2025 BSI Weekend – Awards and Honors

<h4 style="text-align: center;">“a brief review of what had passed” [THOR]  </h4><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55TSJVpx2Nm22Qsqy_AtuEGvbYKCnBGd_z61RD7Ka3z374ozwQ-A8jkR_zrhrs9hT9FwLuBQsM3Odj1F_vDcxlV9TBFWxH-z-dtbCkUjceQBo3wuIhBj6oeAkiR9-xRc8CMlK5dw4sfx69RZd8w67vhSlLc5PCI3V4bG42FugSG443a0JKTNmOwic82JL/s2048/BSI25%20Class%20of%202025.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55TSJVpx2Nm22Qsqy_AtuEGvbYKCnBGd_z61RD7Ka3z374ozwQ-A8jkR_zrhrs9hT9FwLuBQsM3Odj1F_vDcxlV9TBFWxH-z-dtbCkUjceQBo3wuIhBj6oeAkiR9-xRc8CMlK5dw4sfx69RZd8w67vhSlLc5PCI3V4bG42FugSG443a0JKTNmOwic82JL/w640-h384/BSI25%20Class%20of%202025.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: Will Walsh  </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>In the <a href="https://episodes.fm/258126625" target="_blank">next episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</a>, we'll be covering our own personal experiences at the 2025 BSI Weekend that ran from January 15 – January 19, 2025, during which some 300+ Sherlockians descended on Midtown Manhattan to celebrate the 171st birthday of Sherlock Holmes.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For the purposes of this update, we're focused on the accolades from the weekend, which happened over a series of events.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Thursday, January 16, the <a href="http://acdsociety.com/">ACD Society</a> held its annual meeting at the Mysterious Bookshop, which once again included the running of the Wessex Cup, with 16 entered horses, all designed by Peggy McFarlane, BSI ("Violet Westbury").</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div></div><div><h3>Doylean Honors</h3></div><div>The ACD Society also had a more august role, which was the conferring of its annual <a href="http://acdsociety.com/" target="_blank">Doylean Honors</a>.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVaY99UFtbUg5oqgBeqpnMSkNMHDGFDhKh9HsAXQDaui3lWckPjceIACjChc4My3jMx-soyHqlHBDUNVknElDz6Q4iVUwswtmXp-ygz7LujNevjUUwYTRVWaiHmSA2llMtg0uCuPzFRJoTW5UY4mp8lbHFCkUPjki3WrJaZnp5vs-HhBe-o3jk1IRLw/s616/ACD%20Society%20Doylean%20Honors%202022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="616" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVaY99UFtbUg5oqgBeqpnMSkNMHDGFDhKh9HsAXQDaui3lWckPjceIACjChc4My3jMx-soyHqlHBDUNVknElDz6Q4iVUwswtmXp-ygz7LujNevjUUwYTRVWaiHmSA2llMtg0uCuPzFRJoTW5UY4mp8lbHFCkUPjki3WrJaZnp5vs-HhBe-o3jk1IRLw/s320/ACD%20Society%20Doylean%20Honors%202022.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><b>For Lifetime Service:</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/our-alumni/for-alumni/alumni-news/catherine-cooke-bem/&source=gmail&ust=1738029046288000&usg=AOvVaw1-SIKHVnTp17u3T3CqUgb-" href="https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/about-us/our-alumni/for-alumni/alumni-news/catherine-cooke-bem/" style="background-color: white; color: blue;" target="_blank"><b>Catherine Cooke</b></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">, a leading figure in the world of Arthur Conan Doyle scholarship and cultural activity, including management of the Sherlock Holmes Collection at the Westminster Libraries.</span></li></ul><b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div>For excellence in the "Fiction and Poetry" category:</b><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://margiedeck.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Margie Deck</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">for the story collection</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Genius-Place-Gothic-Inspired-Magazine-ebook/dp/B0CQGKDCLQ&source=gmail&ust=1738029046288000&usg=AOvVaw0OJ7I_kDymlWlLkflQ_B_6" href="https://amzn.to/3CeIUe7" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><i>The Genius of the Place</i></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> (Belanger Books 2023).</span></li><li><span style="color: #222222;"><b>Daniel Friedman and Eugene Friedman</b></span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">for the poem,</span><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.amazon.com/Steel-Blade-Straight-2024-25-Annual-ebook/dp/B0DQDTMWH2&source=gmail&ust=1738029046288000&usg=AOvVaw2kV4sWHWvmgWqf3QPfoefu" href="https://amzn.to/4aQvPVf" style="color: blue;" target="_blank"><i>At the Crossroads of Fate</i></a><span style="color: #222222;"> </span><span style="color: #222222;">(Belanger Books 2024).</span></li><li><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><a href="https://www.nicholas-meyer.com/" target="_blank">Nicholas Meyer</a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">for the novel,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><a data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.mysteriousbookshop.com/products/nicholas-meyer-sherlock-holmes-and-the-telegram-from-hell-preorder&source=gmail&ust=1738029046288000&usg=AOvVaw1FBAdcIsoQE_aizVls1Z6G" href="https://bookshop.org/a/110285/9781613165331" style="background-color: white; color: blue;" target="_blank"><i>Sherlock Holmes and the Telegraph from Hell</i></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">(Mysterious Press 2024)</span></li></ul><div><br /></div><b>For excellence in the "Performing Arts" category:</b></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 32px; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Mark Gatiss</b> for the film, <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2023/52/a-ghost-story-for-christmas-lot-no-249"><i>Lot 249</i></a> (Adorable Media/BBC Arts 2023).</li><li><b>Hal Glatze</b>r for the radio play, <a href="https://halglatzer.com/flatfinders/index.html"><i>Flatfinders 1881</i></a> (2024).</li></ul><p></p><b><div><b><br /></b></div><br /></b><div><b>For excellence in the "Visual Arts" category:</b><br /><ul><li><b>Megan Oldhues</b> for the painting, <i><a href="http://www.acdfriends.org/SHWalk12-Oldhues.html" target="_blank">The End of Devil Hawker</a></i> (Sherlock Holmes Walk Mural Art 2024).</li><li><b>Molly Knox Ostertag</b> for the drawing, <i><a href="https://mkobooks.bigcartel.com/product/watson-s-sketchbook-vol-1" target="_blank">Watson’s Sketchbook: Volume 1</a></i> (MKO Books 2024).</li></ul><br /><b><br /></b><div><b>For excellence in the "Scholarly Writing" category:</b><ul><li><b>Anne Chapman</b> for the article, "<a href="https://mh.bmj.com/content/49/4/565" target="_blank">Authority and medical expertise: Arthur Conan Doyle in The Idler</a>," in <i>Medical Humanities</i> (a journal of the Institute of Medical Ethics, 2023).</li><li><b>Ollie Randall</b> for the article, "<a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/transactions-of-the-royal-historical-society/article/cricket-literary-culture-and-ingroups-in-early-twentiethcentury-britain/810A677925CDE2639548A938CF0106C7" target="_blank">Cricket, Literary Culture and In-Groups in Early Twentieth-Century Britain</a>," in <i>Transactions of the Royal Historical Society</i> (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2024).</li></ul><div><div><br /></div><div>To watch the entire ceremony (about 30 minutes long), see the video on the <a href="https://youtu.be/n2I5q2r3eEw?si=WdkppjKQNEj8Y7rO" target="_blank">Doings of Doyle</a> YouTube channel.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3>Susan Rice Mentorship Award</h3><div>On Friday at the Gillette Luncheon, the assembled diners bore witness to the latest recipient of the Susan Rice Mentorship Award.</div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="http://www.vincentstarrett.com/blog/susan-rice-mentorship-award" target="_blank">Susan Rice Mentorship Award</a> was established in 2022 to recognize the activities of a member of the Sherlock Holmes community who has been a mentor to others, in the spirit of Susan Rice.</div><div><br /></div><div>This year's honoree, announced at the William Gillette Luncheon, was <b>Julie McKuras, BSI</b> ("The Dutchess of Devonshire").</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmY4RCDVu7ouAyGJ0EWetXlk5vHMUukpDnP98UZ1uHLGreUDmMJ4B61tyLdPK-qz4YHyxcAq0Q-1hmbrlOVBo5iMIwcGKEKwzF6f5t-TIJffIfik7PGRs-J7Is2lQYhjtqHg99QOTaFQnS1r0y45Q09PfJWAwu0TGQRIUMSlHLyKmT8bQEoNksEOy9Pxa/s2048/Julie%20McKuras%20Ashley%20Polasek.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1312" data-original-width="2048" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmY4RCDVu7ouAyGJ0EWetXlk5vHMUukpDnP98UZ1uHLGreUDmMJ4B61tyLdPK-qz4YHyxcAq0Q-1hmbrlOVBo5iMIwcGKEKwzF6f5t-TIJffIfik7PGRs-J7Is2lQYhjtqHg99QOTaFQnS1r0y45Q09PfJWAwu0TGQRIUMSlHLyKmT8bQEoNksEOy9Pxa/w640-h410/Julie%20McKuras%20Ashley%20Polasek.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: Will Walsh</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Previous honorees of the Susan Rice Mentorship Award:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Peter Blau, BSI</b> ("Black Peter") </li><li><b>Evy Herzog, BSI </b>("The Daintiest Thing Under a Bonnet")</li><li><b>Francine Kitts, BSI</b> ("Lady Trelawney Hope")</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3>Plaudits From the BSI Dinner</h3><div>As ever, the swirling curiosity and interest are centered on the Baker Street Irregulars annual investitures of new members. But before that, we were greeted with other substantial news.</div><div><br /></div><h4><i>The </i>Woman</h4><div><i>The </i>Woman, an honorific given to the spouse of a Baker Street Irregular was announced at the pre-dinner reception. This year's honoree was <b>Ellen Pfeifer</b>, wife of <b>Dan Polvere, BSI</b> ("Holloway and Steele"). She was toasted and introduced by <b>Richard Olken, BSI</b> ("Bob Carruthers"), after which Elen gave her own remarks.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVCwT4B26dA8WMvmEvWjEZzNR8VdnOdm3AJbrVD6ssN7Ij7IRo-kR8yV1MzrjbTM31due4Ml_mYzynPw3Cq1phbyK4VlQMlnaBZdEAwAaJQWjgPQQJ9xJ1cLMP0acBRTxDSOR6_VO1bSEdH0tzWNdXjSzkhKCp6CK9ML9qdt6XPfrI2xsWKwEJar6R8aF/s2048/The%20Woman%20-%20Ellen%20Pfeifer%20and%20Dan%20Polvere%20and%20Richard%20Olken.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1238" data-original-width="2048" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVCwT4B26dA8WMvmEvWjEZzNR8VdnOdm3AJbrVD6ssN7Ij7IRo-kR8yV1MzrjbTM31due4Ml_mYzynPw3Cq1phbyK4VlQMlnaBZdEAwAaJQWjgPQQJ9xJ1cLMP0acBRTxDSOR6_VO1bSEdH0tzWNdXjSzkhKCp6CK9ML9qdt6XPfrI2xsWKwEJar6R8aF/w640-h386/The%20Woman%20-%20Ellen%20Pfeifer%20and%20Dan%20Polvere%20and%20Richard%20Olken.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: Will Walsh</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /><h4>The Morley-Montgomery Award</h4></div><div>Each year, one article in the <i><a href="https://ihose.co/BSJ" target="_blank">Baker Street Journal</a></i> (as determined by a panel of judges) is chosen for the <a href="https://bakerstreetirregulars.com/2001/05/01/morley-montgomery-award/" target="_blank">Morley-Montgomery Award</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>This year, the award was given to <b>Michael Meer, BSI</b> ("The Englischer Hof") for his article “The Methods of Sherlock Holmes: The "Examination Paper" of 1893's Author Revealed,” appearing in the Winter 2024 issue of the <i>BSJ</i>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3>The Honours List (Investitures)</h3><div>And then we arrived at the announcement of the latest investitures into the Baker Street Irregulars. Membership is granted by <b>Michael Kean, BSI</b> ("General Gordon"), who serves at the BSI's "Wiggins." Each member receives an investiture — a phrase from the Sherlock Holmes canon that is significant or in other ways meaningful to that person.</div><div><br /></div><div>The BSI's Class of 2025 is:</div><div><div><ul><li><b>Shana Carter</b> — "Carter"</li><li><b>Jim Cox</b> — "Coxon"</li><li><b>Judi Ellis</b> — "The Carlton Club"</li><li><b>Ron Fish</b> — "The Hon. Ronald Adair"</li><li><b>Beth Gallego</b> — "Lighthouses"</li><li><b>Bruce Harris</b> — "Harris"</li><li><b>Louise Haskett</b> — "Aurora"</li><li><b>Rosemary Herbert</b> — "A Slim Youth in an Ulster"</li><li><b>Christian Monggaard</b> — "Neville St. Clair"</li><li><b>Gary Thaden</b> —  "Augusto Barelli"</li></ul></div><div><div><br /></div><div><b>Andrew Solberg, BSI</b> ("Professor Coram") received the Two Shilling Award, for service above and beyond.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We're pleased to note that one of the newest Irregulars, Rosemary Herbert, previously made an appearance on<i> I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere</i> (<a href="https://ihose.co/ihose173" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 173</a>), discussing her adventure in donning male costume to crash a 1970s-era dinner of the then all-male Speckled Band of Boston:</div><div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" data-dashlane-classification="other" data-dashlane-rid="53a9e9936f6e5699" height="192" mozallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/10669733/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/414851/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes/font-color/FFFFFF" style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="100%"></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Emerald Tie Pin Society</h3><div>In a bit of an ad hoc assembly, the Emerald Tie Pin Society was formed. This group consists of Sherlockians who were fortunate enough to receive an emerald tie pin from the late Maggie Schpak, BSI ("The Soup Plate Medal"). Maggie was a designer and metallurgist, providing countless props to Hollywood productions over the years. She passed away in 2024.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OgHYfLtmxiTiurMKptqEC1q3OuLlgfAKtT8bQxrcrdJqEbwODdqiT5cva-1GEY80vz7Tl-TY6NVlZgsTyoyIawVa_vpKs0VmHm3DMDEWrxTupLr1lwGq-pmp1MdYuMSPhkaVAoEHeDyzEu-o5Jzjs5VPs0gSKs0CBcZsG9iXIjZ0fHbcqIB8vm0dXys4/s2048/Emerald%20tie%20pin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2005" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OgHYfLtmxiTiurMKptqEC1q3OuLlgfAKtT8bQxrcrdJqEbwODdqiT5cva-1GEY80vz7Tl-TY6NVlZgsTyoyIawVa_vpKs0VmHm3DMDEWrxTupLr1lwGq-pmp1MdYuMSPhkaVAoEHeDyzEu-o5Jzjs5VPs0gSKs0CBcZsG9iXIjZ0fHbcqIB8vm0dXys4/s320/Emerald%20tie%20pin.jpg" width="313" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvk2NnWmQgriui7ZfOE8JXQswCsXSZbubkrcRypIgwdtb-UoI_-r18TjuJeAWzUmVN-YzytnSK_TSh_tWJb1gPXzxxBw8XucaJoUCULHV8enleCvZMCf7ZFWK2dougSCf2_pB8vpRTuNQDmn4mvc-by2CSo1Id3ZnuBumQaET4TqtUzr8GkHXsJQnxXlA0/s6796/BSI25%20Emerald%20Tie%20Pin%20society.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3884" data-original-width="6796" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvk2NnWmQgriui7ZfOE8JXQswCsXSZbubkrcRypIgwdtb-UoI_-r18TjuJeAWzUmVN-YzytnSK_TSh_tWJb1gPXzxxBw8XucaJoUCULHV8enleCvZMCf7ZFWK2dougSCf2_pB8vpRTuNQDmn4mvc-by2CSo1Id3ZnuBumQaET4TqtUzr8GkHXsJQnxXlA0/w640-h366/BSI25%20Emerald%20Tie%20Pin%20society.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: Will Walsh</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It is difficult to capture all of the activities of the BSI Weekend, due to so many small groups branching out to honor their own traditions, including named events such as ASH Wednesday, Lost in New York with a Bunch of Sherlockians, and the ASH Brunch. Not to mention other events like the Vendors Room, the BSI Reception.</div><div><br /></div><div>A comprehensive report of the events will be in the Spring issue of the <i><a href="https://ihose.co/BSJ" target="_blank">Baker Street Journal</a></i>. Check your subscription to make sure you're on the list!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As ever, the game's afoot!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><br /><br /><br /></div></div></div><br /><br /></div>

The 2025 BSI Weekend – Awards and Honors

“a brief review of what had passed” [THOR] Photo credit: Will Walsh In the next episode of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere , we'll be...

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by Scott Monty

Episode 303: The Serpent Under

<h4 style="text-align: center;">“the rapidity and noiselessness of a serpent” [STUD] </h4><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWB5J6Q5keKlFsCZyDJBRcK-Yn3KostVvURp8_QUnUDag9kbs7NpGnB0PRIKRyyiDwH9rAuIv4cXxlxQ6hodpvEU3gPImoqTfWZtL0DQuZ2pocyRjCm1uLEiAMZx8mIAq9ugZ7LcH2DDA_ibwBYrVQU93OX_dnOnUme7beomA-Q1vClwj9N_RVsNj764FW/s1600/ihearofsherlock303-wide.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWB5J6Q5keKlFsCZyDJBRcK-Yn3KostVvURp8_QUnUDag9kbs7NpGnB0PRIKRyyiDwH9rAuIv4cXxlxQ6hodpvEU3gPImoqTfWZtL0DQuZ2pocyRjCm1uLEiAMZx8mIAq9ugZ7LcH2DDA_ibwBYrVQU93OX_dnOnUme7beomA-Q1vClwj9N_RVsNj764FW/w640-h480/ihearofsherlock303-wide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><p>Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and Bonnie MacBird are back! In the sixth book in her series, Bonnie once again finds firm footing in London as Sherlock Holmes investigates a strange mystery involving a disfigured body, Windsor Castle, and some rather unpleasant reptilian encounters.</p><p>We talk with Bonnie about the creative process, including the expert advice she received from two knights, her extensive research, and — wait for it — smoke enemas. No, we're not joking. Discover why <i>The Times</i> called this "a treat for all Sherlockians."</p><p>We've moved the <b>Sherlockian News</b> to an exclusive bonus track for <b><a href="https://ihose.co/ihosepatron" target="_blank">supporters</a></b> (watch for that to drop), and added a new segment: "<b>The Learned Societies</b>," all about activities going on in in Sherlockian groups.</p><p>Of course, Madeline Quiñones is back with another installment of "<b>A Chance of Listening</b>," her review of Sherlockian podcasts. And wind up the year with another <b>Canonical Couplet</b> quiz for you to test your Sherlockian knowledge. The winner, chosen at random from all correct answers, will receive something from the IHOSE vaults. Send your answer to comment @ ihearofsherlock .com by January 14, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. EST. All listeners are eligible to play.</p><p>If you become a <a href="https://ihose.co/ihosepatron" target="_blank"><b>supporter</b></a> of the show, not only will you help to ensure we can keep doing what we do, covering file hosting costs, production, and transcription services, but we have thank-you gifts at certain tiers and ad-free versions of the episodes for all patrons.</p><div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://traffic.libsyn.com/ihearofsherlock/ihearofsherlock303.mp3" target="_blank">Download</a> [Save As] | File size: 57.3 MB, 59:21</h3><iframe allowfullscreen="" data-dashlane-classification="other" data-dashlane-rid="5f5d36e9e0e7741e" height="192" mozallowfullscreen="true" msallowfullscreen="true" oallowfullscreen="true" scrolling="no" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/34862030/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/414733/time-start/00:00:00/playlist-height/200/direction/backward/download/yes/font-color/FFFFFF" style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap: nowrap; word-break: normal;"></div><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0000ee; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.episodes.fm/258126625" target="_blank">Listen to I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere anywhere you get podcasts<br /></a></span><br /></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;">Leave I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere a five-star rating on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/i-hear-of-sherlock-everywhere/id258126625?ls=1">Apple Podcasts</a> and <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/30WtRn1mnXfAtX7YaeRY5Y">Spotify</a>; listen to us <a href="https://www.episodes.fm/1198869691">wherever you listen to podcasts</a>.</h3></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div><h2 style="margin: 0px;">Sponsors</h2><div style="margin: 0px;"><ul><li>Exclusive for IHOSE listeners from <a href="https://mxpublishing.com/" target="_blank">MX Publishing</a>: codes for <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdT14AxBwqMqON1zScLBHRecf2hd-2Q7fR-hHdlRDTrBS9K5w/viewform" target="_blank">5 free audio books</a>.</li></ul></div></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Would you care to advertise with us? You can find <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/p/contact.html#.Vc1Qx7JViko" target="_blank">more information here</a>. Let's chat!<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div><b><br /></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul></ul></div><h2><b>Links</b></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>The Serpent Under</i> (<a href="https://amzn.to/40ikGax" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> | <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/93253/9780008380885">Bookshop.org</a>)</li><li><a href="https://macbird.com/" target="_blank">Bonnie MacBird's website</a></li><li>Links mentioned in "<b>The Learned Societies</b>"</li><ul><li><a href="http://www.sherlockiancalendar.com/" target="_blank">Sherlockian Calendar</a></li><li><a href="https://www.beaconsociety.com/locating-a-sherlockian-society-map.html" target="_blank">Locating a Sherlockian society</a></li></ul><li>Links mentioned in "<b>A Chance of Listening</b>"</li><ul><li><a href="http://sherlockpodcast.com/" target="_blank">The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast</a></li><li><a href="https://episodes.fm/258126625/episode/MWEzMDJkNmYtZTIzYi00YWNiLWJmNmUtMWZhNjM1ZjJiOTcx" target="_blank">Episode 203</a>: The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast</li></ul><ul><li><a href="https://episodes.fm/258126625/episode/Y2EwMDI5YjItNjJjYi00YjcyLWE3MGItZTRmMTU5M2RlMTZi" target="_blank">Episode 284</a>: BrettCon</li></ul><ul></ul><ul></ul><li>Previous Episodes:</li><ul><li><a href="https://www.episodes.fm/258126625/episode/Njk1ZDdjNzYxMmJkNzY3ZGQ2ZmJmNTAzMmNlOTgxMGI" target="_blank">Episode 83</a>: Art in the Blood</li><li><a href="https://www.episodes.fm/258126625/episode/YTA4OWNlODUyNmE4MmJkYTEzNTM0ZWRkYjc4YTlkMTM" target="_blank">Episode 132</a>: Unquiet Spirits</li><li><a href="https://www.episodes.fm/258126625/episode/YjE4ZWQ5NWItOWY1YS00ZGFmLWE4MjMtYWUzNzg2N2U0MDdi" target="_blank">Episode 251</a>: What Child Is This?</li><li><a href="https://ihose.co/ihoseshows" target="_blank">The IHOSE Archives</a></li></ul><li>Find all of our relevant links and social accounts at <a href="http://linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock">linktr.ee/ihearofsherlock</a>.</li></ul><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: column;"><a href="https://goodpods.com/leaderboard/top-100-shows-by-category/fiction/mystery?indie=false&period=month#37883168" target="_blank"><img alt="goodpods top 100 mystery podcasts" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/leaderboard_badges/fiction_mystery_top50_month.png" style="height: 77px; width: 250px;" /></a><a href="https://goodpods.com/leaderboard/top-100-shows-by-category/fiction/mystery" style="color: #6f6f6f; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 4px; text-align: center; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">Goodpods Top 100 Mystery Podcasts</a></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>And would you consider leaving us a rating and or a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Goodpods? It would help other Sherlockians to find us.</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px;">Your thoughts on the show? Leave a comment below, send us an email (comment AT ihearofsherlock DOT com), call us at 5-1895-221B-5. That's (518) 952-2125.</div><div style="font-family: "times new roman";"><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br />

Episode 303: The Serpent Under

“the rapidity and noiselessness of a serpent” [STUD] Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and Bonnie MacBird are back! In the sixth book in her ser...

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by Scott Monty

Sherlock Holmes's Birthday is NOT January 6th After All

<p></p><h4 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">“We have judged it best that you should come late” [ENGR]</h4><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7XopZzTBzANRyJ6POjrwk3sbYof-j4W7z-CT2c4HgExShiThbOw7OcDuQSi9Y7dMa2RdaXPwCzgmgqfyNGxG0YFEInkXg1LG6YzKZeMQp7CxJcCk5JgFsKIw28cbw-NNyW9RLqwcqZtFdsLyhfNSiVvgs3XuncM4dALOCHe9ouj-l6hgqVXUamIYLuMju" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1595" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7XopZzTBzANRyJ6POjrwk3sbYof-j4W7z-CT2c4HgExShiThbOw7OcDuQSi9Y7dMa2RdaXPwCzgmgqfyNGxG0YFEInkXg1LG6YzKZeMQp7CxJcCk5JgFsKIw28cbw-NNyW9RLqwcqZtFdsLyhfNSiVvgs3XuncM4dALOCHe9ouj-l6hgqVXUamIYLuMju=w640-h462" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i><b>Editor's note:</b> This may seem like heresy to traditional Sherlockians, who've been celebrating Sherlock Holmes's birthday on January 6th for nearly a century.</i></p><p><i>Erik Deckers, longtime contributor to the Canonical Couplet on the IHOSE podcast and chief instigator behind the satirical <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2024/12/prepare-yourself-for-h-con.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">H & W Con</a>, has written to tell us our math hasn't been mathing. Whether or not you choose to believe him, he provides an informative history and some convincing facts. </i></p><p><i>We'll let Erik tell it himself.</i></p><p><br /></p><p>We've been making a terrible mistake about Sherlock Holmes's birthday.</p><p>It's widely believed that Holmes's birthday was <a href="https://www.ihearofsherlock.com/2025/01/happy-171st-birthday-sherlock-holmes.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">January 6, 1854</a>, but it's not.</p><p>Why? What's so special about that particular date in the first place?</p><p>In "His Last Bow," even though he was in disguise as "an Irish-American," Holmes was described as</p><blockquote><p>. . . a tall, gaunt man of sixty, with clear-cut features and a small goatee beard which gave him a general resemblance to the caricatures of Uncle Sam."</p></blockquote><p>Since "His Last Bow" was published in 1914, we, along with most chronologists, can assume Holmes was then born in 1854.</p><p>But where did we get January 6th?</p><p>Because Christopher Morley says so.</p><p>In his article in the January 6, 1933 issue of <i>The Saturday Review of Literature</i>, when Holmes would have turned 79, Morley said:</p><blockquote><p>"I have not looked up the date, but if, as an astrologer has suggested, Sherlock Holmes was most likely born in January, some observance is due. Therefore, if the matter has never been settled, I nominate January 6th (the date of this issue of the <i>Saturday Review</i>) as his birthday…"</p></blockquote><p>Morley further reasoned that because Holmes quotes Shakespeare's <i>Twelfth Night</i> twice — ever — in the canon, it means he was interested in that play because his own birthday was on the twelfth night after Christmas. (Which is a stretch. After all, Holmes mentioned murder at least 72 times in the canon, but that doesn't mean he loved <i>Sweeney Todd</i>.)</p><p>In <i>The Sign of the Four</i>, Holmes quips, &quot;All is well that ends well&quot; from Act IV, Scene 4. In "The Empty House," Holmes says, "'Journeys end in lovers meetings,' as the old play says," from Act II, Scene 3.</p><p>Except Morley got the date wrong.</p><p>And it all has to do with how we count the twelve days of Christmas.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">What Are the Twelve Days of Christmas?</h2><p>The twelve days of Christmas — the time, not the song — was proclaimed by the Council of Tours in 567 to be a "sacred and festive season." As a result, they filled those days with various feasts and observances that are celebrated by the Roman Catholics and Orthodox churches to the east (i.e., the Eastern Orthodox, Eastern Catholic, and Oriental Orthodox).</p><p>This sacred and festive season is what led to the original song, "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Twelve_Days_of_Christmas_(song) " target="_blank">The Twelve Days of Christmas</a>." </p><p>Which you just started singing in your head.</p><p>TDOC is an English Christmas carol first published in 1780 and is known as a <b>cumulative song</b>. That means, says Wikipedia, "the lyrics take the form of a stanza of at least two lines. In each verse, the text of the first line introduces a new item, and the other line uses the words to begin a list that includes items from all the preceding verses." (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cumulative_song " target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>)</p><p>There have been a number of different melodies associated with the "Hey Jude" of Christmas music, although the one you're singing in your head comes from a 1909 traditional folk melody arranged by English composer Frederic Austin.</p><p>Seriously, it's in your head now; you can't escape it.</p><p><br /></p><p>The original song lyrics from 1780 actually match up with what we sing today with one exception ("three Colly birds"), but they have varied over the last 244 years.</p><p><br /></p><p>For example, in a manuscript by Cecily Baring-Gould (the great-aunt of <a href="https://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/twelve_days_of_christmas-2.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">William Baring-Gould</a>) from around 1840, she says that a "partridge in a pear tree" was actually "part of a juniper tree." On the fourth and fifth days, my true love gave "four Colley birds" and "a golden ring." There were also "eight hares a-running," "ten lords a-playing," "eleven bears a-baiting," and "twelve bulls a-roaring."</p><p>[This is an interesting rabbit trail in itself. William Baring-Gould's father, Sabine Baring-Gould co-authored a book, <i><a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/files/56625/56625-h/56625-h.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Songs of the West: Folk Songs of Devon & Cornwall Collected from the Mouths of the People</a></i> in 1889 in which he credits his aunt, Cecily Baring-Gould, having written the words and music to Twelve Days of Christmas in "about 1840."]</p><p>In the 1864 book <i><a href="https://archive.org/details/householdfriend00fielgoog/page/n57/mode/2up?view=theater " rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Household Friends for Every Season</a></i>, Thomas Hughes lists "a partridge and a pear tree," "three fat hens," "four ducks quacking," and "five hares running." </p><p><br /></p><p>In 1892, William Bell Scott quoted a "very pretty peacock in a pear tree," "four Corley birds," and "eleven ladies a-louping."</p><p>The gifts my true love gave have varied greatly, but we didn't land on the final order until 1909 with Frederic Austin's re-arranging of the original folk melody, and even then, he used the very first set of lyrics we know and. . . love(?) today.</p><p><b><i>FIVE GOOOOLD RINGS!</i></b></p><p>Seriously, it'll be in your head all day.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">When and What Are the Actual Twelve Days?</h2><p>The original twelve days of Christmas were filled with liturgical feasts and celebrations observed by the Roman Catholic Church and most Orthodox Churches. Here are several of the different historical observations of the twelve special days.</p><p>1 – Dec. 25th – Christmas Day.<br />2 – Dec. 26th – St. Stephen's Day. Also known as Boxing Day.<br />3 – Dec. 27th – Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. Also known as Wrestling Day. <br />4 – Dec. 28th – Feast of the Holy Innocents.<br />5 – Dec. 29th – Memorial of St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr.<br />6 – Dec. 30th – Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.<br />7 – Dec. 31st – Feast of Pope St. Sylvester I.<br />8 – Jan. 1st – Feast of the Circumcision of Christ.<br />9 – Jan. 2nd – Feasts of St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nazianzus.<br />10 – Jan. 3rd – Memorial of the Holy Name of Jesus.<br />11 – Jan. 4th – Unknown. <br />12 – Jan. 5th – Epiphany Eve. </p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">When is Twelfth Night?</h2><p>Twelfth Night, also known as Epiphany Eve — which is far less exciting than Christmas Eve — marks the coming of the Epiphany, a Christian feast day that marks the visit of the magi, Jesus' baptism, and the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine.</p><p>Not all on the same day, of course.</p><p>But, depending on which tradition you belonged to — Western Christianity or Eastern Orthodoxy — the date of Twelfth Night was either January 5th or 6th, depending on when the counting began on Christmas Day or the day after.</p><p>Except, why would you count the twelve days of Christmas and not include, you know, the Actual Day Of Christmas?</p><p>That's just not right. And since Holmes is from the western arm of Christianity, he and his family would have celebrated — or at least sung — the twelve days of Christmas starting on December 25th.</p><p>Which means. . . </p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Holmes's Birthday Is On January 5th, Not the 6th</h2><p>Here in the West, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, and United Protestant congregations all celebrate Epiphany on January 6th, and they all agree that the Twelfth Day and the Twelfth Night are on the 5th. It's one of the only things they agree on.</p><p>And that all means:</p><p>1) If Holmes was born on the twelfth day of Christmas, and</p><p>2) The twelfth day of Christmas is on January 5th, then</p><p>3) Holmes's birthday is on Thursday, January 5th, 1854, the day before Epiphany.</p><p><br /></p><p>Just think about this for a while, count the actual days, and sing the song over and over again. (It hasn't left your brain anyway.)</p><p>Eventually, the numbers will align, the stars will be in their places, and you'll have an. . . um. That is, a sort of, what's that called when something comes to you in a bolt of realization?</p><p>--</p><p><br /></p><p>Read Erik's regular column, <i><a href="https://laughing-stalk.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Laughing Stalk</a></i></p><p><br /></p>

Sherlock Holmes's Birthday is NOT January 6th After All

“We have judged it best that you should come late” [ENGR] Editor's note: This may seem like heresy to traditional Sherlockians, who...

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by Scott Monty

Happy 171st Birthday, Sherlock Holmes!

<h4 style="text-align: center;">“he was a born boon companion” [VALL]</h4><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgY_ymKWDr-geVICyGk-9ZM2MTm_O9WXVb_7hSXEleMbjIv4DOUuZU0tKuV-1NzuCPSMnNuDWljCd2qWatZYbe1uMGFadzwz8DFjXYkrCqcwqcUVUYQ5_psO726uRRm2KgwDuUVSfZecBCfBPJmI1PhC6pUrwnY4RJECIX3Md0lrgm7sqAN4FXViFBOlh/s1232/Case%20Notes%20cake%20-%20Amateur%20Mendicant%20Society.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1232" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgY_ymKWDr-geVICyGk-9ZM2MTm_O9WXVb_7hSXEleMbjIv4DOUuZU0tKuV-1NzuCPSMnNuDWljCd2qWatZYbe1uMGFadzwz8DFjXYkrCqcwqcUVUYQ5_psO726uRRm2KgwDuUVSfZecBCfBPJmI1PhC6pUrwnY4RJECIX3Md0lrgm7sqAN4FXViFBOlh/w640-h480/Case%20Notes%20cake%20-%20Amateur%20Mendicant%20Society.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Today is January 6th — and that marks the date on which we traditionally celebrate Sherlock Holmes's birthday.<br /><br />We say "traditionally," because there is no definitive statement of his actual date of birth in the Canon, but beginning with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Morley">Christopher Morley</a>, the date of January 6th has become the de facto accepted date for Holmes' birthday. Why? Well, there are a couple of reasons.<br /><br />Of all of the quotes in the Canon, William Shakespeare was the most oft-quoted author. There is but one Shakespearean play that Holmes quotes twice: <i><a href="https://amzn.to/37GCVtA">Twelfth Night</a></i>. In <i>The Sign of the Four</i>, Holmes concludes, "All is well that ends well." This is from from Act IV, Scene 4. And in "The Empty House," Holmes states "'Journeys end in lovers meetings,' as the old play says," from Act II, Scene 3.<br /><br />The reason the date was chosen is that in Christianity, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_6">January 6th</a> is the Feast of the Epiphany, or officially the twelfth day of Christmas. I suppose if we were being truly technical about it, the twelfth night of Christmas would fall on <b>January 5th</b>...<br /><br />In addition, William S. Baring-Gould in his <a href="https://amzn.to/2QrZ4G3"><i>The Annotated Sherlock Holmes</i></a>, posited that because Holmes was a little cranky on the morning of January 7th — the date on which <i>The Valley of Fear</i> began — he had a hangover, induced by birthday celebrations the evening prior.<br /><div><br /></div><div>And why 171? Scholars have fixed the year of Sherlock Holmes's birth to 1854 by virtue of a line in "His Last Bow" when he was described as "a tall gaunt man of sixty."<span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "merriweather"; font-size: 21px;"><br /></span><br /><h3><span style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: "merriweather"; font-size: 21px;">Additional Thoughts</span></h3>In an episode of <a href="https://www.sherlockholmespodcast.com" target="_blank">Trifles</a>, our weekly show where we discuss some of the minutiae in the Sherlock Holmes stories, we cover this in greater detail, and with some additional research material. Do check it out on the podcast streaming service of your choice, the embedded file below, or at <a href="https://ihose.co/trifles210">ihose.co/trifles210</a>.</div><div> <br /><iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/960247957&color=%23947454&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe><div style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Interstate, "Lucida Grande", "Lucida Sans Unicode", "Lucida Sans", Garuda, Verdana, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; line-break: anywhere; overflow: hidden; text-overflow: ellipsis; text-wrap: nowrap; word-break: normal;"><a href="https://soundcloud.com/sherlockholmes-trifles" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Sherlock Holmes: Trifles">Sherlock Holmes: Trifles</a> · <a href="https://soundcloud.com/sherlockholmes-trifles/sherlock-holmess-birthday" style="color: #cccccc; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank" title="Sherlock Holmes's Birthday">Sherlock Holmes's Birthday</a></div><br /><br />And by all means, share the news that today is Sherlock Holmes's birthday. But whatever you do, don't try to throw him a surprise party. It's an exercise in futility.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/199257178?h=1cc30eee6e" title="vimeo-player" width="640"></iframe><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><br />We hope you'll take a moment and wish Sherlock Holmes a happy birthday in your own way. If you'd like to join in here, please feel free to leave a birthday comment below.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div>

Happy 171st Birthday, Sherlock Holmes!

“he was a born boon companion” [VALL] Today is January 6th — and that marks the date on which we traditionally celebrate Sherlock Holmes...

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by Scott Monty

Baker Street Elementary – An Inkling of an Idea

<h4 style="text-align: center;">“I take up my pen” [FINA] </h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyq-P1edtqqcsqsw-NWDO5VsNvxsGYtKS9WJ71ZSd6bXnUv-lc_zWHhR3OshbK9R4VfXw6vJPJXH228DfCSMMRbs5AcQTHIZinAw49TZEQ_rYKtdCvmJF2GG27T5xtyHsgyxycj3svh4frX9vThHt3nb9WgiJ7NvqmqGLiEHS5wgBboL2P4wPwl6U9mKB/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20194.1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicyq-P1edtqqcsqsw-NWDO5VsNvxsGYtKS9WJ71ZSd6bXnUv-lc_zWHhR3OshbK9R4VfXw6vJPJXH228DfCSMMRbs5AcQTHIZinAw49TZEQ_rYKtdCvmJF2GG27T5xtyHsgyxycj3svh4frX9vThHt3nb9WgiJ7NvqmqGLiEHS5wgBboL2P4wPwl6U9mKB/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20194.1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One of the great joys of contemplation is the practice of writing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">When we're alone with our thoughts, we can take up a pen to write a journal entry, a heartfelt letter, or a thrilling adventure story, as the mood strikes us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And in doing so, we have many options for the type of writing implements we use. In "The Greek Interpreter," Mycroft Holmes makes this observation about an answer to an advertisement:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">“Here it is, written with a J pen on royal cream paper by a middle-aged man with a weak constitution.”</div></blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In the Victorian era, the 'J' pen nib was the standard writing-nib used on a daily basis. The J nib is a simple, robust nib with a rounded point. These kinds of nibs are typically stiff with no flex, but the rounded point makes for smooth writing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">In other words, a nib that would be appropriate for children learning to write as well as the elderly, those with arthritis, or a weak constitution, as Mycroft intuited.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Perhaps it helps with essay writing and getting good marks as well...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYFgPAfSaTjnMViO2HvWymDy1OZiS3t1eOmnuqTkmMQpTC_rIjHKhYP3DzNoPyOp6qhaIAktK1P1-eBwulpSoM7MbZO05XD8-kLoI46PxHhKnaSd_L83RddClyGTDtR_EwFvDd1POdBjAPIKT3Q3oYwvxpgg6-3sn_z-5EA6qv4umQ7cT-2qluP1AtRXP/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20194.2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYFgPAfSaTjnMViO2HvWymDy1OZiS3t1eOmnuqTkmMQpTC_rIjHKhYP3DzNoPyOp6qhaIAktK1P1-eBwulpSoM7MbZO05XD8-kLoI46PxHhKnaSd_L83RddClyGTDtR_EwFvDd1POdBjAPIKT3Q3oYwvxpgg6-3sn_z-5EA6qv4umQ7cT-2qluP1AtRXP/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20194.2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB772olgjki6oR8amwFbBuWA9SpIde0bLN7lNBu2AMAN_MptWzX6jNq0i41gYDmFcHsued90YU_EsGcpKSiBrqzghIW9g5FQDObEsJC2yk750OIytU72igiUuXopw7HCTSW5uUx-Xu70JgwtJ3A3IjQXCqBVMNc1XowtPZZF_wKf3D2vuszNK9OR2nAHLA/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20194.3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB772olgjki6oR8amwFbBuWA9SpIde0bLN7lNBu2AMAN_MptWzX6jNq0i41gYDmFcHsued90YU_EsGcpKSiBrqzghIW9g5FQDObEsJC2yk750OIytU72igiUuXopw7HCTSW5uUx-Xu70JgwtJ3A3IjQXCqBVMNc1XowtPZZF_wKf3D2vuszNK9OR2nAHLA/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20194.3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbFK9DJkj2tH_eaLHICxO-hN6ntYgdECtz-JqH3Gpf13epacdEjyo0HjYoj0NaYO2ByhdmBCMBbFevuxVs5UGOhKCZvdBoAUAfd1hODucuWLhKV0DK8g02j7KqmG6bpU2C25RsOraS5HDergFoYO4uQV780upc-5RH_GhyZvjTXam3ki9KQHQVnrQet1v/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20194.4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbFK9DJkj2tH_eaLHICxO-hN6ntYgdECtz-JqH3Gpf13epacdEjyo0HjYoj0NaYO2ByhdmBCMBbFevuxVs5UGOhKCZvdBoAUAfd1hODucuWLhKV0DK8g02j7KqmG6bpU2C25RsOraS5HDergFoYO4uQV780upc-5RH_GhyZvjTXam3ki9KQHQVnrQet1v/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20194.4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGt-fK3-J-Z-mCLBbKtELePQkW49pm1tttGi5mTJaJw_SBlDw18coL1DjjMdYuV8oQ_SoX0ErCP-bCEjJd99tr_86KtogFEyypzqjsrYlRP3NdVoIctMWAfbN9VTt-MzCMbZtXJXsHmFLdHsxuPFqU6VH68gkSqpZsVxrMpw36zYdK9I7XXrRbpS-lpAv/s1365/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20194.5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1365" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqGt-fK3-J-Z-mCLBbKtELePQkW49pm1tttGi5mTJaJw_SBlDw18coL1DjjMdYuV8oQ_SoX0ErCP-bCEjJd99tr_86KtogFEyypzqjsrYlRP3NdVoIctMWAfbN9VTt-MzCMbZtXJXsHmFLdHsxuPFqU6VH68gkSqpZsVxrMpw36zYdK9I7XXrRbpS-lpAv/w640-h360/Baker%20Street%20Elementary%20194.5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><i>Baker Street Elementary</i></b><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"> follows the original adventures of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, as they and their friends work through the issues of elementary school in Victorian London. An archive of all previous episodes can be viewed at </span><a href="http://www.bakerstreetelementary.org/" style="background-color: white; color: #006f85; font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">www.bakerstreetelementary.org</a><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;">.</span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span><span face="" style="background-color: white; color: #0e0e0e; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyHxoov2AdCNzI-sA382WHyzmCYKmU5vuVxxUUbwgmzd_zESpxNTWBoDo-0BOUVmZPf0EpIOXFT9y59il288HBvx1-_JJJXxHhZAn2orzWJPWbYZasKlLBplbQMHDaY9thgs_w1diI7ch/s1600/Baker+Street+Elementary.jpg" style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGyHxoov2AdCNzI-sA382WHyzmCYKmU5vuVxxUUbwgmzd_zESpxNTWBoDo-0BOUVmZPf0EpIOXFT9y59il288HBvx1-_JJJXxHhZAn2orzWJPWbYZasKlLBplbQMHDaY9thgs_w1diI7ch/s640/Baker+Street+Elementary.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>