Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

A Touch of the Dramatic Nov 21, 2024

“it was a dramatic one” [GLOR]

One of Sherlock Holmes's traits was that he was a master of disguise. And in the very first short story, "A Scandal in Bohemia," we find him in not one but two disguises.

However, it's more than costuming that made him successful at subterfuge. Curtis Armstrong shares his insights on why Sherlock Holmes was able to fool so many people, including Watson. And it's just a Trifle.

Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Bohemian Souls (BSI Press)
Revenge of the Nerd by Curtis Armstrong
Previous episodes mentioned:

Curtis on IHOSE Episode 143: P.G. Wodehouse and Sherlock Holmes

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

The Continental Nov 13, 2024

“the Continental express” [FINA]

When Sherlock Holmes was trying to outrun Professor Moriarty, the trail led from London to Switzerland. It was anything but a straight route. Our travel series traces their trip.

What did Holmes and Watson's journey onto the Continent entail? How long did it take? And what might we say about their choices? It's just a Trifle.

Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Previous episodes mentioned:

Episode 218 - Buffets

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

John Watson, Unreliable Narrator Nov 07, 2024

“you have erred, perhaps” [COPP]

We have John H. Watson, M.D. to thank for the Sherlock Holmes stories, and we typically take them at face value. That is, we trust that Watson was telling us the truth.

While Sherlock Holmes complimented Watson for his choice of cases, he also had criticisms of Watson's writing, taking issue with his storytelling process. Does this mean Watson's accuracy might also be called into question? It's just a Trifle.

Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Something's Missing Oct 30, 2024

“gone—stolen, vanished” [BRUC] A few episodes ago, we investigated various items that clients brought to Sherlock Holmes and items that acted as vital physical clues. It was something of a show-and-tell. This time, we're flipping the idea on its head and considering various stories where something—or someone—goes missing. What and who will be it? Tune in for this Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Previous episodes mentioned:

Bonus artwork for our supporters on Patreon and Substack
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

The Strongest Man in England Oct 24, 2024

“with a strength for which I should hardly have given him credit” [STUD] There were a number of individuals who exhibited strength in the Sherlock Holmes stories, to varying degrees. But which of them would you classify as the strongest? One of our listeners had an idea as to who it might be, so we surveyed the Canon and found a handful of others to make this a deeper discussion. Turns out it's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Bonus artwork for our supporters on Patreon and Substack
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

That Old Black Boot Oct 17, 2024

“the loss of the old black boot” [HOUN] Brown boot, black boot — these two items of Sir Henry Baskerville's went missing at the Northumberland Hotel shortly after he arrived in London. And they begin to put Sherlock Holmes on the scent of The Hound of the Baskervilles. However, there's a wrinkle regarding the old black boot that persists throughout the story. George Fletcher, BSI ("The Cardboard Box") made a note of this curious detail for the very first time in The Papers on the Sundial, a 2020 publication from The Five Orange Pips. And it's quite the Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

The Best of the Pips (1955)
The Best of the Pips Volume II (1999)
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Matilda Briggs Oct 09, 2024

“not the name of a young woman, Watson” [SUSS] Here's a strange one. We hear of the Matilda Briggs in one story. Do you know which story and what it was associated with? This entry in our Travel Series takes us on a mysterious sea voyage that inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to write a short story and then borrow a real name from this true tale and plant it in Sherlock Holmes story. What as the connection? Well, that's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Mary Celeste (Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia)
Mary Celeste (Wikipedia)
Gibraltar Marks the Return of Sherlock Holmes (1915) (The Fourth Garrideb)
Previous episodes mentioned:

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Something to Show for It Oct 02, 2024

“Look at that!” [3STU] Sherlock Holmes had clients of all kinds. Some that visited him with vague fears. Others that were concerned about missing documents. But when he had cases and clients that included a little show-and-tell — where a physical object was displayed — well, that is just a Trifle. And listen closely, because we ask for some input from you on this one! Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 225: Evidence Boxes
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Bohemian Alternatives Sep 26, 2024

“She responded beautifully” [SCAN] Occasionally — very occasionally — there are flaws in Sherlock Holmes's reasoning. Or, if not flaws, then something that doesn't quite hold up when we put our own magnifying lens against it. There is one such example in "A Scandal in Bohemia," as pointed out by a listener. One we had never considered before, but one that is just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Baker Street Fables Sep 19, 2024

“To a collector of fairy tales” [HOUN] Of the many things we know about Sherlock Holmes — or think we know about him — his knowledge of chemistry and his violin-playing skills are probably most closely associated with him. However, in 1952, Remsen Ten Eyck Schenck pulled the evidence together and compared it with what merely passed as opinion in a Baker Street Journal article. And what he found is more than just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Find the article discussed in this episode and others in the eBSJ
Other episodes mentioned:

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Fateful Voyages Sep 11, 2024

“his attitude and manner told their own story” [SCAN] The tragedies on September 11 ensured that it is a date that will forever be stamped in the history books. What to do when it coincides with an episode drop date for Trifles on our monthly travel series? As we glanced through the Sherlock Holmes canon, we found that a number of trips and voyages were associated with tragic outcomes. Part of it was a matter of the times and the risks of traveling; others seemed to be associated with karma. Together, they're just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating and listen to us wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

The Perfect Act of Telling a Story Sep 04, 2024

“his attitude and manner told their own story” [SCAN] Last month, we lost prolific Sherlockian David Stuart Davies. But prolific doesn't quite cover it. He was insightful and delightful, he amused and schmoozed, he wrote and spoke, created and debated, was always elated. In his memory, we're taking a deeper look at his article "First Encounters of the Holmes Kind" from Vol. 47, No. 1 of The Baker Street Journal — an essay on why "A Scandal in Bohemia" was the perfect first short story for Sherlock Holmes. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Leave Trifles a five-star rating. Links / Notes

The Baker Street Journal
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

The Great 400 Aug 29, 2024

“he had actually won as much as four hundred” [EMPT] It's hard to believe, but we've managed to notch our 400th episode of Trifles. And we can't think of a better way to celebrate than by highlighting some of our favorite episodes from throughout the show. We put our usual amount of consideration and thinking into this effort, and we think it's something that will delight old listeners as well as new. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

SoundCloud playlist of all episodes mentioned
All SoundCloud playlists
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Who Killed Charles Augustus Milverton? Aug 21, 2024

“private revenge” [CHAS] In "The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton," Watson tells us that a woman with a "dark, handsome, clear-cut face" lifted her veil and "emptied barrel after barrel into Milverton’s body," leaving him dead on the floor. But in the Summer 2024 issue of The Baker Street Journal (Vol. 74, No. 2), Carla Coupe wonders if Watson wasn't giving us the whole story. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Links / Notes

The Baker Street Journal
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

The Journeys of Sherlock Holmes Aug 14, 2024

“‘journeys end in lovers’ meetings,’ as the old play says” [EMPT] When it came to London, Sherlock Holmes preferred to stay put. That's what Paul Gore-Booth would have us believe. When he assessed the many tales, he found that most happened in London and its immediate suburbs. But Gore-Booth went one further: he conjectured about the locales of various unpublished cases. If you know Trifles, you'll recall that we delved into some of the unpublished cases in Season 2. Together, it's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Paul Gore-Booth
Season 2: Unpublished Cases
Soundcloud playlist of Unpublished Cases
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Clumsiness Aug 07, 2024

“I did it clumsily” [DANC] Sherlock Holmes was a man of great precision. We learn about his attention to detail and his preferences for improving the art of detection from the very first time we meet him. But there were instances of clumsiness — his own and from others — that crop up throughout the Canon. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Anxiety Part 2 Aug 01, 2024

“I am much more anxious” [MISS] Four episodes ago, we began a discussion about anxiety in the Sherlock Holmes stories. We managed to make from A Study in Scarlet up through The Hound of the Baskervilles. What about the rest of the Canon? Worry not! We continue the journey from The Return through The Case-Book. While Sherlock Holmes shows some anxiety in this half of the Canon, we'll find that his clients and others are more anxious. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Episode 392 - Anxiety
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Victorian Aventuresses Jul 25, 2024

“she seems indeed to be on a very different level” [SCAN] There is one woman in the entire Canon of Sherlock Holmes stories that we can instantly recall as an adventuress. You know who we're talking about. Can you think of at least one other off the top of your head? We'll help with that. Plus, we'll explore just how the term "adventuress" evolved and what it meant in polite society. It's just a Trifle. Do you have a topic you'd like to recommend? Email us at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com and if we use your idea on the air, we'll send you a thank-you gift. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Oh, and our supporters can watch this episode on video! Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

The Adventuress (The Encyclopedia of Victoriana)
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Silver Blaze: An Identification Jul 17, 2024

“concealed it at Mapleton” [SILV] This month's Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist episode goes back to 1949 to Volume 4, Number 1 of The Baker Street Journal and Jay Finley Christ's article "Silver Blaze: An Identification (as of 1893 A.D.). Here Christ looks at what contemporary readers of the Strand would have thought of Watson's tale, specifically identifying which horse Silver Blaze was supposed to be. Oh, and for our Patreon and Substack supporters, we have a video version of this episode. It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Jay Finley Christ's article is available through the eBSJ.
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The Geography of the Hound of the Baskervilles Jul 11, 2024

“I flatter myself that I could find my way about.” [HOUN] Dartmoor and its surroundings provided the perfect setting for The Hound of the Baskervilles. Not only did the area have a sense of history (and prehistory) about it, but the sparse surroundings added to the mystique. And the wonderful part is that if we were to set foot there in 2024, we would recognize the landmarks and even some of the buildings. In 1965, Kelvin Jones took to identifying some of the real-life locations that we find in the story and it's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. We also have some photos of the area from David Marcum, who recently made a pilgrimage to Dartmoor. You can find them on Patreon and Substack. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

The Sherlock Holmes Journal from the Sherlock Holmes Society of London
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Anxiety Jul 03, 2024

“weighed down with some great anxiety” [FIVE] Where would Sherlock Holmes be without fear and anxiety? It was a common state of mind for a number of his clients, but Holmes himself also exhibited anxious behavior from time to time. In which stories can we find anxiety? Don't be nervous; we have 10 examples. But there are still more to come that will feature in a discussion in a second part. It's just a Trifle. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Maps & Floorplans Jun 26, 2024

“I sent down to Stamford's for the ordnance map” [HOUN] In a number of instances in the Sherlock Holmes stories, we find ourselves guided by maps. Not only as critical elements of the plot, but also as visual aids to readers.

In which stories do we find maps? And what about those that required floorplans to be sketched out as well? It's just a Trifle.

This topic was suggested by listener Ron Groenewoud, who'll be receiving a thank you gift for his efforts. If you have a topic you'd like to suggest and we use it on the air, we'll do the same thing for you. Just drop us a line at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community on Patreon or Substack today. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

The Sherlockian Atlas by Julian Wolff
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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Sherlock Holmes, Linguist Jun 19, 2024

“he is a remarkable linguist” [GREE] Sherlock Holmes has been translated into scores of languages all around the world (just ask Don Hobbs). But what languages was he fluent in or have passing familiarity with?

This is the question Dean W. Dickensheet tackles in Vol. 10 No. 3 of The Baker Street Journal in his article "Sherlock Holmes - Linguist." It's the latest in our series looking at old Sherlockian scholarship and it's just a Trifle.

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The eBSJ
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Years of Mystery Jun 13, 2024

“We have three years of the past to discuss” [EMPT]

Once again, we pack our Gladstone bags and prepare for an episode where we travel. This time, we head to Sussex Downs and then across the Atlantic to New York in some of the early years of Sherlock Holmes's retirement.

What brings us there is from the fertile imagination of Les Klinger, who posits a connection between Sherlock Holmes, Wilson Hargreave, and Andrew Carnegie. It's just a Trifle.

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Baker Street Rambles by Leslie S. Klinger
Floradora (Wikipedia)
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Elderly in the Canon Jun 06, 2024

“his age, and an affliction” [STOC]

The panoply of elderly individuals in the Sherlock Holmes stories is impressive: Mr. Frankland, the old crank in The Hound of the Baskervilles, the miserly Josiah Amberley in "The Retired Colourman," Old Mr. Farquhar, the previous owner of Watson's practice.

But there were many others, some of whom go almost unnoticed. What similarities do we see among them? How did Conan Doyle's writing about them change over time? It's just a Trifle.

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Linoleum May 30, 2024

“the flooring was also thoroughly examined” [SPEC]

Cocoanut matting, bearskin rug, carpets — there are a number of notable floor coverings mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories. But flooring itself is less notable.

Case in point: linoleum, which appears as a passing mention in just three stories, was a popular alternative at the time. What do we know about the history of linoleum, how was it manufactured, and what role did it play in the Canon? It's just a Trifle.

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Previous episode mentioned:

Episode 102: Inside 221B: On the Floor

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Forests May 23, 2024

“Vast sections of it have been cleared” [BLAC]

When you're really down in the details about something — something trifling, perhaps — it's difficult to see the forest for the trees, as the saying goes.

Well, we've discussed trees in two previous episodes, so we thought it was time to look at the forests. There were scant mentions of forests in the Sherlock Holmes stories, but they're worth a Trifle.

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Forest Row
New Forest
Weald
Previous episodes mentioned:

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The Long Road from Maiwand May 15, 2024

“at Maiwand without losing my nerve” [STUD] Maiwand: Saving the Guns by Richard Caton Woodville, 1883 (Wikimedia Commons)

It is generally accepted that A Study in Scarlet, when Dr. Watson first met Sherlock Holmes, took place in 1881. Watson was just back from the war in Afghanistan, where he had been wounded at the Battle of Maiwand.

But in 1940, Edgar W. Smith took a closer look at the timing between the battle, Watson's recovery time, travel to London and hotel stay, and came to a much different conclusion. He wrote it up in a pamphlet and it's just a Trifle.

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The Long Road from Maiwand: an examination of the evidence bearing upon the dating of a certain encounter in the chemical laboratory at St. Bartholomew's Hospital, in London by Edgar W. Smith (Abebooks)
The eBSJ
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Sherlock Holmes, Cabby May 09, 2024

“Stop at a telegraph-office, cabby!” [SIGN]

Cabbies are everywhere in London – indeed, so common in some cases that they're simply overlooked (we see you, Jefferson Hope!). Could Sherlock Holmes have passed himself off as a cabby?

There are certainly points in his career when it would have made sense. And a paper given at a Sherlock Holmes society in Denmark points in that direction. Hop on board with us in this monthly travel series episode! It's just a Trifle.

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"The Thomas Hogram Letters" by Sven Ranild is an expanded and translated version of a paper delivered in Copenhagen on September 19, 1987, at the Centenary Dinner of the Sherlock Holmes Klubben i Danmark and it appeared in the Summer 1991 issue of The Sherlock Holmes Journal.
Episode 124 - Odd Jobs
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Wordplay May 02, 2024

“very curious phraseology” [WIST]

Here's an interesting little subject that ought to intrigue many Sherlock Holmes fans: words. We are a literate bunch, and when we get to learn more about words — especially words with which we're unfamiliar — that makes us happy.

This topic was suggested by listener Jennifer Cassasanto, who was curious about some of the foreign and antiquated terms in the Canon. Fair warning, though: this is a pun-filled zone. Word nerds unite! It's just a Trifle.

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An Irregular Anglo-American Glossary of More or Less Unfamiliar Words, Terms and Phrases in the Sherlock Holmes Saga by S. Tupper Bigelow
Episode 124 - Odd Jobs
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Will the Real Devil's Foot Stand Up? Apr 25, 2024

“kept as a secret among them” [DEVI]

When Dr. Leon Sterndale said there was only one known specimen of radix pedis dioaboli – devil's foot root – in a laboratory in Buda, it was clear that it was a poison unknown to science.

Just what was it that was "used as an ordeal poison by the medicine-men in certain districts of West Africa"? Dr. Robert Ennis had an idea related to a substance we know well today, based on his observations in emergency rooms. And it’s anything but a Trifle.

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The eBSJ
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The Second Collaboration Apr 18, 2024

“His collaboration may be very necessary” [ILLU]

There's a curious phrase in the beginning of A Study in Scarlet that requires a little more consideration. Do you know what it is? John Ball, Jr. did.

And his theory about what that phrase signified is an intelligent and plausible one, lifted from a 1954 issue of The Baker Street Journal and The Baker Street Reader. Along the way, we uncover a surprising fact about Ball. And it’s anything but a Trifle.

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John Ball Jr. (Wikipedia)
The Baker Street Reader (Abebooks)
The eBSJ
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To Go to Norwood Apr 11, 2024

“we shall certainly have to go to Norwood” [SIGN]

The latest in our travel series takes us to Norwood. In particular, the Norwood in The Sign of Four. Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, and Mary Morstan take a cab to a seedier part of London, and then a four-wheeler south to Norwood.

How long would it have taken them? And what else might we find in this London suburb? Michael Harrison assists with an essay from In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes, and it’s just a Trifle.

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Links / Notes

In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes by Michael Harrison
The Crystal Palace Fire
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The Manor House Case Apr 04, 2024

“consult me over that Manor House case” [GREE] In addition to fascinating cases and clients, the Sherlock Holmes stories saw some wonderful house names. How did some of them get their names? We look at the history of house names, call out the story names that were also house names, and mention a few of our favorite lesser-known country houses in the Canon. It's just a Trifle. Oh, and just for our Patreon and Substack supporters, we have some additional analysis in a bonus episode. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community today. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

History of UK House Names
English Country House Names Explained
Experience Sherlock Holmes Filming Locations Up Close
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B Is for Biscuit Mar 28, 2024

“one of biscuits” [GLOR] It's not often we find ourselves with a Muppets crossover, but after stumbling across a few trifling references in the Sherlock Holmes stories, we began to think about the Cookie Monster in Baker Street. Of course, there were no cookies in Baker Street. Only biscuits. Where might we find mentions of biscuits in the Canon? And what do we know about their variety and history? It's just another treat – a Trifle. Oh, and just for our Patreon supporters, we have a link to a very special Cookie Monster-themed Sherlockian item. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community today. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Playlist: Trifles episodes about food
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The Effect of Trades on the Body Mar 21, 2024

“the weaver by his tooth or the compositor by his thumb” [COPP] On the third week of every month, we look at a piece of Sherlockian scholarship in a series we call "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist." In this episode, the article "The Effect of Trades on the Body" by Remsen Ten Eyck Schenck from Vol. 3, No. 1 of The Baker Street Journal in 1953 serves as our anchor. Schenck offers a look at one of the monographs Holmes mentioned in The Sign of Four and proceeds to compare it with medical literature to draw conclusions about Holmes's work. And it's just a Trifle. Don't miss the bonus material we have for you - available on both Patreon and Substack. All of our supporters are eligible for our monthly drawings for Baker Street Journals and certain tiers receive thank you gifts. Join our community today. Become a Patron! Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts. Links / Notes

Find Schenck's article in the eBSJ
Episode 43 - Sherlock Holmes' Monographs
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Canonical Luggage and Railway Journeys Mar 14, 2024

“whatever luggage you intend to take” [FINA] We're back on the rails this week, with our monthly travel-related episode. This time, we turn to an article written by H.J. Curjel for The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 12, Nos. 3 & 4, Summer 1976. Specifically, we review his survey of stories in which railway journeys long and short took place, and specifically those in which luggage was mentioned or when people traveled without luggage. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Arthur Conan Doyle's Portable Writing Desk (I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere)
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Half Measures Mar 07, 2024

“half-humorous, half-cynical” [DEVI] Celebrate our terquasquicentennial with us as we take a full look at "half" mentions in the Canon. While there are nearly 400 instances of the word, there are a select few that tell us something about hte personality of Sherlock Holmes. Namely, that Sherlock Holmes used the term "half" strategically when he wanted to sound a certain way. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Holmes and a Train Bluff (Simanaintis Says)
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Secret Societies Feb 29, 2024

“the secret societies must have done it” [STUD] Here and there across the Sherlock Holmes stories, we find ourselves embroiled in the intrigue that involves secret societies. Many are of foreign origin, and they're almost always associated with death and violence. What are these organizations and in which stories can we find them? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Episode 266 - Final Illumination on the Lucca Code
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 30: The Sherlockian with Graham Moore
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Corpulence in the Canon Feb 21, 2024

“His body was absolutely corpulent” [GREE] Join us for another "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist" episode, in which we bring a piece of Sherlockian scholarship about a trifling issue to you. This time, we look at Anna Brindisi Behrens' article "Corpulence in the Canon: Beyond Stereotypes" from the Winter 2023 issue of The Baker Street Journal (Vol. 73., No. 4). It's a look beyond the obvious, and as always, it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Links / Notes

The Baker Street Journal
Henry VIII, a turkey leg, and the Mandela Effect
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An Essex Adventure Feb 15, 2024

“not far from Frinton.” [RETI] It's travel time again! The second episode of every month in Season 8 is travel-themed, and we ride the rails again with "An Essex Adventure" by A. Godfrey Hunt from The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Winter 1992). Here we have the case of Holmes getting a client-cum-suspect out of the way. And in doing so, he sent Josiah Amberley with Watson on a wild goose chase to Essex. Why Essex, though? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Sherlock Holmes Journal
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Watson's Billiard Playing Feb 08, 2024

“chalk his billiard-cue” [MISS] Back in Season 3, when we did a series on Games and Sports, we had one episode on billiards in the Sherlock Holmes stories. In this case, we were inspired by an article in the Sherlock Holmes Journal specifically mentioning Watson's billiard-playing habits. When did Watson start playing billiards? Who was Thurston? And other than at his club, where is it likely that he engaged in the game? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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"The Cuerious Incidence of Watson's Billiard Playing" by Donald Jewell, The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 20, No. 3 (Winter 1991)
Other episodes mentioned

Episode 132: Billiards

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Hunting Crops Feb 01, 2024

“here’s a hunting crop handy” [IDEN] In the last episode, we reflected on Sherlock Holmes chasing James Windibank out of Baker Street. While he did so, he referenced his handy hunting crop. Hunting crops, do (ahem) crop up in the Canon from time to time. Who used them and why? What are they used for when not being brandished as weapons? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Sidney Paget's hunting crop
Other episodes mentioned

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Hosmeric Hypocrisy Jan 25, 2024

“You’ll be interested to hear that I am engaged.” [CHAS] The name of this show was inspired in part by William Hyder, BSI ("A Most Valuable Institution"), who includes a half sheet of a trifling matter in the dinner packet of the Baker Street Irregulars each year. And as has become our tradition, each January, we use his Trifle. Our attention turns to Hosmer Angel / James Windibank from "A Case of Identity," who led on Miss Mary Sutherland with whiskers, tinted glasses, a whispery voice, and a typewriter, before abandoning her. Holmes had no patience for a man who'd treat a woman this way. Until... And that's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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221B: Studies in Sherlock Holmes by Vincent Starrett
"Behind the Times" from Round the Red Lamp by Arthur Conan Doyle
Other episodes mentioned (from Season 4)

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The Other Boarder Jan 18, 2024

“There was no other boarder” [VALL] The third episode of every month in Season 8 finds us revisiting familiar ground: episodes under the "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist" category, as we revisit old Sherlockian scholarship. This episode brings us to an overlooked chapter of a familiar book. It's James Keddie's "The Other Boarder" from Vincent Starrett's 221B: Studies in Sherlock Holmes, in which he brings in a surprising discovery from "Behind the Times." And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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221B: Studies in Sherlock Holmes by Vincent Starrett
"Behind the Times" from Round the Red Lamp by Arthur Conan Doyle
Other episodes mentioned:

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The Underground Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Jan 10, 2024

“We traveled by the Underground” [REDH] We're kicking off a new monthly series for Season 8: travel. Highly appropriate, as we travel to New York for the Baker Street Irregulars Weekend. In this case, our travel is local within London. That is, the Underground. For as much as we associate Sherlock Holmes and London, his travel on the Underground was a bit limited. The late John Baesch, BSI helps us explore it. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Original Empty House: Mind the Gap (I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere)
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Soothing Elements Jan 04, 2024

“I have myself found it a very soothing atmosphere” [GREE] It's easy to think of Sherlock Holmes as an automaton — Watson himself called Holmes that exact word, remarking “There is something positively inhuman in you at times.” And yet, if we consider the detective's demeanor with clients and the types of activities he found solace in, we find a softer side of Holmes. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Tactical Communication (I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere)
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Oh My! Dec 27, 2023

“Oh, my God! what a blind fool I have been!” [BERY] Well, this is it. The final entry of Season 7 and of 2023. And it marks our 365th episode. We reach the final episode in a quartet of episodes that took us as many months to complete, honoring Alfred Hitchcock as an inspiration. And we look back at the origins of the show, what some of the running themes have been, and where we'll take it in Season 8. It's just a Trifle. Thank you to our loyal listeners, who are enthusiastic and encouraging. There's lots ahead, particularly for our Patreon community. Stay tuned! If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Playlists on SoundCloud
Episode 352 – Lions
Episode 356 – Tigers
Episode 361 – Bears
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Watson à la Mode Dec 20, 2023

“a charming coquettish intimacy” [3GAB] The final installment in this season's Masters Class is another Christopher Morley essay, "Watson à la Mode," from Vol. 1 No. 1 of The Baker Street Journal (1946). We discuss Morley's keen analysis of Watson's eye for fashion and an extraordinary conclusion about his marriages. It's just a Trifle. Oh, and we've issued a challenge to Trifles Patreon supporters, due before the next issue drops. A prize awaits! If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The 12 Trifles of Christmas Dec 13, 2023

“the compliments of the season” [BLUE] Here it is, 12 days before Christmas — the perfect time to celebrate with you. So we're doing it in style. Listener Jim Zych was kind enough to share his trifling monograph "The 12 Sherlockian Days of Christmas," so we thought we might adapt it for you. So take a numerical journey through the Canon with us. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The 12 Days of Christmas (Wikipedia)
Some of our favorite variations:

The 12 Gifts of Christmas (Allan Sherman)
The 12 Days of Christmas (Bob & Doug McKenzie)
The 12 Pains of Christmas (Bob Rivers)

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Hand Washing Dec 06, 2023

“washed their hands of the matter” [GREE] We like to think that the practice of hand washing is a universal occurrence. After a couple of years of a pandemic, it was certainly ingrained into the public's awareness (we hope). But when it comes to life in the Sherlock Holmes stories, where do we find instances of manual hygiene? And when were some individuals positively slovenly? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Maimonidies and the need for hand washing (National Library of Medicine)
Joseph Lister's contributions to hygiene (Science Museum)
Ignaz Semmelweis (Wikipedia)
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Bears Nov 30, 2023

“bear in mind” [MUSG] Image credit: Russell Stutler Can you think of the instances when bears are mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories? We'll give you a minute. No? There are four specific mentions, but blink and you'll miss them. We cover them in this episode, along with exploring just why there are no bears in the United Kingdom. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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This Here Is Your Life, Sherlock Holmes: Parody from the Voice of Yogi Bear
Beargarden (Wikipedia)
Henry III's Polar Bear (National Trust)
Why a Bearskin Rug? (John H. Watson Society)
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By Jove! Nov 22, 2023

“By Jove, Watson; I’ve got it!” [CHAS] Last month, we contemplated the significance of the exclamation "By George!" So this month, we give ourselves over the gods as we explore "By Jove!" What's the significance of a Jovian exclamation, what's the connection to being jovial, and who is described as such in the Sherlock Holmes stories? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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By Jove! Thor and Jupiter in the Sherlock Holmes Stories
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Dr. Watson's Secret Nov 16, 2023

“This terrible secret” [FIVE] Dr. Watson was a master of inconsistencies. Or perhaps sloppiness. Or, according to Christopher Morley, intentional obfuscation. With a little chronological detective work, he may have figured it out. Just what was Watson's secret, and why was he keeping it? He did it so well that not only did he keep it from his readers, but from Sherlock Holmes himself. It's the lastest Masters Class and it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Pencils Nov 09, 2023

“Now, then, give him the pencil.” [GREE] Writing implements are a part of daily life. They are today and they were when Watson was writing the stories. And from the very first story, Watson picks up a pencil to jot some notes. Where else do we find pencils, and how do they play into the importance of some of the Sherlock Holmes stories? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The History of the Pencil (British Museum)
The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance by Henry Petroski
El Casco pencil sharpener (Amazon)
Faber-Castell Perfect Pencil 9000 with Built-in Pencil Sharpener and Extender (Amazon)
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Thanks! Nov 02, 2023

Tigers Oct 25, 2023

“bag of tigers” [EMPT] We continue to clean up and cover a few more animals that we missed in previous seasons. The tiger was another foreign curiosity for Victorians, being native to Asia – from the Russian Far East through parts of North Korea, China, India, and Southeast Asia to Sumatra (yes, that Sumatra). While tigers in the Sherlock Holmes stories are few and far between, they're certainly mentioned. In what context? And where exactly? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Playlist: Animals
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Was Sherlock Holmes an American? Oct 19, 2023

“I’m a free-born American” [STUD] It's the final quarter of our Masters Class series, and this is the first of three essays we're going to bring you from the pen of Christopher Morley. Morely is important not only because he founded the Baker Street Irregulars, but because of his stature as a writer and person of his time. His essay "Was Sherlock Holmes an American?" first appeared in 1934 but it has enjoyed a life far beyond its original appearance. And it sets the tone for how interested and invested Sherlockians can make something of a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Related episodes: I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 272: Legends of the BSJ: Christopher Morley
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By George! Oct 12, 2023

“By George, it’s marvellous!” [GOLD] "By George!" It's an expression you've heard and read thousands of times, most likely. And it comes up in the Sherlock Holmes stories, naturally. We found "by George" in 10 stories. Which ones were they? Who utters it? And what does it mean? Take the quiz along with us. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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By George! (Grammarphobia)
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The Dental Holmes Oct 05, 2023

“a set of excellent teeth” [RESI] Around these parts, we've surveyed the implications of teeth, teeth marks and other clues for the purpose of investigation and detection (listen to Episode 206), but we never looked comprehensively at teeth. In this episode, our discussion ranges from Oscar Wilde's choppers to the history of unfair stereotypes, to pondering how one can tell the cut from a tooth from the cut of a dull knife, and more. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Oscar Wilde's Teeth (Writers in London in the 1890s)
Testy Teeth! Dental Interventions in 19th Century London (Museum of London)
"Teeth" by Spike Milligan (AllPoetry)
Related episodes:

Episode 206 - Smile When You Say That (Season 4)

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Lions Sep 27, 2023

“you used to shoot lions” [MAZA] Back in Season 5, we had a recurring feature: each month, we looked at a particular exotic animal from the Sherlock Holmes stories. Langur, mongoose, baboon, jellyfish, worms — a menagerie, for sure. The full playlist is in our links. But we missed lions. Given our recent episode focusing on the terrible tragedy in "The Veiled Lodger," it made us realize there are more lions than just Sahara King in the Canon. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Related episodes:

Playlist: Animals (Season 5)

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The Ripper and the Crown Sep 21, 2023

“He thought the tutor” [3STU] The final installment in our Masters Class series featuring the work of Michael Harrison takes us into the world of Jack the Ripper via The World of Sherlock Holmes. Ripperologists have racked their brains for a century and a half with respect to the identity of Jack the Ripper. Even more puzzling is why Sherlock Holmes never got involved in the case. Or, as Harrison surmised, never seemed to get involved. It involves a connection with the British royal family and a sense of timing. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The World of Sherlock Holmes by Michael Harrison
Clarence: Was He Jack the Ripper? by Michael Harrison
Prince Albert Victor, Duke of Clarence and Avondale
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Terrible Human Tragedies Sep 13, 2023

“the most terrible human tragedies” [VEIL] Having inadvertently left "The Veiled Lodger" out of our discussion about suicide in Episode 349, we put more focus on it in this episode. The introduction identifies it as "one of the most terrible human tragedies." Is it a tragedy in the classical sense, involving a fall from greatness that evokes pity and terror, or is it merely a sad story? And aren't most of Holmes's cases tragedies in the looser sense? What are some other tragic stories in the Canon? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Suicides in the Sherlock Holmes Stories Sep 07, 2023

“I only breathe it among ourselves—a suicide” [GOLD] LISTENER ADVISORY: This episode contains mentions of suicide, which some listeners may find disturbing. September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and as part of our series on monthly observances, we take a look at suicides in the Canon. Sherlock Holmes was never called in to investigate a suicide, but he encountered a few, along with a number of instances when suicide was attempted, assumed, and ruled out. Suicide is never a trifle, and if you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please dial 988. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
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Dueling Topics: The Real Birlstone Manor Aug 30, 2023

“at the Manor House in consultation with his two colleagues” [VALL] One of the great bits of fun of scanning the Sherlock Holmes stories is trying to determine the locations for some of the stories. In the case of The Valley of Fear, one of these identifications was made early on by Harold Wilmerding (H.W.) Bell. But his commitment to the Canon would be dashed a decade and a half later by a serendipitous discovery from the pen of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, plus some intrepid footwork by James Montgomery. Just which house was the inspiration for Birlstone Manor? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Real House that Inspired Birlstone Manor
Previous episodes mentioned:

Episode 326 - Dueling Topics: Watson's Gender

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The Poetic Hound Aug 24, 2023

“Cut out the poetry, Watson” [RETI] The Hound of the Baskervilles holds a special place for many people. It is a gothic tale of horror, mystery, and the supernatural. A fine example of Conan Doyle's ability to tell a good story. Trevor Raymond, BSI, M. Bt. thought it even lent itself to poetry. We share two of his versions of The Hound in poetic form — as if written by two famous poets — plus discuss the likely sense of the public's reaction when Holmes was off the scene for eight years and then reappeared in The Strand. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Previous episodes mentioned:

I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 270: CrimeReads with Olivia Rutigliano

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Why Didn't I Check Montague Street? Aug 17, 2023

“he walked into my room in Montague Street” [MUSG] The Masters Class is now in session! For the second time, we turn to a Michael Harrison essay: this time, we wander the streets of London. Michael's examination of Sherlock Holmes's rooms when he first came down to London is as workmanlike as it is eye-opening. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Previous episodes mentioned:

Quarter Day Is at Hand

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Animal Abuse Aug 09, 2023

“a last howl of agony” [HOUN] Modern times give animals nearly as many rights as humans, but such was not the case in Victorian times. Unfortunately, there are numerous occasions when animals are made to suffer at the hands of humans in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Who are the animals in question and what nefarious purposes did their sad fates serve? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Links / Notes

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I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 48: Dangerous Work
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Conan Doyle and Cars Aug 03, 2023

“as his car swung round the village street” [LAST] As you know, most of the Sherlock Holmes stories were set squarely in the Victorian era. Only a handful extended beyond 1900, and only one mentioned automobiles. However, that's not to say that Conan Doyle wasn't intensely interested in the newfangled machinery, In fact, he wrote two stories that featured cars and even had a few harrowing experiences of his own. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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"One Crowded Hour" (Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia)
"How It Happened" (Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia)
Conan Doyle's near-fatal automobile accident (Mental Floss)
The Prince Henry Tour of 1911 (Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia)
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Canonical Sevens Jul 26, 2023

“called me in seven times” [ABBE] There's something magical about the number seven. Whether or not it appears more than other numbers in the Sherlock Holmes canon is beyond our research capabilities. However, there are some interesting and memorable associations with the number seven that we thought worth noting, thanks to a clever identification by Ruth Buchholtz in "Seventy-Seven Canonical Sevens" (BSJ, Vol. 8, No. 1, 1958). It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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221B, Baker Street Jul 20, 2023

“this evening at 221B, Baker Street” [BLUE] Image credit: Russell Stutler It's time once again for the Masters Class, the episode each month in which we look at an exemplary piece of Sherlockian scholarship and discuss its merits. This is our first of three forays into the work of Michael Harrison as found in his book In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes. His unique perch between generations in London is the perfect view to understand what 221B Baker Street was like. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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In the Footsteps of Sherlock Holmes by Michael Harrison
Kingdom of Redonda (Wikipedia)
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A Few Quick Ones Jul 13, 2023

“this quick succession of strange surprises” [SIGN] There are some trifles that are too trifling to stand on their own. Then again, Burt and Scott tend to have the ability to stretch out any bit of minutiae into an exposition. Three topics came to our attention lately, and we felt they were deserving of a quick discussion: the seven schemes in "The Missing Three-Quarter," the size of the dog in "The Lion's Mane," and a questionable denial in "The Red-Headed League." Taken together or separately, they're just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Dining with Sherlock Holmes Jul 05, 2023

Boscombe Valley Oddities Jun 28, 2023

“What do you say, dear?” [BOSC] One of the earlier cases in The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes, "The Boscombe Valley Mystery" is filled with wonderful scenes and phrases that carry us through the entire Sherlock Holmes canon. It doesn't get the same level of attention as some of the other stories from that collection, but there's a series of items that are oddities — even Trifles. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Episode 307 – The Boscombe Valley Mystery
The Last Supper scene from History of the World Part I
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Up From the Needle Jun 21, 2023

“a nice taste in wines” [LAST] In this month's Masters Class, we turn for the final time to a work of Edgar W. Smith's, "Up From the Needle," as featured in Vol. 2, No. 1 (1947) of The Baker Street Journal. Edgar takes us away from the canard of Sherlock Holmes as a drug addict and gives us an oenophile's assessment of Sherlock Holmes as a wine fancier. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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And we have a bonus track for our patrons, where the conversation continued. Links / Notes

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Soundcloud playlist: Alcohol
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Business at the Cedars Jun 15, 2023

“It is, of course, a trifle” [TWIS] Sometimes there are moments in the Sherlock Holmes stories when we just take Holmes at his word, giving little thought to the logic behind it. We simply trust him. But when it comes to "The Man with the Twisted Lip," it seemed a little odd that he had to stay out at Neville St. Clair's home, seven miles from the heart of London. What was going on there? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Previous episodes mentioned:

Episode 7 - John, James, and Mary

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Dairy Go Round Jun 07, 2023

“I've learned not to cry over spilled milk” [SIGN] Between recent episodes on Eggs and Breakfast, it seems like we've had our fill of comestibles. Well, this isn't a podcast to be trifled with, so we're headed to the dairy. We look at instances of milk and butter in the Sherlock Holmes stories while investigating the trouble with the dairy industry in Victorian England. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Ice Cream: The Inside Scoop (British Museum)
Why People in Victorian England Added Poisonous Acid to Milk (Tasting Table)
Observations on London Milk (British Library)
When Milk Was Full of Calf Brains (The Atlantic)
Trout in the Milk (The Eagle's Call)
Previous episodes mentioned:

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Alcoholism May 31, 2023

“Is alcohol permitted?” [MAZA] We've explored a number of angles around alcohol in the Sherlock Holmes stories, but it recently struck us that there are glimpses of alcoholism in the Canon. Victorians were no different in their struggles with alcohol, although the disease wasn't recognized as one at the time. Where in the stories can we find evidence or mentions of alcoholics? Why did Holmes ask Watson for permission to drink? And who drank like a fish? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Drinking in Victorian and Edwardian Britain: Beyond the Spectre of the Drunkard by Thora Hands (PDF)
The Blue Ribbon Army: Gospel Temperance in England by Lilian Lewis Shiman (Historical Magazine of the Protestant Episcopal Church)
Playlist: Alcohol (SoundCloud)

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The Great Hiatus May 25, 2023

“I travelled for two years” [EMPT] This month's Masters Class features the second in our three essays by Edgar W. Smith. In Vol. 1 No. 3 of The Baker Street Journal from 1946, Smith wonders about Sherlock Holmes's travels between 1891 and 1894. More specifically, he compares global events and geographical and cultural realities to Holmes's story, and something isn't quite right. Where does Smith place Sherlock Holmes for two of those years during the hiatus? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Sherlock Holmes and the Fall River Tragedy by Owen Haskell
Episode 332 - Police Precautions
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The Magic Number May 18, 2023

“We have touched on three” [TWIS] Since this is Episode 333 and since there are three stories in the Canon that incorporate the number three in their titles, we thought it was time to turn our attention to the "magic number," as three is known. Why that number of students, gables, and Garridebs? What's the significance of the number three that it should occupy such a prominent role in the story titles? What other appearances of the number are worth noting? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Three Is a Magic Number (YouTube)
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Police Precautions May 11, 2023

“Why not take police precautions against him?” [FINA] When reading "The Final Problem," it's difficult not to be caught off-guard. After all, it opens with Watson telling us these are the last words he'll write about Sherlock Holmes. But when we step back and look at the story with sober eyes, we realize that the police story Holmes tells Watson just doesn't add up. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Franco-Midland Hardware Company
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Eggs May 04, 2023

“when I have exterminated that fourth egg” [VALL] While we discussed breakfast in the last episode, we felt we paid more attention to the toast than the eggs. And there was one quote in particular that didn't make the cut. We recall that quote, search for an egg-seller in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and ponder the evolution of chickens and eggs in the history of human cuisine. Which came first? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Eggs - Some Victorian recipes (from The Dictionary of Daily Wants, 1859)
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Breakfast at Baker Street Apr 27, 2023

“we had breakfasted” [CHAS] For all the meals we hear about in the Sherlock Holmes stories – not to mention Mrs. Hudson having a good idea of breakfast – what were some of the regular morning comestibles? Come to think of it, there weren't many breakfasts mentioned in the Canon aside from one very consequential one. Can you think of others? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Alistair Cooke's Letter From America: Don't Name It, Cure it - 12 July 2002
Dining with Sherlock Holmes by Julia Carlson Rosenblatt and Frederich Sonnenschmidt
SoundCloud playlist: Food
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The Adventure of the Veiled Author Apr 19, 2023

“an anonymous communication from a quarter” [VALL] Just who was it that wrote "His Last Bow"? We know it wasn't Watson, as there were observations about him in the third person and a narrative of actions that didn't include him. In our monthly Masters Class series, we turn to the first of three pieces by the eminent Sherlockian Edgar W. Smith, who takes us on an exemplary journey of observation and deduction. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 262: Embellishments in the Sherlockian Spring
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Weapons Apr 12, 2023

“a varied collection of weapons” [CROO] Watson was wounded by a Jezzail bullet, Holmes fired a patriotic 'V.R.' into the wall at Baker Street, and the two leveled their pistols at the hound in the climactic scene. But as we peruse the Canon, we find that there is a wide variety of weaponry. In some cases, a choice of weapon (or discerning one) was downright imaginative. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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"See My Vest"
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Gardens Apr 05, 2023

“one by one passed through into the little garden” [STUD] Whether we think of British gardens as landscaped acres of greenery or as the source for finer botanical specimens such as roses, the Sherlock Holmes stories are littered with these examples of outdoor offerings. April is National Garden Month, so we survey the Canon. From the plantings of John Ferrier to untended weeds of Josiah Amberley and everything in between, we talk about the importance of gardens in Victorian times. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Inspired by The Botanical Holmes: A Monograph on Plants in the Time of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 6 in The Sherlock Holmes Natural History Series by Donald Girard Jewell.
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Dueling Topics: Watson's Gender Mar 29, 2023

“Old woman be damned!” [STUD] One of the wonderful things about examining and reexamining the Sherlock Holmes canon is that we can find things that take on special meanings to us. And two different people can interpret the same thing in vastly different ways. Listener Erik Deckers suggested that we find a topic that was interpreted wildly differently by two Sherlockians. So we started out with this doozy of a duel between Rex Stout and Julian Wolff. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Watson Was a Woman
That Was No Lady
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The Love Life of Sherlock Holmes Mar 22, 2023

“any emotion akin to love” [SCAN] Sherlock Holmes doesn't seem to have a high opinion of women, although he does a fine job of understanding them when it comes to their expressions, reactions, and motivations. Irene Adler aside, what can we infer about the love life of Sherlock Holmes? It's a question that Trevor Hall raised in Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies, and it's the last in a series of Masters Classes about his essays. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies by Trevor Hall
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Premonitions Mar 15, 2023

“a feeling of vague expectancy” [LAST] "Beware the Ides of March." So went the warning from the soothsayer to the title character in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. But when it comes to the Sherlock Holmes canon, where do we find feelings of foreboding? Who had premonitions and what happened as a result? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Ides of March (HISTORY)
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Hobbies in the Canon Mar 08, 2023

“that is my special hobby” [HOUN] We all have hobbies. Indeed, our interest in Sherlock Holmes is a perfect example. What do we know about hobbies and hobbyists in the Canon? There are those who have professional hobbies and personal hobbies, and then there's the story about how Sherlock Holmes's hobby led to his profession. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Smoot (Wikipedia)
Baker Street Elementary: Hobby Horse
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Sleepless in Baker Street Mar 01, 2023

“I found myself in dream-land” [SIGN] Regular sleep patterns seem to be a rarity in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Watson dozed off while Holmes remained vigilant or was prevented from sleeping by something he saw; various clients described something disturbing their sleep. Such instances of sleepless days and nights, rude awakenings, and other sleep-related issues give us plenty somnia interrupta examples to discuss in the Canon. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Nocturnal Surprises
Related episodes:

Episode 178 – Insomnia

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Real Life Inspirations: A Scandal in Bohemia Feb 22, 2023

“the title by which I have just called myself is not exactly my own” [SCAN] We're treated to a variety of colorful characters in the Sherlock Holmes canon. Some are figments of Conan Doyle's imagination while others are dangerously close to historical figures. We took a look at a few names in "A Scandal in Bohmeia" and made some educated guesses about who or what was behind people like the Atkinson brothers, the King of Bohemia, and yes, Irene Adler. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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A Study in Sources by Donald Redmond
The Strange Reason Nearly Every Film Ends by Saying It’s Fiction (Slate)
Karen Wilson on IHOSE Episode 111: Hip Hop Holmes
About that famous meeting at the Langham Hotel
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The Erudition of Sherlock Holmes Feb 15, 2023

“Your merits should be publicly recognized.” [STUD] We continue with our monthly series of Masters Class episodes, going back to Trevor Hall's Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies. In this case, we look at Sherlock Holmes's skill in his chosen line of work. What was he good at and how did he come by these talents. Certainly some were hereditary, but others required study. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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IHOSE Episode 182: The Polyphonic Motets of Lassus
Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies by Trevor Hall
Other Trifles episodes mentioned:

Episode 58 - Sherlock Holmes's Index

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Compound Surnames Feb 08, 2023

“toward the Triple Alliance” [NAVA] When we're introduced to the victim in "Wisteria Lodge," it happens first by telegram — a telegram he himself signed "John Scott Eccles." Later, we hear him referred to as "Mr. Scott Eccles" and "Mr. Eccles." What are we to make of this? Is it a compound surname, or was it Watson playing fast and loose with names? John Scott Eccles isn't the only tripartite character we meet in the Canon, either. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Arthur Conan Doyle's Family Tree
A Study in Sources by Donald Redmond
The Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes Podcast
Eccles cakes
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Dr. Watson's Marriages Feb 01, 2023

“over many nations and three separate continents” [SIGN] We all know about Mary Morstan from The Sign of Four, of her marriage to Watson, and of Watson's "sad bereavement" after Sherlock Holmes returned from his hiatus in "The Empty House." But there is evidence in a number of stories to show that Watson has been married more than once. Evidence from scholars such as Baring-Gould, Bell, Blakeney, Brend, Bristowe (and that's just the B's!), as well as Roberts, Sayers, Simpson, and others. But exactly how many marriages were there? You may be startled to hear how many we identify. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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A Detective By Any Other Name Jan 25, 2023

“gazing with great reverence at the famous detective” [HOUN] When Sherlock Holmes describes himself to Watson, he says that he's a consulting detective, and then goes on to differentiate himself from two other kinds of detectives. What did it take to become a detective, and why was Holmes different? And what other terms did he and Watson use to describe his trade along the way? It's just a Trifle. In a happy coincidence, after we recorded we discovered the latest meeting of The Shingle of Southsea covered this topic. Link below. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Life of a Victorian Detective
"What Does It Mean to Be a Consulting Detective?" (The Shingle of Southsea)
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The Early Years of Sherlock Holmes Jan 18, 2023

“pictures of the old masters” [ILLU] It's the first of our monthly Masters Class episodes for Season 7, and we're kicking off a series of three discussions of works by a single author. As a reminder, these episodes take a piece of well-regarded Sherlockian scholarship and deconstruct it. In this case, we look to Trevor Hall and his book Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies. The first up is Hall's attempt to discern more about Sherlock Holmes's childhood years. Does he succeed? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies by Trevor Hall
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Pianos Jan 11, 2023

“observe the spatulate finger-end” [SOLI] Quick: in which Sherlock Holmes stories do we find the mention of a piano? You might think you know, but you also might likely be wrong. The piano was an important part of middle-class life in Victorian England, part of an education and part of a way to attract spouses. But there's just a passing mention in a single story. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Social History of the Piano
Victorian Women and the Piano: Domesticity and Transgression
Woody Allen's marching cello (YouTube)
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Mentors in the Canon Jan 04, 2023

“this insignificant-looking man inspired me” [GREE] We all have examples of mentors in our lives. People who inspire us and coach us, helping us to grow. What examples do we see of this in the Sherlock Holmes stories? From excellent examples to counter-examples, there are a handful of instances of experience and knowledge being passed from one person to another. It's National Mentor Month, the first of our monthly observances in Season 7 and it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Home Life of Henry Baker Dec 28, 2022

“the unknown gentleman who lost his Christmas dinner” [BLUE] Poor Henry Baker has always been a sad, sympathetic character. Deprived of his hat and his peace offering to his wife at Christmastime, he was a victim of an unintended crime. It seemed like the proper time of year to reflect on what life must have been like for Mr. Baker, both in the aftermath of the fracas as well as in the run-up to it. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Mrs. Hudson: A Legend in Her Own Lodging-House Dec 21, 2022

“a long-suffering woman” [DYIN] Have you considered how much (or little) we know about Mrs. Hudson, and what we take for granted? For example, her first name was Martha, she was widowed, and she retired with Sherlock Holmes. The answers to those are: no, not sure, and definitely not. Catherine Cooke's masterful article from the Summer 2005 Baker Street Journal combines the fanciful, the factual, and the historical to arrive at the truth. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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A Remarkable Mixture
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Lysanders Dec 15, 2022

“Good old Dr. Starr!” [3GAR] One of the creepiest looking characters in the Sherlock Holmes stories was Col. Lysander Stark, who chased after Victor Hatherly with a meat cleaver in "The Engineer's Thumb." But then we run across the name Lysander Starr in "The Three Garridebs." What gives? We track the history of the name and explore some possible origins for its use. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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A Study in Sources by Donald Redmond
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The Route of the Blue Carbuncle Dec 08, 2022

“found in the banks of the Amoy River in southern China” [BLUE] The blue carbuncle had quite a journey. Before it even arrived in the action of the story, the piece of crystallized charcoal was the object of "two murders, a vitriol-throwing, a suicide, and several robberies." But once it's in London and disappears from the Countess of Morcar's possession, where does it go? Gavin Brend takes us on the wild journey. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Seventeen Steps to 221B by James Edward Holroyd
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Rambling About Dec 01, 2022

“devoted to a series of walks” [WIST] In at least four separate cases, we know that Holmes and Watson were out strolling around London. How does this square with Holmes's aversion toward exercise? And what about other occasions in the countryside? Was Holmes a man of nature, was he gathering information, or was it something else? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Related episode:

IHOSE Episode 200: Enola Holmes

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Revealing Costume Nov 23, 2022

“revealing what they are” [ENGR] "By a man’s finger nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boot, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs—by each of these things a man’s calling is plainly revealed." So Sherlock Holmes tells us in A Study in Scarlet. In this episode, we apply Holmes's methods to the attire of some of his clients. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Boscombe Valley Mystery Nov 16, 2022

“That sounds a little paradoxical.” [BOSC] The fourth short story in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, "The Boscombe Valley Mystery," gives us a host of sayings and tenets of Sherlock Holmes's philosophy. But there are also a number of things that seem contradictory. In this Masters Class episode, Nick Utechin's look at another mystery within this story serves as an exemplary bit of scholarship that deserves a deeper look. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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"Occasionally to Embellish": Some Writings on Sherlock Holmes (Wessex Press)
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Doyle and Water Nov 09, 2022

“a cry for help and a splash in the water” [FIVE] Water, water everywhere. And that just makes us think. Of the Sherlock Holmes stories, of course. Since England is an island, it stands to reason that in the Sherlock Holmes canon, we encounter a good deal of water. But it's what's commonly associated with water that's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Best of the Pips Volume II: More Papers on the Sundial - The 1999 Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual
The unsolved mystery of Skeleton Lake
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Remembering Bob Thomalen

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Our Client's Foot Upon the Stair Nov 03, 2022

“heard upon the stairs” [SCAN] So much of how we think about Sherlock Holmes is due to the scenes where we find Holmes and Watson at home in Baker Street. And thanks to the illustrations of Sidney Paget, we have a pretty good idea of what that ought to look like. James Edward Holroyd wrote about this in "Our Client's Foot Upon the Stair." It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Seventeen Steps to 221B by James Edward Holroyd
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Candles Oct 26, 2022

“numerous candles did something” [HOUN] We equate gas lamps with Sherlock Holmes — even electric lights. But we don't often think about the number of candles in the stories. More than the number: the role played by many candles. While they may seem like simple wax objects that provide illumination, in Sherlock Holmes's case, they often provided a very different kind of illumination. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Candles of the Canon (and off to bed) (Sherlock Peoria)
Closing soon: this brief survey about the availability of The Grand Game Volume One
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The Colonel of the Matter Oct 19, 2022

“the line of his pedigree” [EMPT] Colonel Sebastian Moran was called "the second most dangerous man in London" and was a formidable adversary of Sherlock Holmes. And yet, we know remarkably little about him, aside from a brief biographical entry in Holmes's index. Nicholas Utechin takes us on a journey from India to Eton and from Crimea to Oxford that gets at "The Colonel of the Matter" in this Master Class episode. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Beyond Baker Street (Abebooks)
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It Happened at Midnight Oct 12, 2022

“to reconstruct this midnight drama” [MUSG] A quick look through the Sherlock Holmes stories finds a good number of incidents taking place around midnight. Why is this the case? Who could we expect to find out and about at such an hour? It's unlikely that they would have been respectable people. But it is just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The Anti-Society: An Account of the Victorian Underworld by Kellow Chesney
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Clients in Jeopardy Oct 05, 2022

“the victim of an unfortunate accident” [FIVE] For our "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the theorist" episode, we take a step back into 1947 to "Clients in Jeopardy" by Henry C. Clark, appearing in The Second Cab. There were at least four instances in which Sherlock Holmes knew his clients were in danger, yet he sent them on their way. In which stories do we find these people, and are there others? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Langurtin Sep 28, 2022

“the wondrous strength-giving serum” [CREE] For our 300th episode, we thought we'd do something just a Trifle different. Following the theme of our previous episode, we're focused again on "The Adventure of the Creeping Man." This time, however, we turn to a satirical piece that appeared in The Baker Street Journal: a piece in the style of a pharmaceutical ad for the wonder drug known as "Langurtin." It appeared in the Autumn 1997 issue (Vol. 47 No. 3) and was created by Jeff and Wanda Dow. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Brief survey about the availability of The Grand Game Volume One
Previous episodes mentioned:

Episode 299 – Lowenstein of Prague

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Masters Class: Lowenstein of Prague Sep 21, 2022

“an obscure scientist who was striving in some unknown way” [CREE] In this month's Masters Class, we turn to a Morley-Montgomery Award-winning article from The Baker Street Journal in 1973: "Lowenstein of Prague" by Jan C. Prager and Albert Silverstein. In "The Creeping Man," a certain H. Lowenstein is reviled for supplying Professor Presbury with an experimental substance. Who was Lowenstein, in actuality? And was he truly the culprit in the matter? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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The eBSJ
A Clever Publicity Play for 'The Creeping Man'
Brief survey about the availability of The Grand Game Volume One
The Morley-Montgomery Award
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The British Monarchy Sep 14, 2022

“a regal and stately lady in Court dress” [CHAS] With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, we find ourselves in a similar place as Sherlock Holmes did in 1901 with the passing of Queen Victoria: at the end of an age. What a perfect opportunity then, to reflect on the thirteen British monarchs who appeared in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Who were they? We found thirteen — some were obvious and others were a little tricky to find. Thanks to the help of Chris Redmond, it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022)
British Monarchs in the Sherlock Holmes Stories
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The Arcadia Mixture Sep 08, 2022

“You still smoke the Arcadia mixture of your bachelor days then!” [CROO] When Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson first met, Watson noted he was not averse to strong tobacco and that he usually smoked what he called "ship's" himself. But later, Holmes finds him smoking the "Arcadia mixture" from his bachelor days. Why the switch? And what was it? Robert F. Cairo, Jr. identified the Arcadia mixture in a piece in The Baker Street Journal from 2000. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles@ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Other episodes mentioned:

Episode 71 - Inside 221B: Where There's Smoke

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The Metaphysical Holmes Sep 01, 2022

“I caught a glimpse of a great heart” [3GAB] Without a question, Sherlock Holmes was a master of his craft. When we look at his motivations for pursuing his career—at least on the surface—he seems like he's all business. And yet, we have glimpses of Holmes over the course of his career when he waxes a bit more philosophical. David Stuart Davies' column "A Great Heart" in the latest issue of Sherlock Holmes Magazine got us thinking about it. And it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

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Sherlock Holmes Magazine
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The Best Sherlock Holmes Stories Aug 24, 2022

“the finest assorted collection” [STUD] For nearly a century, there has been a general concordance on which Sherlock Holmes stories are best. It was a tradition started by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the Strand Magazine, no less. Over the years, there have been minor quibbles, but one story has remained at the top of the list. How did these rankings come about and what do they say about successive generations? It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

In the next episode we'll be holindg the drawing for our monthly prize: free back issues of The Baker Street Journal. Every Patreon supporter is eligible to win this random drawing. Join our community of patrons to be eligible.

Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles295
The 12 Best Sherlock Holmes Stories, According to Arthur Conan Doyle (Lithub)
The Best Sherlock Holmes Stories (Best of Sherlock Holmes)
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Sponsor The BSI Press Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

James Watson, M.D. Aug 17, 2022

“he was trying to hide his own identity” [RESI]

Over the years, there have been numerous theories about how Watson (or Mrs. Watson, rather) got his name wrong, substituting “James” for “John.” We covered some of them in Episode 7. But this is a Masters Class episode in which we pick a masterful piece of Sherlockian scholarship and discuss it. In this case, it's one that may get to the bottom of this issue once and for all: Thomas Cynkin's article “James Watson, M.D.” appeared in Vol. 51, No. 4 of The Baker Street Journal and it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

And don't miss a chance at our monthly prize: free back issues of The Baker Street Journal. Every Patreon supporter is eligible to win this random drawing. Join our community of patrons.

Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles294
“A Remarkable Mixture” by Steven Rothman
Other episodes mentioned:
- Episode 7: John, James, and Mary
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Sponsor The eBSJ Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Carina Aug 11, 2022

“Carina sings tonight at Royal Albert Hall” [RETI] We revisit our previous episodes about music, with a singular investigation: Carina. Mentioned in the last Sherlock Holmes story to be published, Carina sang at Royal Albert Hall. What do we know about the venue? More importantly, just who was Carina? One investigation into her identity caught our attention, and it's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies.

And don't miss a chance at our monthly prize: free back issues of The Baker Street Journal. Every Patreon supporter is eligible to win this random drawing. Join our community of patrons.

Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles293
Royal Albert Hall
Other episodes mentioned:
- Episode 40: Sarasate
- Episode 139: Music in the Canon, Part 1: Composers and Their Works
- Episode 140: Music in the Canon, Part 2: Musicians, Instruments, and Venues
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Sponsor The Baker Street Journal Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

His Last Bow — Wow! Aug 04, 2022

“the judgment which we have pronounced” [ABBE] You say bow, I say bow. Potato, potato, tomato, tomato, let's call the whole thing off. Of course, that song never made sense in print, just like Lord Donegall's assertion that there are alternative pronunciations to "His Last Bow." We take a look at an old piece of scholarship about this story. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. And don't miss a chance at our monthly prize: free back issues of The Baker Street Journal. Every Patreon supporter is eligible to win this random drawing. Join our community of patrons. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles292
Baker Street and Beyond by Lord Donnegall
Other episodes mentioned:
- IHOSE Episode 139: The Strand Magazine
- IHOSE Episode 208: Collector's Corner - Charles Prepolec
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Sponsor The BSI Press Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

The Four Violets Jul 27, 2022

“stained with violet” [IDEN]

It should come as no surprise that the most common name of female leads in the Sherlock Holmes stories was Violet. We meet four of them in as many stories: "The Copper Beeches," "The Solitary Cyclist," "The Bruce-Partington Plans," and "The Illustrious Client." But what do Misses Hunter, Smith, Westbury and de Merville have in common? And how was it that Conan Doyle was influenced to use this particular name? It's just a Trifle. This topic was suggested by listener Tony. (Thank you, Tony!) If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. And don't miss our monthly prize: free back issues of The Baker Street Journal. All patrons are eligible for the random drawing. Did you win? Listen to this episode to find out! And become a patron at https://patreon.com/trifles. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles291
The Language of Flowers by Kate Greenaway
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The Dynamics of an Asteroid Jul 21, 2022

“man in the scientific press capable of criticizing it” [VALL] Every month, we feature an episode called "Masters Class" that looks at an exemplary piece of Sherlockian scholarship that stands out for its workmanship. This time, we look at Isaac Asimov's essay "The Dynamics of an Asteroid," published in Baker Street and Beyond. He looks at the prevailing scientific knowledge of the time and ponders just what Moriarty was suggesting in his treatise. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles290
Baker Street and Beyond by Michael Harrison
Other episodes mentioned:
- Episode 219 - Moriarty's Mathematics
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A Study in Speech Jul 13, 2022

“a curious lisp in her utterance” [HOUN] In the canon of Sherlock Holmes stories, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle gave us settings and characters that spring to life in our minds. His vivid descriptions help us to visualize the places and people that Holmes encounters. However, there's one subtle example that might go unnoticed by the untrained eye. Listener Anna Brindisi-Behrens, a speech pathologist by trade, brought it to our attention. It's just a Trifle. If you have a suggestion for a Trifles episode, let us know. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles289
Canadian Holmes
Other episodes mentioned:
- Episode 134 - South Americans and Sherlock Holmes
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A Note on The Priory School Jul 06, 2022

“one might think that you were afraid of our finding something out” [PRIO] The first week of the month means it's time for another round of Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist, in which we take a look at a piece of old Sherlockian scholarship and discuss it anew. In this case, it's Trevor Hall's essay "A Note on The Priory School" from his book Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies. Hall manages to find a clue buried later in "The Blanched Soldier" and traces it back to "The Priory School." What he found is enough to shock even the most devoted fans of Thorneycroft Huxtable, M.A., Ph.D., etc. It's just a Trifle. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles288
Sherlock Holmes: Ten Literary Studies by Trevor Hall
Sherlock Holmes: Fact or Fiction? by T.S. Blakeney
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Sherlock Holmes and Advertising Jun 30, 2022

“run down to the advertising agency and have this put in the evening papers” [BLUE] We know Sherlock Holmes valued the agony column; we discussed that previously on Episode 50. Looking back at a paper by an advertising executive from the mid-20th century — a real-life Mad Man — we find the makings of an expert copywriter and marketer. We even identify a media buyer. All of this and more, related to advertising in the Canon. It's just a Trifle. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles287
The Best of the Pips (The Five Orange Pips)
Seven on Sherlock (Thayer Cumings)
Aboriginals (Linda & Harrison Hunt)
Related episodes:

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Strange Business Jun 22, 2022

“the rest of that strange company” [DANC] Men and women from professions of all kinds consulted Sherlock Holmes. And throughout the Canon we're introduced to a number of companies, either by name or type of business. But some of them stand out because of their unusual categories. Strange company, indeed. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles286 Thank you to our sponsor, the BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Watson's Hidden Addiction Jun 15, 2022

"much addicted" [TWIS] This month's Masters Class brings us back to a Morley-Montgomery Award-winning article from The Baker Street Journal. Susan Rice wrote "Watson's Hidden Addiction" for Vol. 47, No. 2 (June 1997) of the BSJ, and it concerned a significant flaw in Watson's character. Perhaps "flaw" is not the right word — let's call it a weakness. She even found a syndrome that would explain it. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles285 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Witchcraft in Baker Street Jun 08, 2022

“What's this, Mr. Holmes? Man, it's witchcraft!” [VALL] Continuing on our supernatural theme, we land on witchcraft. And not just any witchcraft, either. This was a spell cast at Baker Street. Our monthly "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the theorist" theme lands on Frank Allen's "Witchcraft in Baker Street" from the anthology Beyond Baker Street, and it looks at how some of the people we meet in "Charles Augustus Milverton" were bothered, bewitched, and bewildered. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles284 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Hocus Pocus Jun 01, 2022

"some hocus-pocus" [SIGN]

The last time we were together, we examined Sherlock Holmes's Tours de Force (Episode 282), in which we discussed a number of ways he wowed people with his unique skills.

As we look closer, there are instances when people accuse him of practicing magic, sorcery, or wizardry. What are those examples, and what might have happened to Sherlock Holmes, had he lived in a different era? It's just a Trifle.

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles283 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Sherlock Holmes's Tours-de-Force May 25, 2022

“my poor little reputation, such as it is, will suffer shipwreck if I am so candid” [REDH] One of the greatest features of the Sherlock Holmes stories is seeing the master ply his trade. That is, watching Holmes when he dazzles Watson (and us!) with his brilliance. In the first two novels plus The Adventures and The Memoirs, we have some delicious examples of Holmes at his finest. It is just a Trifle. And be sure to tune in to hear if you, Patreon supporter, won some back issues of the Baker Street Journal. We hold this drawing exclusively for our supporters every month. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles282 Thank you to our sponsor, The BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

The Hoof-Marks in "The Priory School" May 18, 2022

"a remarkable cow" [PRIO]

The third week of the month means it's time for Master's Class: a look at an exemplary piece of Sherlockian scholarship from over the years. In this episode, we turn to an award-winning article in The Baker Street Journal. S. Tupper Bigelow pondered the patterns of hoof-marks as laid out in various editions of the Canon, and won the Morley-Montgomery Award in 1962 for it. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles281 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Sherlock Holmes and Shakespeare May 11, 2022

"A touch! A distinct touch!" [VALL]

Every author owes something to Shakespeare. His inventiveness with language has withstood the test of time, and many of the phrases he originated or popularized are still in use today.

We find Shakespeare's words dotted throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories, well beyond the usual quotes. A number of Shakespearean phrases are allusions in the Canon. It's just a Trifle.

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles280 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

The Dates in the Red-Headed League May 04, 2022

“As to your dates, that is the biggest mystification of all.” [CREE] This is another instance of the new product we're calling "I Can't Believe We Didn't Talk About This Already." An early instance of Sherlockian scholarship and commentary, in 1934 Dorothy L. Sayers wrote "The Dates in the Red-Headed League," picking up where H.W. Bell's 1932 Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: The Chronology of Their Adventures left off. It's a fine example of using data at hand and being creative, and it's part of our series covering old Sherlockian scholarship. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles279 Thank you to our sponsor, the BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

The Rushed Wedding Apr 27, 2022

“Drive like the devil” [SCAN] Call this the case of the overlooked fact. And one that was staring us in the face, too. It concerns the marriage of Irene Adler and Godfrey Norton in "A Scandal in Bohemia." A listener wrote in and asked us just why Irene Adler had to get married in such a rush. We did a little digging, found some material to discuss, and put our own thoughts into it. It's just a Trifle. We're holding the monthly drawing for our Patreon supporters in this episode. Are you the winner? You'll have to tune in to find out. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles278 Thank you to our sponsor, The BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

The Tree That Wasn't Apr 20, 2022

“There’s not a tree in the park” [EMPT] The third week of the month means it's time for Master's Class: a look at an exemplary piece of Sherlockian scholarship from over the years. In this episode, we look at Nicholas Utechin's masterful piece from the 1972 Baker Street Journal in which he deduced exactly where Colonel Moran was when he shot the Hon. Ronald Adair in "The Empty House." Or was it Moran at all? It's just a Trifle. Don't forget: all of our Patreon supporters are eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles277 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Trees, Part 2: Branching Out Apr 13, 2022

The Problem of the Case-Book Apr 06, 2022

“Holmes turned to his desk and, unlocking it, drew out a small case-book” [SPEC] The first week of the month means it's a "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist"-themed episode, featuring an old piece of scholarship that investigates some trifling issue. In this episode, we look at an early piece that Martin Dakin wrote for The Sherlock Holmes Journal, questioning the authenticity of some of the stories in The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. Which made the passing grade? It's just a Trifle. Don't forget: all of our Patreon supporters are eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles275 Thank you to our sponsor, the BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Trees, Part 1: Over the Oak / Under the Elm Mar 31, 2022

“grazing the top of the oak” [MUSG] I think that I shall never see... a Sherlock Holmes story as lovely as a tree. However, there are plenty of instances of trees in the Canon that make for interesting observation, if only we stop to look at them through the forest. Inspired by one of Don Jewell's books, we spend some time investigating the instances of oaks and elms in the stories (far more than just "The Musgrave Ritual," we assure you) and comment on the state of these trees in Victorian times. Are you the winner of our monthly drawing (for a free back issue of the Baker Street Journal) and our quarterly drawing (for a free annual subscription to the BSJ)? All Patreon supporters are eligible. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles274 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

Grief Mar 23, 2022

“a look of grief and despair” [BERY] Let's face it: when clients arrived to consult Sherlock Holmes, they were rarely in positive spirits. Some were confused, others were concerned, and some were just looking for answers. But some were grief-stricken. Or had cases that ended in grief. It's a sad admission of reality, but there is a strain of grief that starts at the beginning of the stories and continues to the final entry. It's just a Trifle. Reminder: in the next episode we'll be holding both our monthly drawing (for a free back issue of the Baker Street Journal) and our quarterly drawing (for a free annual subscription to the BSJ). All Patreon supporters are eligible. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles273 Thank you to our sponsor, The BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

In Memoriam: Muzzafar ad-Din Mar 16, 2022

"I want that yellow diamond!” [MAZA]

The Masters Class series continues, and this time, Peter Blau instructs us on some finer points of geology and of geopolitical history.

"The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" featured a yellow diamond, and yet, the Crown Jewels don't contain a diamond of that color. So what was the gem and where did it originate? It's just a Trifle.

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles272

Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal

On the Scent with Sherlock Holmes, Part 3 Mar 09, 2022

“the air of London is the sweeter for my presence” [FINA]

We're back with the third and final installment in our series On the Scent with Sherlock Holmes, as we investigate the olfactory elements of the city.

This time, it's a matter of "obnoxious organic waste," and that encompasses pretty much what you think it does. And then some. We might call it just a Trifle.

And you don't want to miss the sound clip at the end.

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles271

Missing Three-Quarter One-Third Discovered Mar 02, 2022

“this extraordinary league” [REDH] For fans of sportsball, the concept of fantasy leagues might seem like a modern invention. A late-20th century pastime of creating the ideal lineup of teammates for competition. But what if you could do that with literary characters? The first week of the month means it's time to look back at a piece of old scholarship, and in this case we've chosen Henry D. Scott's "Missing Three-Quarter One-Third Discovered" in The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2, (OS) 1947, in which he did just that. It's just a Trifle. And be sure to listen to the entire episode, as we have a challenge for Trifles listeners. Special note: we have a bonus clip for our Patreon supporters. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles270 Thank you to our sponsor, The BSI Press. Please support Trifles on Patreon: https://patreon.com/trifles

A Seven-Per-Cent Solution Feb 23, 2022

"Would you care to try it?" [SCAN] It's the sixth season of Trifles and we realized we hadn't covered a central yet sensitive topic related to Sherlock Holmes: cocaine. Thanks to a helpful article from a listener, we decided to delve into the history of medicinal cocaine and Victorian England's attitude toward it. It's just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles269 Thank you to our sponsor, The BSI Press. Please support us on Patreon at https://patreon.com/trifles

The Politician, the Lighthouse, and the Trained Cormorant Feb 16, 2022

“the source of these outrages is known” [VEIL] The Masters Class series continues, and this time, we delve into the active mind of Nicholas Utechin, who presents a well-reasoned and well-researched explanation for what happened in one of the unpublished cases. We find ourselves focusing on the opening paragraph of "The Veiled Lodger," which took place in 1896 but was published in early 1927. Somewhere between those dates lies the truth, and it may be more than just a Trifle. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles268 Thank you to our sponsor, The Baker Street Journal.

On the Scent with Sherlock Holmes, Part 2 Feb 09, 2022

“dropping from branch to branch” [CREE] The London in which Sherlock Holmes lived gave off its own scents. Whether the roads were paved or covered in mud, they would have played into Holmes's identifications. And the transportation, whether mechanical or animal, was also part of this potpourri of aromas. The reality is that the city's smells, as pungent as they may have been, were for many people of the time, just a Trifle.

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles267

Support Trifles: https://patreon.com/trifles

Sponsor: The Baker Street Journal

A Final Illumination on the Lucca Code Feb 02, 2022

“One A, two B, and so on. You will hear soon.” [REDC] The secret code that Genarro and Emilia Lucca shared for passing messages to each other in "The Red Circle" was straightforward. Or was it? In 1956, Donald Yates—then a 26 year-old budding Sherlockian—made an observation about the code, the alphabet(s), and the credit that was due to Sherlock Holmes for his invisible but lightning-quick analysis. It's just a Trifle. ATTENTA: Don't forget: if you're interested in receiving some free back issues of The Baker Street Journal, we hold a drawing every month for our Patreon supporters. To be eligible to participate in this monthly drawing, go to patreon.com/trifles. Sponsor: The BSI Press Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles266 --

Roll Out the Beryl Jan 26, 2022

“Halloa, Beryl!” [HOUN] In The Hound of the Baskervilles, Sir Henry falls for Stapleton's sister, who was said to be “a young lady of attractions.” However, Stapleton clearly didn't like the idea of the two of them together. At the conclusion of the story, with Stapleton out of the picture, what was there to stop her and Sir Henry from becoming romantically involved? It's just a Trifle. ATTENTA: In this episode, we hold the drawing for free back issues of The Baker Street Journal, available to all Patreon supporters. To be eligible to participate in this monthly drawing, go to patreon.com/trifles. Sponsor: The Baker Street Journal Full show notes: ihose.co/trifles265

The Archetypical Sherlock Holmes Jan 19, 2022

“men of such a different type” [SOLI] We're beginning a new monthly series focused on some of the best scholarship over the years. The kind of articles that highlight the creativity and ingenuity of Sherlockians and Holmesians as they consider some of the minutiae in the stories. The best of the best. We're calling this series "Masters Class." In this inaugural episode, we look at an award-winning article from Baker Street Irregular and legendary science fiction writer Poul Anderson, on the archetype of Sherlock Holmes. From Archimedes to Merlin to Tolkien and a little farther into the future, it's just a Trifle. Don't forget: Patreon supporters are eligible for two regular drawings, courtesy of our sponsor The Baker Street Journal. Go to patreon.com/trifles. Sponsor: The Baker Street Journal Full show notes: ihose.co/trifles264

On the Scent with Sherlock Holmes, Part 1 Jan 12, 2022

"I am one of the hounds" [STUD] On two occasions in the Sherlock Holmes stories do we find Holmes employing a dog to help him track a scent. But beyond those two, Holmes himself displays canine-like properties. While Conan Doyle does a wonderful job exposing us to so much of the late Victorian era, there's one area that doesn't come through: smells. What were some of the scents that attracted Holmes's attention on these cases, and why were they important? It's just a Trifle. NOTE: Be sure to catch the announcement of two regular drawings courtesy of our sponsor The Baker Street Journal, and how you can qualify.

Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles263

Support Trifles: https://patreon.com/trifles

Sponsor: The eBSJ

Great Beginnings Jan 05, 2022

"On the very day that I had come to this conclusion" [STUD]

It all began with a chance meeting between two medical school colleagues at the Criterion Bar. Stamford then took Watson to St Bartholomew's Hospital (aka "Barts"), where, in a chemical laboratory, he made the acquaintance of one Sherlock Holmes.

In Season 6, we're bringing back our monthly series "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist," in which we use historic Sherlockian scholarship as a discussion point. In this case, we were inspired by William S. Baring-Gould's "The London of Holmes and Watson" in Vol. 9, No. 3 (1959) of The Baker Street Journal.

We explore this fateful meeting, delve into the history of its time-honored location, and determine the exact date of its occurrence. It's just a Trifle.

NOTE: Be sure to catch the announcement of two regular drawings courtesy of our sponsor The Baker Street Journal, and how you can qualify. Full show notes: https://ihose.co/trifles262

Support Trifles: https://patreon.com/trifles

The Friendship Club Dec 29, 2021

“nothing but a welcome for my friend and colleague” [TWIS] The great heroes of literature are frequently teamed up with a sidekick: Don Quixote with Sancho Panza, Robinson Crusoe with Friday, Huckleberry Finn with Tom Sawyer. But the key to these pairings is an underlying friendship. In the final episode of Season 5, we take a look at one of the most obvious features of the Sherlock Holmes canon: the friendship between Holmes and Watson. It's just a Trifle. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles260
"The Friendship Club" by Charles E. Lauterbach, The 1958 Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual
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Reptiles & Amphibians Dec 22, 2021

“a curiously reptilian fashion” [FINA] Aside from vipers, cobras, and adders, there are other reptiles in the Sherlock Holmes stories that either have a bearing on cases or are mentioned in passing. We're even able to find an amphibian or two. In this final episode of our Exotic Animals series in Season 5, we visit the Reptile House and explore what the Victorians knew (or didn't know) about these creatures, hoping not to rouse anyone's snakish temper. It's just a Trifle. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles260
Frog (fastening)
Previous episodes mentioned:
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Did Sherlock Holmes Have a Sense of Humor? Dec 15, 2021

“Homes seldom laughed.” [MAZA] Sherlock Holmes could be deadly serious. As in his encounter with Professor Moriarty, his matter-of-fact explanations, and when Watson wrote "Holmes seldom laughed" in "The Mazarin Stone." But was Sherlock Holmes really all that humorless? Fortunately, we have decades of Watson's chronicles from which to choose. Let's get into it. After all, it's just a Trifle. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles259
Data! (Futility Closet)
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Street Lamps Dec 08, 2021

“Holmes pointed to the street lamp” [SIXN] It's impossible to think about Victorian London without imagining street lamps. We're most familiar with the gas-powered versions, but there were other iterations before. What was the origin of London's famous gas-lamps, and which Sherlock Holmes stories do they feature in? It's just a Trifle. We also have an announcement about a special episode only for our Patreon supporters. Be sure you're on board to take part in that. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles258
Boulevardier recipe
Inspiration from "A Light on the Problem" by Nicholas Utechin from "Occasionally to Embellish"
The gas-lamp scene in Charlie Chaplin's Easy Street
A history of gas-lamps
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Damsels in Distress Dec 01, 2021

“she confessed with distress” [LADY] Sherlock Holmes took on clients of all sorts, often when they were puzzled, had nowhere else to turn, or were particularly worried. And three ladies in particular in the Canon were worried. But they stand head and shoulders above some of the other female victims we find. Who are they and in which stories do they appear? It's just a Trifle. We also have an announcement about a special episode only for our Patreon supporters. Be sure you're on board to take part in that. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles257
Previous episodes mentioned:
- Episode 185 - The Women of Influence
- Episode 190 - The Working Girls
- Episode 194 - The Ladies in Waiting
- Episode 199 - The Victims
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Romance in the Canon Nov 24, 2021

“a love-story or an elopement” [SIGN] We don't think of the Sherlock Holmes stories as being romances, and yet there are elements of romance that find their way into these tales about complicated human relationships at all levels. We look across a handful of stories to tease out the romantic elements and love interests in them. It's just a Trifle. We also have an announcement about a special episode only for our Patreon supporters. Be sure you're on board to take part in that. Links / Notes

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British Birds Nov 17, 2021

“a fierce old bird of prey” [SPEC] Birds are part of British life. Such is the reality of living on an island. And there were a great variety of birds we hear about in the Sherlock Holmes stories. While many of them were commonplace and part of the hunting and dining habits in Victorian England, there were others that were a little more exotic. It's just a Trifle. We also have an announcement about a special episode only for our Patreon supporters. Be sure you're on board to take part in that. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles255
Inspired by Donald Jewell's A Few Hours to the Birds: A Monograph on Birds and Birding in the Time of Sherlock Holmes, Volume 2 in The Sherlock Holmes Natural History Series (Pinchin Lane Press, 1991)
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Was Sherlock Holmes Crazy? Nov 10, 2021

“You’re crazy!” [DANC] Sherlock Holmes had his eccentricities, without a question. Many scholars over the years have debated his mental health, with a wide variety of diagnoses. But there has been a suggestion that a physical condition in Holmes and its treatment may very well have masked another disorder—one of the mind rather than the body. It's just a Trifle. Links / Notes

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Inspired by "Was Sherlock Holmes Crazy?" by Gideon Hill, BSI ("Dr. Hill Barton") in 70 Years By Gaslamp - The Illustrious Clients' Sixth Casebook
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Meretricious Effects Nov 03, 2021

“to produce his meretricious finales” [BLAN] There are a number of times in the 60 Sherlock Holmes stories when Holmes criticizes Watson's efforts as a writer. Holmes takes the view of a practitioner, while Watson is trying to reach a different audience. Indeed, it's when Holmes himself attempts to fill in for Watson that he finds just how difficult it is. Were Watson's conclusions meretricious, or were they in service of Holmes's abilities? It's just a Trifle. Links / Notes

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Inspired by "Meretricious Effects?" by Vincent W. Wright in 70 Years By Gaslamp - The Illustrious Clients' Sixth Casebook
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Some Freaks of Atavism Oct 27, 2021

“hereditary tendencies of the most diabolical kind” [FINA] Family matters a great deal in the Sherlock Holmes stories, although we don't discover anything about Holmes and his family background until halfway through the stories that make up The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, where we meet Mycroft. And yet, there were many instances in which family bloodlines gave Holmes an indication of what he was looking for. It's just a Trifle. Links / Notes

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Inspired by "Pooled Resources" on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
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Butterflies Oct 20, 2021

“a pin, a cork, and a card” [HOUN] When it came to exotic insects, butterflies were all the rage in Victorian England. They were sought after by naturalists and collectors, to become part of collections in studies as well as institutions. We have a few collectors in the Canon who made it their business to pin butterflies to cork and display them. Here's what we know about them and about their hobby. It's just a Trifle. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles251
Inspired by Donald Girard Jewell's Butterflies & Blind Beetles, #4 in the Sherlock Holmes Natural History Series
Norm MacDonald's moth joke (YouTube)
Other episodes mentioned:
- I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 226: Sherlockian Collecting
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Financially Speaking Oct 13, 2021

“extraordinary stories about your financial ability” [STOC] Money was occasionally a concern for Sherlock Holmes. But when, and more importantly, why? All of those police engagements were likely pro bono work, after all. His relationship with Watson began over the need to economize, and over the course of his career, he enjoyed some remarkably wealthy individuals as clients. It's just a Trifle. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles250
Inspired by Ian McQueen's Sherlock Holmes Detected
"Thinking About Money in the Sherlock Holmes Stories" by Christopher Redmond (I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere)
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Something Amiss in The Three Gables Oct 06, 2021

“Have you noticed anything amiss with them of late?” [SILV] "The Three Gables" isn't likely to be found on anyone's "best of" list of Sherlock Holmes stories. It arrives late in the Canon, and rather weakly at that. But it is worth pointing out a few items within that are rather curious. One might even call them a Trifle. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

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Inspired by Bob Byrnes' work in Baker Street Essays, Vol 1 No. 1
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Plotting Lovers Sep 29, 2021

“it was her plot as much as mine” [ABBE] From the realm of conjecture: what if the star-crossed lovers in "The Adventure of Abbey Grange" and "The Problem of Thor Bridge" weren't simply victims of circumstance? What if the damsels in distress weren't being unfairly persecuted? That is, what if they plotted the demise of the hated member of their love triangle and were able to fool Sherlock Holmes? It's just a Trifle. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles248
Inspired by Bob Byrnes' work in Baker Street Essays, Vol 1 No. 1 and Vol II No. 1.
Previous episodes mentioned:
- Episode 245: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
- Episode 180: The Eternal Triangle
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Sherlock Holmes, Book Collector Sep 22, 2021

“Maybe you collect yourself, sir” [EMPT] Sherlock Holmes shared his reading interests on occasion, and they tended to be wide and varied. Some of them were for professional development purposes, yet others seem to exist to expand his thinking. Was Sherlock Holmes a book collector? And if he was, what kind of care did he take for his volumes? It's just a Trifle. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles247
Sherlock Holmes: Rare Book Collector by Madeline Stern
“Ex Libris Sherlock Holmes” by Howard Collins in Profile by Gaslight
“The Empty Bookshelf: or, the Missing Three Quartos: Reasonable Editions at a Comfortable Price” by Robert D. Madison, The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 71, No. 2 (2021)
Previous episode mentioned: Episode 62: Reference Sources
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Beetles Sep 16, 2021

“pinned like a beetle on a card” [BLAC] It's the third week of the month, and that means it's the exotic animal episode. Last month we covered worms, and we mentioned the slow-worm, which Mr. Sherman said kept the beetles down. A listener called in with a comment on that episode, and it led to this one, where we look at this detestable insect, its place in Victorian England, and how it spread. It's just a Trifle. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

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Inspired by Donald Jewell's Butterflies and Blind Beetles: Vol. 4 of the Sherlock Holmes Natural History Series
German cockroach (Wikipedia)
Croton bug (Epehemeral New York)
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How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? Sep 08, 2021

“passionate, whole-hearted, tropical, ill-balanced” [THOR] Maria Gibson (nee Pinto) was a troubled woman. What could have driven her to her final acts? Is she a victim? A villain? A sympathetic character? If anything she was less two-dimensional than she is typically assumed to be. Could her demise have indeed been a murder rather than a suicide? It's just a Trifle. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

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Inspired by Bob Byrnes' Baker Street Essays, Vol. II, Issue 1
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Watson's Medical Career Sep 01, 2021

“a general practitioner with very limited experience and mediocre qualifications” [DYIN] We know Watson had a serious medical career before he met Holmes. But what do his qualifications mean? And aside from the brandy, how did his training come in handy? Helen Simpson's "The Medical Career of John H. Watson" in H.W. Bell's Baker Street Studies provides some insight into what Watson was telling us and what he wasn't. It's just a Trifle. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

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Baker Street Studies by H.W. Bell (Amazon)
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- Episode 87: The Good Doctor
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The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes, Part 3 Aug 25, 2021

“some arm-chair lounger who evolves” [STUD] From a humble beginning to the heights of international fame and importance, the career of Sherlock Holmes was a rocket ride. And his personal relationships took an opposite ride. This is the third and final entry in this series on the evolution of Sherlock Holmes. And it's anything but a Trifle. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

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Episode 237: The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes, Part 1
Episode 239: The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes, Part 2
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Worms Aug 18, 2021

“Why does fate play such tricks with poor, helpless worms?” [BOSC] On the third episode of every month in Season 5, we explore exotic animals in the Sherlock Holmes canon. This month's animal is a rare one: worms. While you may be thinking the only reference is the remarkable worm unknown to science that left Isadora Persano stark staring mad, there are a few others. But just a Trifle more. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. Links / Notes

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Poor Helpless Worms
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 158: The International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes
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A Window into Windows Aug 11, 2021

“window-breaking Furies” [VALL]

Windows are everywhere in the Sherlock Holmes stories. But in certain cases, they form an essential part of the plot. In some cases, it may be transparent. In others, not so much.

Whether they're decorative, a passage of one form or another, or are broken in the course of a crime, some windows serve a purpose in the Canon. It's just a Trifle.

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Mullioned windows
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I Know That Country, Holmes Aug 04, 2021

“It is full of old houses which are named after the men who built them centuries ago.” [SUSS]

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a master storyteller. He gave us memorable characters and plots that painted a picture over the course of the entire Canon. But more than plot or characters, place played an outsized role. What does the geography in the Sherlock Holmes stories tell us? It's just a Trifle.

And for our Patreon supports, we have another bonus clip. For as little as $1 a month, you can join this growing group of insiders.

Links / Notes

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Triangle Shirtwaist Fire
A Quick Succession of Subjects
David Hammer
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The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes, Part 2 Jul 28, 2021

“evolved from his own inner consciousness” [BOSC]

In Episode 237, we looked at how Holmes's personality traits changed over the course of his career. We're back for another look using four separate stories, each 10 years apart.

What can the Canon tell us about the ways Holmes's interests, tastes, enthusiasms, relationships, reputation, and more changed during his long career? It's just a Trifle.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles239
Other episodes mentioned:
- Episode 224: The Crimes of Sherlock Holmes
- Episode 237: The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes
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Jellyfish Jul 21, 2021

“Cyanea! Cyanea!” [LION]

In the third week of every month in our fifth season, Trifles looks at exotic animals. We turn to the sea this time, examining jellyfish. And this episode brought us into contact with an old publication: the Catalogue of an Exhibition Held at Abbey House, Baker Street, London, May–September 1951.

For those intimately familiar with the Sherlock Holmes stories, there is only one story in which we find a jellyfish. For those not familiar, spoiler alert. It is just a Trifle.

And don't forget to check out the bonus audio content if you're a Patreon supporter. If you're not, what a great excuse to join us!

Links / Notes

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Jellyfish (Wikipedia)
Lion's mane jellyfish washed up on shore in Maine (Twitter)
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The Evolution of Sherlock Holmes Jul 14, 2021

“Let me show you the evolution of this case” [WIST]

In our last episode, we discussed the subtle yet undeniable change in the nature of the relationship between Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Lestrade. But what about the evolution of Holmes himself?

What aspects of his character changed over the course of his career, from a 20-something during his first case at university to his final case four decades later? What remained the same? It's just a Trifle.

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Holmes & Lestrade Through the Years Jul 07, 2021

"That you, Lestrade?" [EMPT] One might say that Sherlock Holmes and Inspector G. Lestrade had a contentious relationship. While this may be the popular stereotype between the two professionals, a long-term assessment doesn't bear this out. Listener Ron Lies has shared a paper of his that takes us through the Holmes-Lestrade relationship chronologically, and things may be a little different than they appear. It's just a Trifle.

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Two Maids A-Missing Jun 30, 2021

“Altogether there are eight maids” [MUSG]

Two stories. Two jewels. Two lady's maids. And two strikingly similar circumstances.

In "The Blue Carbuncle" and "The Six Napoleons," published just 11 years apart, we can find some remarkable parallels that result in the disappearance of minor players who were involved in critical plot points. It's just a Trifle.

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"Two Maids A-Milking" by William Hyder, The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 70, No. 4
"The Twelve Gifts of Christmas" by Allan Sherman

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Secret Societies Jun 23, 2021

“some secret society, some implacable organization” [VALL]

We know the Mafia, the KKK, and other named secret societies permeate the Sherlock Holmes stories. They add to the mystery and mystique of the plots.

But what were some of the lesser-known secret societies? And were they really that secret? It's just a Trifle.

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Lab Rats Jun 16, 2021

“the direct nature of the experiment” [BRUC]

It's the third week of the month, and that means it's time for our Exotic Animals feature! When you hear "rat" anywhere near the Sherlock Holmes stories, there are three possible conclusions: the Giant Rat of Sumatra, Ballarat, or...

Lab rats, which is our topic of discussion. While lab rats aren't literally mentioned in the Canon, there are some figurative ones. What were they? We look at those, plus the history of animal experimentation in medicine. It's just a Trifle.

Oh, and check this out: we have a bonus audio track just for our Patreon supporters. Become one today to unlock it.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles232
"Animal Testing and Medicine," by Rachel Hajar, M.D., Heart Views, Jan-Mar 2011, via National Library of Medicine

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The Best Sherlock Holmes Stories Jun 09, 2021

“The best possible” [NOBL]

In Episode 231, we left you with a bit of a cliffhanger. The show was filled with answers to questions from listeners, and one asked about our favorite Sherlock Holmes stories.

Rather than boring you with only our personal preferences, we got into a history of the best Sherlock Holmes stories, first as judged by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle himself, and later by multitudes of Sherlockians. It's just a Trifle.

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Randall Stock's The Best of Sherlock Holmes site
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's list of 12 best Sherlock Holmes stories (LitHub)
Poll of the best Sherlock Holmes stories as run in The Baker Street Journal

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Your Questions, Answered Jun 02, 2021

“they are pretty sure to ask questions anyhow, so it would be as well to have answers” [RETI]

We're doing something a little different for this episode. There are certain elements about the Sherlock Holmes stories that are just too trifling out of which to create an entire episode. So we turned to you.

We're answering questions that you have submitted, hopefully providing more clarity than less. If this works well, we'll do it again. It's just a Trifle.

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles231
"John Barrington Cowles" by Arthur Conan Doyle
Schlock Holmes: The Complete Bagel Street Saga by Robert L. Fish
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 181: The Daily Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes quotes)
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Luck in the Canon May 26, 2021

“That is very fortunate” [SCAN]

Sherlock Holmes didn't believe in superstition, the supernatural, or random guesses. He was a detective who dealt in facts and data.

And yet, the canon of Sherlock Holmes stories is littered with coincidences (happy or otherwise) and instances of luck. How did these play into the stories and Holmes's ability to solve them? It's just a Trifle.

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Scott's presentation to the Sherlockians of Baltimore (YouTube)

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Cormorants May 19, 2021

“the whole story concerning the politician, the lighthouse, and the trained cormorant” [VEIL]

There is one scant mention of a cormorant in the Sherlock Holmes stories — in one of Watson's enticing throwaway lines of a case which we'll never read. In "The Veiled Lodger," he tells us about the case involving a trained cormorant that might be revealed to the public.

But what is a cormorant? Can it really be trained? It's the third week of the month, and that means we discuss exotic animals in the Canon. It's just a Trifle.

And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles229
Stunning images of Chinese fishermen using cormorants to catch fish (The Atlantic)
More photos of cormorants catching fish (Arkin Space)
Not mentioned in the episode, but The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes on Radio 4 featured this untold tale.

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Eyeglasses in the Canon May 12, 2021

“I stooped to the eyepiece and focussed for my vision.” [SHOS]

Given Arthur Conan Doyle's training in the field of eye medicine, it's no surprise that we find a number of Sherlock Holmes characters who wear glasses.

In fact, an entire story is named after a set of eyewear. Who were some of the bespectacled band in the Sherlock Holmes stories? It's just a Trifle.

Links / Notes

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What Did Victorians Make of Spectacles? (Wellcome Library Blog via Wayback Machine)
Arthur Conan Doyle's medical career (Wikipedia)
"The Bespectacled Band" (I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere)
Trifles Episode 46 - A History of Pince-Nez

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More Messages May 05, 2021

“the sending of general messages” [VALL]

Sherlock Holmes was an inveterate message sender and receiver. The many notes, letters, telegrams, cryptogram, and other forms of communication that passed by his view made for key clues in some cases.

We wondered how things might have turned out differently in certain cases if the frequency of messages were different. And how, in certain cases, Holmes duped the messengers. It's just a Trifle.

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Money Woes Apr 28, 2021

“I am a poor man” [PRIO]

Time and again, we find people in the Sherlock Holmes stories who are having money problems. As in money problems drastic enough to cause them to make unfortunate decisions.

Who were some of these people, and what hard choices did they make? We have a few of them; it's just a Trifle. Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Viper / Wiper Apr 21, 2021

"like a viper’s tooth" [DYIN]

Here we are again, ready to tackle the monthly topic of exotic animals. So naturally, we turn to the wiper. Wait, the what?

Suffice it to say that the oddly-identified snake does have a place in the Sherlock Holmes stories, although way down at the East End. Oh, and there's the little matter of a Great War publishing machine. It's just a Trifle.

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The Crimes of Sherlock Holmes Apr 15, 2021

"It is fortunate for this community that I am not a criminal."[BRUC]

Sherlock Holmes certainly ran with a rough crowd. Burglars, murderers, blackmailers, thieves, spies, kidnappers, and even politicians. Given his store of criminal knowledge, what stopped him from becoming a criminal himself? Wait just a moment; while his cause was justice, his practice wasn't always on the right side of the law. Thanks to a suggestion from Erik Deckers, we're examining the criminality of Sherlock Holmes. It's just a Trifle. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Brain Fever Apr 07, 2021

“a sharp touch of brain-fever” [MUSG] Inspired by two sources of Sherlockian medical scholarship, we decided to discuss brain fever. What was brain fever, medically speaking? And why does it only rear its head in Victorian literature? Was it an actual affliction, or just a literary device? It's just a Trifle. Please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Did Victorians Really Get Brain Fever? (JSTOR Daily)
Reference: "Brain Fever" by Stephen Tolins, The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 41, No. 2 (1991)
Nerve and Knowledge: Doctors, Medicine, and the Sherlockian Canon (BSI Press)

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No. 221B Baker Street (Part 2) Mar 31, 2021

“Apply 221B, Baker Street” [NAVA] Last week, we left you hanging with Vincent Starrett's chapter in his book The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes. We couldn't leave it unfinished, so we're back with the second half. And a special treat at the conclusion of the episode—also with a 221B theme. It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes by Vincent Starrett

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No. 221B Baker Street (Part 1) Mar 24, 2021

“I have my eye on a suite in Baker Street” [STUD] There is no question that 221B Baker Street is the most famous address in all of fiction. What makes it interesting is its non-existence at the time of the stories' publications, and legions of fans attempting to determine its actual location afterward. Vincent Starrett was a huge fan of this game. So much so that he dedicated a chapter in his book The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes to it. To celebrate our 221st episode, Scott and Burt read "No. 221B Baker Street" from the book. It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes by Vincent Starrett

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Mongoose Mar 17, 2021

“some creature of the weasel and stoat tribe” [CROO] There was a fad in mid-century Victorian England that led to pets becoming more common. But the third week of each month, our episodes focus not on everyday household animals but rare and unusual creatures. In this case, we focus on a member of the family Herpestidae. Namely, the mongoose. Making a few appearances in popular fiction, they're just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Mongoose (Wikipedia)

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Moriarty's Mathematics Mar 10, 2021

“rarefied heights of pure mathematics” [VALL] As we know, James Moriarty was a professor of mathematics. We know little about his academic appointment, other than having to step down from a chair. What we do know is he has two publications to his name. What are they, and what do they tell us about Moriarty's approach to a life of crime. They're just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Buffets Mar 03, 2021

“I return with an excellent appetite” [BLAC] The Sherlock Holmes stories are a cornucopia of content. A smorgasbord of smarts. A full menu of fulfillment. So it shouldn't be terribly surprising that we find buffets mentioned in the Canon. Perhaps you skipped over the Canonical buffet line. We can't blame you. The references are fleeting, at best. As we say, it's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Buffet (Wikipedia)
Richard Doyle's depiction of a station buffet
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Colours in the Canon Feb 24, 2021

“Our own colours, green and white.” [WIST] Yes, the circle was red, the study was scarlet and the pips were orange. But there are so many other colors (or colours) to explore in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Conan Doyle did a masterful job of using color to give us a vivid sense of the settings. But more than that, what does his use of various colors tell us? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Episode 10: The Dressing Gown of Many Colors

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Cheetah and Baboon Feb 17, 2021

“It is a nice household,” he murmured. “That is the baboon.” [SPEC] It seems that Dr. Grimesby Roylott had a bit of a wild side. Killed a man in India. Threw a blacksmith off a small bridge. Had a cheetah and baboon wandering his grounds. You know, as one does. As we looked at the animals in detail, we came across a startling detail about Roylott's menagerie. You might say it's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Pets Peeved (I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere)
Cheetah (Wikipedia)
Victorian London: The London Zoo (Victorian Voices)
Baboon (Wikipedia)
How to Survive an Encounter with a Baboon (LiveAbout)

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Walking Sticks & Canes Feb 10, 2021

“There are certainly one or two indications upon the stick.” [HOUN] Walking sticks were once fashionable. They were just as necessary as a pair of gloves and a hat in a gentleman's daily attire in Victorian England. But they also served a practical purpose from time to time. And Sherlock Holmes was able to use these personal effects as clue givers. What do we know about walking sticks and canes in the Canon? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Footwear in the Canon Feb 03, 2021

“shoes, but no socks.” [PRIO] Over the course of our first four seasons, we covered a wide variety of haberdashery: dressing gowns, clothes, disguises, and hats, to name a few. But we haven't covered anything related to footwear (unless you count that fleeting reference to tennis shoes in Episode 119). Shoes, boots, and slippers are a few of the kinds of footwear we come across in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and they all help Sherlock Holmes in some way. Which way is that, you ask? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Soundcloud playlist: Appearance and Attire
A Quick Succession of Subjects by Chris Redmond

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The Three Moriartys Jan 27, 2021

“I can tell a Moriarty when I see one.” [VALL] Quick: in "The Final Problem," what is the name of Sherlock Holmes's arch-rival? Yes, we know it's Professor Moriarty, but what's his first name? If you said "James," you'd be wrong. Would you be surprised to learn that he has not only one, but two brothers, at least one of whom is also named James? It's a conundrum worthy of Moriarty himself. And it's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Colonel James Moriarty (Baker Street Fandom)
"Moriarty Times Three" (Walter Jaffee, The Baker Street Journal Vol. 57, No. 2, 2007)

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Langur Jan 20, 2021

“the great black-faced monkey of the Himalayan slopes,” [CREE] It's only mentioned in passing, but the langur played an important role in "The Aventure of the Creeping Man." It showed you could make a monkey out of Professor Presbury. In this episode, we begin a monthly series on exotic animals. What do we know of langurs? Or of the other choices at hand during that time? It seems like a peculiar choice, but then again, it's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Gray langur (Wikipedia)
The Medical Casebook of Doctor Arthur Conan Doyle by Alvin Rodin and Jack Key (Amazon)
Monkey Gland Cocktail (Spruce Eats)

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The Three Professors Jan 13, 2021

“His life as been academic” [CREE] Sherlock Holmes and academic affairs are, well, elementary. [Sorry] But have you considered those who hold the title "professor" when it comes to the stories? Of course you know Professor Moriarty. But there are only two others, which is a tad surprising, given the stories that involved the academy. It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Sherlock Holmes's Birthday Jan 06, 2021

“you could not celebrate him without being known yourself.” [HOUN] Every year, the Baker Street Irregulars meet in early January to celebrate Sherlock Holmes's birthday. Why January, or more specifically January 6? It's an interesting story. We discuss what factors may support that supposition and highlight the scholarship that helped us arrive at this date. It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Happy 167th Birthday, Sherlock Holmes (I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere)
"What Was the Month?" by Nathan Bengis, BSJ Vol. 7, No. 4 (1957)

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Typography Dec 30, 2020

“As I expected, his reply was typewritten” [IDEN] While handwriting was and is distinctive enough for a detective like Sherlock Holmes to draw some inferences, typography isn't quite so forgiving. Whether it was through fonts used in newspapers or flourishes of individual typewriters ("the fourteen other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well." [IDEN]), Holmes was able to wring more out of typography than the average investigator. It's just a Trifle. This is our final episode of Season 4. Should we continue into Season 5? Let us know. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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The Gorgeous Typeface that Drove Men Mad and Sparked a 100-Year Mystery (Gizmodo)

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Handwriting Dec 23, 2020

“Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting?” [SIGN] More than once, Sherlock Holmes used someone's handwriting to guide him toward a solution. Whether it was a hastily-scribbled legal document or a red herring of a note, he was able to discern certain facts by observing the handwriting. But was this a mere fiction, a literary license to make his powers seem more impressive? Or was it more practical in nature? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Graphology (Wikipedia)

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The Care and Feeding of Sherlock Holmes Dec 16, 2020

“Holmes smiled and rubbed his hands” [WIST] Sherlock Holmes enjoyed breakfast. But it was often interrupted. He had a variable knowledge of botany but knew enough to feel chagrined for missing green peas at 7:30. What can we tell about Sherlock Holmes's food habits from Earle Walbridge's essay from 1940 titled "The Care and Feeding of Sherlock Holmes"? It's the monthly installment of our "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist" theme, and it's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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"The Care and Feeding of Sherlock Holmes" by Earle F. Walbridge in 221B: Studies in Sherlock Holmes
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Smile When You Say That Dec 09, 2020

“Holmes smiled and rubbed his hands” [WIST] Did Sherlock Holmes care about teeth? There's evidence that he cared about his own teeth, as seen through his recommendation of dental hygiene, and through his remark about losing a tooth. But what about the potential of dental science as applied to the art of detection? Sherlock Holmes had the potential to be the world's first forensic dentist. Did he make any progress? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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The Big Book of British Smiles (YouTube)
"The Dental Holmes" by Charles Goodman, D.D.S. in Profile by Gaslight

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The Setting of Cornwall Dec 02, 2020

“sinister atmosphere of forgotten nations,” [DEVI] It's not quite a holiday for Sherlock Holmes in "The Devil's Foot," but rather a time away from London to be able to recuperate. "The villages which dotted this part of Cornwall" gave a quaint, other-worldly feeling to the setting. But so too did the traces of "some vanished race which had passed utterly away, and left as it sole record strange monuments of stone, irregular mounds which contained the burned ashes of the dead." The Cornish coast was the perfect place for this story. And it's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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History of Cornwall (Wikipedia)
The Game Is Afoot! by David Hamer (Amazon)
"The Devil's Foot" episode of The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Granada (BritBox)
Previous episodes mentioned:
- Episode 195: The Setting of Dartmoor
- Episode 200: The Setting of Agra

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The Location of 221B, Part 2 Nov 26, 2020

“I have my eye on a suite in Baker Street” [STUD] In the first part of this two-episode series, we looked at the Baker Street area of Victorian London and the changes that it has seen in the century and a half since that time. This time, we sharpen our powers of observation and search for the specific address that must have stood in for 221B Baker Street in Holmes's time. Many Sherlockian scholars have attempted to identify it. Who was right? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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"Dear Starrett" / "Dear Briggs" (The BSI Archival Series)
The eBSJ
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 204: Frederic Dorr Steele

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The Location of 221B, Part 1 Nov 18, 2020

“we made our way back to Baker Street” [3GAR] The address is legendary. Synonymous with its famous inhabitant, just as the deerstalker and meerschaum pipe. But it may be just as fanciful as those two accoutrements. This is the first in a two-part discussion of Baker Street of the Victorian era, and where Sherlock Holmes was supposed to have lived. What was different then? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes by Vincent Starrett
"The Street and the Detective" by A.J. Hearn from the 1957 Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual (available via the eBSJ)
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 204: Frederic Dorr Steele

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Child Pscyhology Nov 11, 2020

“Holmes, a child has done this horrid thing” [SIGN] Many of us find our way to the Sherlock Holmes stories as children, yet there is a decided absence of children in the Canon. When we do find them, they tend to be in service of furthering a plot point rather than as fully developed characters. There are perhaps one or two exceptions, but children in the Sherlock Holmes stories are there in service to Sherlock Holmes. It's just a Trifle. Download | 11.6 MB, 25:57 Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Spare No Expense Nov 04, 2020

“I desire you to spare no expense and no pains” [WIST] Sherlock Holmes had to go places, see people, investigate things. And doing so meant that he incurred expenses. If we itemized what some of these were—absent the specific amount—what would that tell us about Sherlock Holmes? Where did he go? How did he travel? Where did get get the funding when there wasn't a well-off client behind his cases? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Related episodes:
- Episode 74 - The Administrative Side of Baker Street
- Episode 75 - Nummi in Arca, or The Fiscal Holmes

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The Setting of Agra Oct 28, 2020

“Yes, this is the great Agra” [SIGN] It's where Jonathan Small met Mahomet Singh, Dost Akbar and Abdullah Khan and together they made a pact known as the Sign of the Four. The Fort of Agra, in the city of the same name. Small described it as a queer and enormous place, with deserted halls and winding passages. In other words, the perfect setting for a treasure hunt and murder. We explore the ins and outs of the great fort. It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Agra Fort (Cultural India)
Agra Fort (Wikipedia)
Agra Fort (Lonely Planet)
Battle of Agra (Wikipedia)
Agra Fort Directory according to the Census taken on the 27th July 1857 by Asst Surgeon JP Walker, MD (Families in British India Society)
Previous episodes in this series:
- Episode 195 - The Setting of Dartmoor

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The Victims Oct 21, 2020

“You have been cruelly used” [SPEC] We're at the end of our four-part series on Women in the Canon from The Best of the Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 2. This time we look at "The Victims." That may seem a broad topic for a 20-something minute podcast. And it is. But we hit some of the highlights on which women were the most cruelly used and Conan Doyle's take on women's rights. It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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The Best of the Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 2
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Clothing in the Canon Oct 14, 2020

"we did not meet to talk about the cut of my socks" [3GAR] When you think of attire in the Sherlock Holmes stories, the mind usually turns to the deerstalker and Inverness, and perhaps Sherlock Holmes's disguises. But what about day to day attire, specifically of Holmes's clientele? We picked up on an article from The Sherlock Holmes Journal and ran with it. It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Gaiters (Wikipedia)
Shepherd's check
The Best of the Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 2
Three previous episodes mention disguise:

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The Dates in The Hound of the Baskervilles Oct 07, 2020

"Have you the dates of those letters?" [HOUN]

The Hound of the Baskervilles is one of Sherlock Holmes's most famous cases. But what can we say about the date of the case? Watson never specifically mentions a date, but many chronologists fix it in October 1889. How did they come to that conclusion? And what else do we know about Holmes and Watson that make such a date worthy of questioning? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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"The Date Being—?" by Andrew J. Peck and Leslie S. Klinger
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 144: The Chronologies of Sherlock Holmes

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The Brook Street Business Sep 30, 2020

"something further from Brook Street" [RESI] When Percy Trevelyan went to open up his practice, he found that he had more in brains than he did in his pocketbook. Until a shrewd businessman came along and made a business proposition that suited them both nicely. All was well until that benefactor-cum-landlord met an untimely end. What became of the good doctor after that? And of his residence? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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The Setting of Dartmoor Sep 23, 2020

"forbear from crossing the moor in those dark hours" [HOUN] One of the most iconic characters in the Sherlock Holmes stories is not a character at all. It's Dartmoor. As Holmes himself said of it, "Never been there? Ah, well, I don’t suppose you will forget your first visit.” Dartmoor is a land that's filled with beauty, mystery, and intrigue. In other words, the perfect setting for a Sherlock Holmes story. It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Ladies of Title Sep 16, 2020

"Title and money—who could carry them better than she?" [ABBE]

We've investigated which women were influential in their own right in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and then those who had to work for a living. Next up, we look at women with titles. In her article in The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 10, No. 3, Pat Dalton reviewed some such ladies. Of course the term "lady" is a title granted to a certain class, but in late Victorian times it was becoming a title based on behavior and deportment as well. Which characters might we be talking about here? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Palmer and Pritchard Sep 09, 2020

"Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession" [SPEC] When he was facing off against Dr. Grimesby Roylott, Sherlock Holmes asserted "When a doctor does go wrong he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. Palmer and Pritchard were among the heads of their profession." Claiming that Roylott struck even deeper, we wondered: just what did Palmer and Pritchard do that might compare to Dr. Roylott's ophidian crimes? What we discovered was more than a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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William Palmer (Wikipedia)
Edward Pritchard (Wikipedia)

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Sherlock Holmes and Philosophers Sep 02, 2020

"Philosophy, astronomy, and politics were marked at zero," [FIVE] Sherlock Holmes called Professor Moriarty "a genius, a philosopher, and abstract thinker" in "The Final Problem." But what did Holmes know about philosophy? According to Watson's initial list titled Sherlock Holmes—His Limits, his knowledge of philosophy was "Nil." But Holmes called out a few philosophers by name, and had an attitude that reflected a combination of traditional and modern British philosophy. Join us to ponder this Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Clergymen Aug 26, 2020

"once a clergyman, always a clergyman" [SOLI] We see influences of religion here and there in the Sherlock Holmes stories. From Biblical references in "The Crooked Man" to the then-mysterious religion of Mormonism, we see the world of Holmes and Watson as it occasionally intersects with these influences. But what about the men of the cloth we encounter? Who were they? Which stories did they appear in? And what religions did they represent? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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The Working Girls Aug 19, 2020

"in the capacity of governess" [SIGN]

Sherlock Holmes had a number of clients who were women, and in certain cases, they were gainfully employed. In her article in The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 10, No. 2, Patsy Dalton takes us through some of these clients. What was the status of the "working girl" at the time, and what range of professions do we see from them? How do these roles bear on their consideration in society? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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My Old Friend Charlie Peace Aug 12, 2020

"My old friend Charlie Peace was a violin virtuoso" [ILLU] No, Charlie Peace was not a colleague of Norman Neruda or Sarasate. He was a notorious criminal, convicted of killing a policeman and the husband of a neighbor with whom he became obsessed. How did Sherlock Holmes know him? Were they acquainted through the world of music, or perhaps in the underground world of crime? Come with us: it's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Charles Peace (Wikipedia)
Charlie Peace (History by the Yard)

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Tattoos Aug 05, 2020

“I have made a small study of tattoo marks” [REDH] Tattoos. A rare topic in the Sherlock Holmes story, yet they're key in helping Sherlock Holmes to discern a little more about a few individuals. How common were tattoos in Victorian England? Where did they originate? And who in the Canon had them? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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History of tattooing (Wikipedia)
Tattoos: The Ancient and Mysterious History (Smithsonian)

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Justice, Part 3: Comeuppance Jul 29, 2020

“there never was a man who deserved punishment more” [IDEN] There are certain instances in the Sherlock Holmes stories where the villain is so foul, so deserving of punishment, that it's a relief to see them get theirs. It's justice served. We can think of a couple, off the tops of our heads. Perhaps you have others in mind? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Previous episodes in this series:
- Episode 183 - Justice, Part 1: Unresolved
- Episode 184 - Justice, Part 2: Disproportionate

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Watson's Patience Jul 22, 2020

“This is unworthy of you, Holmes” [SIGN] Sherlock Holmes wasn't an easy man to live with. Still, it's impressive that Watson didn't unload on him more frequently. Or perhaps he did and just didn't report it... What is it about Holmes's personality that made him caustic? And about Watson's that allowed him to endure it. It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Also mentioned: Episode 130 - Watson's Club

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The Women of Influence Jul 15, 2020

“accomplished, a wonder woman in every way” [ILLU] Each month, we look at a piece of Sherlockian or Holmesian scholarship that might be outside of your ken, and discuss its merits or faults. This month, we look at Mollie Hardwick's "Women of the Canon: 1 - Women of Influence" from The Sherlock Holmes Journal, Vol. 10, No. 1 (Summer, 1972). Hardwick thought it was worth delving into who some of the powerful women were who were not Irene Adler. Is one of your favorites discussed? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Also by Mollie Hardwick: The Sherlock Holmes Companion (with Michael Hardwick)

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Justice, Part 2: Disproportionate Jul 08, 2020

“I do not feel justified in doing it” [HOUN] In the last episode, we talked about the uncertainty of justice at the conclusion of some stories. Did the perpetrators find justice raining down on them? In some cases, it was left up to the reader's imagination. This episode we're looking at some instances of justice that may not have been in proportion to the crime – or non crime, as the case may be. It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Justice, Part 1: Unresolved Jul 01, 2020

“It’s every man’s business to see justice done” [CROO] Everyone likes a neat ending. The case is solved, the criminal is caught, and justice is served. But what about those Sherlock Holmes stories where the criminals escape? When the final action happens off-page or off-screen? There's not the same resolution there as when a Scotland Yard inspector claps handcuffs on the accused. Or is there? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Ships Ahoy Jun 25, 2020

“the writer was on board of a ship.” [FIVE] We were inspired by two articles in the Baker Street Journal, some forty years apart. Each made a study of ships' names in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Of the named sailing vessels, what can we infer from those named after women? Unlike some of the other ships in the Canon, they're not listed in Lloyd's Register. Was it a Watsonian influence regarding the fair sex? It's just a Trifle. Find Trifles wherever you listen to podcasts: Listen to Sherlock Holmes: Trifles Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

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Richard W. Clark's "On the Nomenclature of Watson's Ships" (BSJ Vol 1, No 2, 1946) and Donald Redmond's "Ship Ahoy, Captain Basil" (BSJ Vol 36, No 4, 1986)
Mobile Holmes

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The Historicity of Sherlock Holmes Jun 17, 2020

“an historical curiosity” [MUSG]

It's the third week of the month, which means it's our regular feature in Season 4: Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist, the episode in which we investigate an old piece of Sherlockian scholarship and offer our commentary.

This month, we feature "The Historicity of Sherlock Holmes" by Prof. Dirk J. Struik. Presented to the Speckled Band of Boston, it first appeared in print in the 1947 publication The Second Cab. Professor Struik's own association with the Band is just as interesting as his paper. It's just a Trifle.

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The Second Cab / The Best of the Cabs (AbeBooks)
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 135: Helene Yuhasova: Woman of Mystery

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The Eternal Triangle Jun 10, 2020

"I have never loved" [DEVI]

When you think of crimes in the Sherlock Holmes stories, many of them were crimes of passion. In a 1981 article in The Baker Street Journal, Julie Maynard makes the case that as many as twenty-five percent of the Canon involves adultery or implied adultery. What was going on here? Was it an unconscious attempt from Conan Doyle? Or perhaps a conscious one? It's just a Trifle.

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--

I Must Confess Jun 03, 2020

“Indeed, if I may make a full confession to you” [FINA]

They say confession is good for the soul. It's also good for the detective story. Sherlock Holmes found the suspects he sought in many cases, but he didn't have the backstory for all of them.

The solution? A confession. Driven by fear, love or finality, a number of characters in the stories have reasons for confessing. And one was extracted by a clever trick by Holmes. It's just a Trifle.

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Insomnia May 27, 2020

“It may give him a sleepless night” [FIVE]

Have you had trouble sleeping lately? You're not alone. There were plenty of people in the Sherlock Holmes stories who struggled to sleep as well.

Whether it was because they were horrified by something that happened to them, troubled by something they did, or were determined to crack a problem, they lost sleep over it. It may not seem like it to you, but it's just a Trifle.

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On the Sleepless Lives of Writers (LitHub)
Charles Dickens: Observer of Sleep and Its Disorders (American Sleep Disorders Association and Sleep Research Society)
Short film: Honoré de Balzac's 50 Cups of Coffee a Day (Amazon Prime Video)

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--

Billy the Page May 20, 2020

“Billy advanced and drew away” [MAZA]

We're used to reading about Mrs. Hudson ushering clients in and out, and providing various domestic services for Sherlock Holmes. But now and again, we find ourselves in the presence of young Billy, the page.

What was a page? And was Billy the only one at 221B Baker Street? In Vol. 2, No. 3 of The Sherlock Holmes Journal, G.B. Newton made an assessment of who served and when in his article "Billy the Page," and in our monthly "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist" feature, we test his hypothesis. It's just a Trifle.

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--

Friend or Foe? May 14, 2020

“we have got a foeman who is worthy of our steel” [HOUN]

There are a handful of cases where Sherlock Holmes meets an opponent who is formidable and antagonistic, but where he later turns out to be an ally.

Who were some of these individuals? Which stories did they appear in? And just what was it that made them seem as if they were on he wrong side of the case? It's just a Trifle.

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--

We Have Much to Hope From the Flowers May 06, 2020

“a highly sensational and flowery rendering” [SIXN]

Flowers appear in a handful of spots in the Sherlock Holmes stories. More than the famous rose scene from "The Naval Treaty," they literally dot the countryside and color the scenery.

From a flower that lent its name to one of the stories and a country house, to an obscure statesman, you may be surprised to discover the botanical connections in the Canon. It's just a Trifle.

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A Colonel of Truth Apr 29, 2020

“the Colonel’s manner has been just a trifle cavalier” [SILV]

Having spent the last episode discussing the unusual setting and Holmes and Watson's friendship as displayed in "The Reigate Squires," our minds turned toward their host, Colonel Hayter. Or rather, of his fellow ranking military officers in the Canon.

In fact, we realized that in the Sherlock Holmes stories, the title “Colonel” usually means bad news. Consider with us the various colonels and see how it strikes you. It's just a Trifle.

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Episode 45 - Military Morality

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--

Squiring Around Apr 22, 2020

“the fellows are still at large” [REIG]

In "The Reigate Squires," we find Sherlock Holmes ill and uprooted — staying in a country house — which, although it's a bachelor establishment, isn't quite what he's accustomed to. Although it may not be one of Holmes’s truly great cases, there is much to love in this story.

Watson was right there to back up Holmes in every way: reacting in horror to Holmes’s fainting fit, taking the blame for the overturned table, and even rescuing Holmes from the clutches of the murderers. It's just a Trifle.

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--

The Mystery of Watson's Second Wound Apr 15, 2020

“Your hand stole towards your own old wound” [CARD]

Watson returns from Afghanistan, recovering from a wound in the shoulder and the aftereffects of disease. But we later discover that he had a leg wound as well.

Could it be the delirium that caused him to misstate his injuries? Or was there another reason for his error? Two old pieces of Sherlockian scholarship – one from the 1940s and another from the 1950s – each have a different theory. Which is correct? It's just a Trifle.

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--

Jumping to Conclusions Apr 08, 2020

“the best and only final clue” [3STU]

In "The Adventure of the Three Students," Holmes has a litany of clues at his disposal. From balls of doughy clay to a tear in the leather of a desk, and more.

And yet, he's fixated on this one clue that he claimed was "the best and only final clue." What was it? And was it truly the definitive clue in the story? It's just a Trifle.

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The Pencil: A History of Design and Circumstance by Henry Petroski (Amazon)

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--

Upbeat Moments in the Canon Apr 01, 2020

“my heart jumped so with joy” [STUD]

We commonly see clients who come to Sherlock Holmes riddled with despair and grief. But if we look closely enough, we can also find happiness and sheer joy in the Canon.

The Sherlock Holmes stories contain the full range of human emotion, from anger to relief and from anguish to jubilance. The more we looked for the upbeat, the more we found. It's just a Trifle.

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--

Loneliness and Isolation in the Canon Mar 25, 2020

“helped a little to fill up the gap of loneliness and isolation” [MAZA]

There are many tragic figures in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and more than a handful are lonely or isolated in some way. This is either features in their predicament or gives us a better understanding of their personality.

As many of us may be entering a period of isolation or loneliness now, we thought it was an apt topic to discuss. It's just a Trifle.

Bonus: We recorded this live while on video, and you can find the link below.

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Our live episode, with bonus content (YouTube)

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Watson Was a Woman Mar 18, 2020

“Watson, the fair sex is your department” [SECO]

There was a scandal in Sherlockian circles in the early 1940s. Author Rex Stout, BSI ("The Boscombe Valley Mystery"), creator of Nero Wolfe, after careful research, determined that Watson was a woman. He presented his facts in the Saturday Review of Literature and let them sit.

They didn't sit well with all Sherlockians, and Julian Wolff, BSI ("The Red-Headed League") took up his pen to offer a retort in "That Was No Lady." Both essays appeared in Edgar W. Smith's Profile By Gaslight, and we discussed them in our monthly feature "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist" episode. It's just a Trifle.

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--

Post-Reichenbach Arrangements Mar 11, 2020

“I made every disposition of my property before leaving England” [EMPT]

After Holmes "died" at the Reichenbach Falls, wouldn't people have looked for a funeral or memorial service? Watson, in particular, would have expected to assist in such an arrangement.

As next of kin, Mycroft would have been expected to handle it, but that would have put him in an awkward position. If he was reluctant, that would have seemed suspect; but if he did, he knew how mischievous his younger brother could be, possibly disguising himself and witnessing his own funeral. What happened here? It's just a trifle.

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--

Infectious Diseases in the Canon Mar 04, 2020

“he contracted some loathsome disease” [YELL]

Dr. Watson was a general practitioner, and one "with very limited experience and mediocre qualifications," as Holmes blurted out in "The Dying Detective." It's the reason he called for a specialist in rare diseases.

With global news being filled with talk of coronavirus, we thought it might be the perfect time to reflect on what we know about infectious diseases in the Sherlock Holmes stories. It's just a trifle.

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--

Shaky Foundations in The Norwood Builder Feb 26, 2020

“work which will cut deep at the very foundations” [GOLD]

"The Adventure of the Norwood Builder" first appeared in print in 1903 as part of The Return of Sherlock Holmes. It was the second story in the collection, after Sherlock Holmes was resurrected from what many thought was a watery grave.

We can forgive the muddled minds of the time then, for missing a couple of key points in "The Norwood Builder." Key points that, had Holmes been on his game, would have given the whole charade away. It's just a trifle.

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--

Was Sherlock Holmes an American? Feb 19, 2020

“I saw the American stamp” [DANC]

For all of his familiarity with American cities, American police forces, American language and attire, Sherlock Holmes may very well have been American.

A number of scholars have taken up the argument, including Christopher Morley in his famous essay. Even President Franklin Roosevelt tried his hand at it. It's just a trifle.

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A Baker Street Folio: Five Letters About Sherlock Holmes from Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Abebooks.com)

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--

Victorian Vegetarians Feb 12, 2020

“the City and Suburban Bank, the Vegetarian Restaurant” [REDH]

We have plenty of instances of animal flesh on the side-board, whether it's a couple of brace of grouse, Henry Baker's Christmas goose, or a joint of beef.

There was one lone vegetarian restaurant mentioned in the Canon. It had a real-life inspiration. But what else do we know about vegetarianism in Victorian times? It's just a trifle.

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The Strand Magazine and Sherlock Holmes by Robert Veld (Wessex Press)
Veggie Victorians (History Extra)
The famous "pea-squashing" scene in Murder By Decree

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--

Black History in the Canon Feb 05, 2020

“should not gossip about there being a black child in the neighborhood.” [YELL]

Steve Dixie in "The Three Gables," Lucy Hebron in "The Yellow Face," and the unnamed mulatto in "Wisteria Lodge" are notable black people in the Canon. Actually, they're the only ones. What does this say about Arthur Conan Doyle's attitude and treatment toward them?

We know about the shocking way he chose to portray Steve Dixie – at least shocking by our standards. What were prevailing attitudes of the day? And how does Conan Doyle fare? It's just a trifle.

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Black British People in the 19th Century (Wikipedia)
IHOSE Episode 44: Watson and Holmes (New Paradigm Studios)
IHOSE Episode 81: Mycroft Holmes (Kareem Abdul Jabbar)

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The Final Mycroft Problem Jan 29, 2020

“I had only one confidant—my brother Mycroft.” [EMPT]

Why did Mycroft put himself in harm's way for Sherlock Holmes when the latter faced his arch-nemesis Professor Moriarty? Mycroft put Sherlock up for a night, drove the brougham that took Watson to Waterloo, and kept the rooms up at 221B during the hiatus that ensued.

But why didn't Moriarty go after Mycroft? What made him think that "the British government" didn't know about his activities? We explore the role of Mycroft Holmes in "The Final Problem." It's more than a trifle.

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--

Army Coaches Jan 22, 2020

“enormous sums of money” [SILV]

Here's one of those things that lends itself to the title of this podcast. We were thinking about Professor Moriarty and his ignominious fall from grace. After he left the university where he was Mathematical Chair, he came to London, where he became an army coach.

Army coach? That brought a number of things to mind. But surprisingly little has been written about it. We explore this trifle and reach a couple of reasonable conclusions.

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British Army During the Victorian Era (Wikipedia)
"Professor James Moriarty, 1836-91" by Nicholas Utechin (The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 24, No. 2)

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--

The Date of the Sign of Four Jan 15, 2020

“As to your dates, that is the biggest mystification of all.” [CREE]

With Season 4, we're starting a new monthly series that we're calling "Mr. Sherlock Holmes the Theorist." Each month, we'll be taking a look at what some early Sherlockian scholars had to say about certain trifling elements in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

In this case, we're looking at "The Date of The Sign of Four" from H.W. Bell's Baker Street Studies, first published in 1934. It's more than a trifle.

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Baker Street Studies by H.W. Bell
The Grand Game from the BSI Press

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--

British Food Jan 08, 2020

“cuisine is a little limited” [NAVA]

We find a smattering of food references throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories. But which can be considered consummate British dishes?

We don't come across toad in the hole, bubble and squeak, or cock-a-leekie soup, but there are other meals that are considered British. And by more than the virtue of appearing in British stories. Which food might this be? It's more than a trifle.

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Episode 42: A Noble Supper
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 103: Al and Julie Rosenblatt
Superb English Plum Pudding (Epicurious)
William Banting (Wikipedia)
Food Timeline: Sandwiches
Dining With Sherlock Holmes by Julia Carlson Rosenblatt
The Sherlock Holmes Cookbook by John Farrell and Sean Wright

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--

Fog Jan 01, 2020

“befogged in mind” [SIGN]

Weather conditions not only play a part in the settings of the Sherlock Holmes stories, but in some cases, they determine the plots as well.

Fog, London and Baker Street seem to go hand in hand in 1890s London, but London's fogs are more than weather conditions. How did fog color Sherlock Holmes's view of the criminal world, and which stories saw an impact from this misty and mysterious phenomenon? It's just a trifle.

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Great Smog of London (Wikipedia)
Pea-souper (Wikipedia)

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--

Sherlock Holmes, Sportsman Dec 25, 2019

“I am a born sportsman” [LAST]

In a lifetime crammed with high adventure, his brilliant achievements in crime detection obscured his remarkable skills as an athlete. He was an expert with singlestick and foil, a fine boxer, equally accomplished with rifle and small arms and had a knowing eye for horseflesh.

In this final installment in our 2019 series on games and sports, we turn to William S. Baring-Gould, the subject of this year's Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual, and talk through his landmark article for Sports Illustrated article from 1963. It's just a trifle.

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"Sherlock Holmes, Sportsman" by William S. Baring-Gould from May 25, 1963 (Sports Illustrated)
William S. Baring-Gould (Wikipedia)
The Baker Street Journal Christmas Annual
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--

Bohemians and Sherlock Holmes Dec 18, 2019

“his whole Bohemian soul” [SCAN]

The last in our series of episodes on international interactions with Sherlock Holmes brings us to the now-defunct kingdom of Bohemia. It was so important that it got its own scandal. What do we know about this land from which the masked king came? And of the adjective "Bohemian"? How did Bohemians come to signify the unconventional? It's just a trifle.

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Bohemia (Wikipedia)
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--

Minus Watson, Part 2 Dec 11, 2019

“I was alone.” [BLAN]

Sherlock Holmes was occasionally without his Boswell. Watson was married at least twice – some scholars even claim there was a third Mrs. Watson.

Was Holmes truly affected by Watson's absence? There is a subtle time lapse that may give away how Holmes dealt with a matrimonial Watson. And a look at how Holmes dealt with solitude earlier in his life. It's just a trifle.

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Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street: A Life of the World's First Consulting Detective by William S. Baring-Gould
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--

Minus Watson, Part 1 Dec 04, 2019

“the only selfish action which I can recall in our association” [BLAN]

Sherlock Holmes was a loner. An independent consultant. An automaton. But he also shared rooms with Dr. Watson off and on for over 20 years.

When Watson went off and got married, how did this affect Holmes, really? And Watson had how many wives? It's just a trifle.

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Baker Street Elementary – One Is the Loneliest Number
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Hats Nov 27, 2019

“his strange headgear” [SPEC]

Sherlock Holmes is synonymous with a certain type of hat. We don't need to mention the kind. You know what it is.

But he never wore one in the stories, which you probably also know. But what about some of the other hats that were mentioned by name in the Canon? It's kind of a hat check name check in this episode. And it's just a trifle.

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Bowler hat
Wideawake hat
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--

Asians and Sherlock Holmes Nov 20, 2019

“from their East Indian colonies” [RESI]

"Asian" isn't a term that pops up in the Sherlock Holmes canon. And yet we meet a handful of individuals who lived in or interacted with residents of the largest continent on the planet.

We hear of Asian countries such as Japan, China, Afghanistan, Andaman Islands, Ceylon, the Dutch East Indies, India, Tibet, Nepal, Persia, Siam, Malay, Singapore, Turkey, and Syria. Who were some of these people and why do so many of their stories involve something nefarious? It's just a trifle.

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Before the East India Company (Lapham's Quarterly)
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--

Swimming Nov 13, 2019

“Going for a swim, I see.” [LION]

How many swimmers do we encounter in the Sherlock Holmes stories? Given that only one story is centered around an ill-fated swim, you might think you know the answer.

Then again, you might be mistaken. Allow us to turn over the Canon in our minds for other references to swimming. And what do we know about swimming habits in the late Victorian / early Edwardian era? It's just a trifle.

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Bathing machine (Wikipedia)
Swimming in the Victorian Era (PDF)
A Social History of Swimming in England, 1800-1918 (Reviews in History)
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--

Weather or Not Nov 06, 2019

“you had been out in vile weather” [SCAN]

Think about the number of times we come across inclement weather in the Sherlock Holmes stories. It's almost like the cliched "It was a dark and stormy night."

How often do we find that harsh weather conditions run parallel to some tempestuous conditions in various Canonical households? It's just a trifle.

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--

Aliases and Disguises Oct 30, 2019

"It is always awkward doing business with an alias." [BLUE]

Back in Episode 96, we chatted about the many disguises and other identities of Sherlock Holmes. But what about other people in the Canon who played dress-up?

Whether they were trying to dupe one of his clients or Sherlock Holmes himself, these individuals each had good reasons to be incognito. It's just a trifle.

Canadians and Sherlock Holmes Oct 23, 2019

“this young stranger from Canada” [HOUN]

Canadians are so polite. Why, Sir Henry barely complained of being killed by his family's legendary spectral hound.

Where do we find Canadians and Canadian influences in the Sherlock Holmes stories? There aren't terribly many instances, but there are just enough to be a Trifle.

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--

Classism in the Sherlock Holmes Stories Oct 16, 2019

“a very different level to your Majesty” [SCAN]

"The Adventure of the Dancing Men" has a similar theme to that of "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor": a British gentleman and his flighty American bride with her checkered past.

Is there some lesson implied here about the importance of sticking with one's own tribe and class? And what other instances in the Sherlock Holmes stories stand out as examples of the separation of classes in Victorian society? It's just a Trifle.

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Shooting and Hunting Oct 09, 2019

“excellent wild-duck shooting” [GLOR]

When we think of English country estates, it's only natural to think of outdoor activities. In many cases this included the pastimes of hunting and shooting.

Where in the Sherlock Holmes stories do we find the landed gentry headed off to bring down some quarry that the gamekeeper has stocked? Our monthly series on games and sports take us on this wild goose chase that's just a Trifle.

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Third Time's a Charm Oct 02, 2019

“three times repeated” [FIVE]

There's a familiar plot device that runs throughout a number of Sherlock Holmes stories. That number is three, but do you know which stories make use of it?

We discuss this recurring theme, where it's the most convincing, and why humans get hoodwinked by such arrangements. It's just a Trifle.

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Shakespeare's sources of inspiration
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 91: The Confidence Game
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--

Beards in the Sherlock Holmes Stories Sep 25, 2019

"he was bearded" [SIGN]

Well this is embarrassing. As we finished our editing and prepared to leave for a business trip, we realized one critical fact about this topic: we've already talked about it (in Episode 105).

Nevertheless, we suggest you listen and perhaps compare and contrast the two episodes. Yes, there may be a little overlap, but the discussion goes to show how the Sherlock Holmes stories allow us to riff on one topic again and again. It's just a Trifle.

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Indians and Sherlock Holmes Sep 18, 2019

“he still made India too hot to hold him” [EMPT]

India is a wonderful land. And it plays a part in a number of Sherlock Holmes stories. Certainly, it's a center point in The Sign of Four, but where else do we find the influence of India in the Canon?

In our regular feature of international influences in the Sherlock Holmes stories, we learn about battles, cities, districts and other Indian curiosities. It's just a Trifle.

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Pondicherry (Wikipedia)
Bhurtee - the Siege of Cawnpore (Wikipedia)
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--

En Garde! Singlestick Sep 11, 2019

“I'm a bit of a single-stick expert, as you know” [ILLU]

In listing Sherlock Holmes's limits in A Study in Scarlet, Dr. Watson indicates that Holmes is something of an amateur sportsman: "11. Is an expert singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman."

In this latest entry in our Games and Sports series, we look at singlestick and its relation to other pastimes and run-ins in the Canon. It's just a Trifle.

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Singlestick (Wikipedia)
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--

Music in the Canon, Part 2: Musicians, Instruments, and Venues Sep 04, 2019

“Let us escape from this weary workaday world by the side door of music.” [RETI]

Sherlock Holmes took a great interest in musicians and concerts, mentioning a few by name in the Canon.

In the last episode, we discussed composers and their works; this time, it's off to violin-land where all is sweetness and light. We look at performers real and fictional, where they plied their trade, and what instruments they played, including musical families. It's just a Trifle.

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Other episodes mentioned in this episode:
- Episode 40: Who Was Sarasate?
- IHOSE Episodes 68 and 69 with Burt Coules
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--

Music in the Canon, Part 1: Composers and Their Works Aug 28, 2019

“a composer of no ordinary merit.” [REDH]

From the very beginning of the Sherlock Holmes stories, we know that Sherlock Holmes plays the violin. It's one of the personality traits he admits to Watson and that Watson later chronicles.

In addition to Holmes's own performances, we come across a number of other composers and their works in the Canon. Who and what were they? It's just a Trifle.

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Les Huguenots by Meyerbeer (Wikipedia)
"That little thing of Chopin" (Camden House)
Offenbach - "Barcarolle" from The Tales of Hoffmann (YouTube)
Other episodes mentioned in this episode:
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--

Russians and Sherlock Holmes Aug 21, 2019

"a man might as well live in Russia" [VALL]

The connections between Sherlock Holmes an Russia—in the Sherlock Holmes stories themselves, as least—would seem to be limited. Yet it provides much information for a robust discussion.

From exported goods to crimes from two decades previous, we encounter a smattering of mentions of the Land of Rus. What do they tell us about Sherlock Holmes? And what was happening in the world at the time? It's just a Trifle.

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Russia leather
Little Russia
The eBSJ
A Russian Sherlock Holmes cartoon and another animated Russian Sherlock Holmes in translation
The Wrong Passage
Other episodes mentioned in this episode:
- I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 50: Golden Passage
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Ahoy! Rowing, Boating and Yachting Aug 14, 2019

“He started in his little yacht” [BLAC]

There are plenty of instances of maritime transportation in the Sherlock Holmes stories. But when it comes to pleasure crafts, we're left with a scant few.

The use various boats for leisure and sporting activities is present sporadically throughout the Canon, so you have to pay attention. We investigate these few instances, plus a supposition. It is of course a trifle.

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The Boat Race
Interview with Robert Stephens in Michael Pointer's Playing Sherlock Holmes: Interviews with John Wood, Robert Stephens, and Christopher Lee. (Amazon)
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John Watson's Youth - Part 2 Aug 07, 2019

“you were on the battlefield” [BLAN]

In the last episode, Robert Katz, BSI began to take us through his theory of where Dr. Watson spent his early years. He used the facts given to us by Watson himself, combined with the reasoning of Sherlock Holmes to arrive at some conclusions.

This week, he brings us the other half of the story: after Watson moved from Australia to America, he tells us about the connection with Henry Ward Beecher and Watson's heroics on U.S. soil.

It's just a trifle.

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--

John Watson's Youth - Part 1 Jul 31, 2019

“I travelled in my youth” [TWIS]

We know little about Dr. Watson's life, aside from what he managed to tell us. Yes, he was in the Army's medical department. Yes, he was wounded. And he needed to find a flatmate to be able to afford London on his pension.

But what about beyond that? Sherlock Holmes was able to make some inferences from a watch that Watson's brother bequeathed to him. There are a few other clues here and there to give us a scent to pick up. And Robert Katz, BSI joins us to begin to weave those threads together.

It's just a trifle.

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--

South Americans and Sherlock Holmes Jul 24, 2019

“her people have been leaders in Pernambuco for generations” [3GAB]

South America and its exotic tropical climate is about as far removed from the dampness of England as one can find. Its collective countries stand in juxtaposition to proper Victorian customs, and anything in the Sherlock Holmes stories that touches South America is suspect.

We look at some of the men and women associated with the continent that is mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, and the implications for each story.

It's just a trifle.

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Boarding Houses Jul 17, 2019

“a boarding house that was recommended” [VALL]

When traveling or settling into a city for a bit, Victorians had options. Hotels were commonplace, but could be expensive. So what's a reasonable alternative? A boarding house!

There were two stories in which mysterious boarders caught the attention of Sherlock Holmes, and his visits with their landladies proved fruitful for Watson's writing. What do we know about these, and other instances of boarding houses in the Sherlock Holmes stories?

It's just a trifle.

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Boarding house (Wikipedia)
Lodging Houses (The Dictionary of Victorian London)
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--

Billiards Jul 10, 2019

“Come into the billiard-room and have a quiet cigar.” [GLOR]

Rack 'em up! Our monthly discussion of games and sports turns to billiards.

While the game itself is mentioned once in a significant way, there are a number of times when a room dedicated to the activity pops up in the Sherlock Holmes stories. What is it about billiards that captured English attention during this time period?

It's just a trifle.

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Cue sports (Wikipedia)
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Image credit

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--

Why Thank You Jul 03, 2019

“he sang your praises very loudly” [STOC]

As early as A Study in Scarlet, we discover that Sherlock Holmes "was as sensitive to flattery on the score of his art as any girl could be of her beauty." Then once again toward the end of the Canon, in "The Red Circle," Watson reminds us that "Holmes was accessible upon the side of flattery."

We previously covered some of the insults and invective that Holmes had to endure. But what about praise? What about epithets that were acclamatory rather than derogatory. It is just a trifle.

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Episode 91 - How Insulting
Steve Clarkson's The Canonical Compendium
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--

Watson's Club Jun 26, 2019

“a member of an aristocratic club” [BERY]

From golf clubs to gentlemen's clubs...

Ask any Sherlockian to name a club in the Canon and they'll invariably say the Diogenes Club (that's right after Tonga's club. You don't have to be a Penang lawyer to get that one.). And there were a number of fictional clubs as well.

But one club that gets just a passing mention is Watson's club. Which one was it? Speculation abounds, so we gave it a shot. It's just a trifle.

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The Gentlemen's Clubs of London (Amazon)
List of gentlemen's clubs in London (Wikipedia)
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--

Americans and Sherlock Holmes Jun 19, 2019

"It is always a joy to meet an American." [NOBL]

Americans have been avid fans of Sherlock Holmes since the earliest days. The novels were pirated and the short stories were syndicated to reach millions of American readers.

And Sherlock Holmes himself was a fan of Americans. There's a wide variety of Americans and American locales that popped up in the Canon quite frequently. And those are worth trifling over.

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Fore! Jun 12, 2019

“'Fore God, Mr. Holmes, it’s all right,” [SHOS]

Sherlock Holmes and golf don't necessarily go together. That is clearly represented by the few times that the sport is mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

His creator, Arthur Conan Doyle, had a few connections to golf. Together, we explore these scant details and come up with enough for another episode of Trifles in our monthly look at games and sports.

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Victorian Schooling
Board Schools
Standards of Education from 1872
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School's Out Jun 05, 2019

“Light-houses, my boy! Beacons of the future!” [COPP]

We first hear of boarding-schools in "The Naval Treaty," in which Watson mentions his fellow alumnus Percy Phelps, who needs Sherlock Holmes's help. And of course, the Priory School (from the adventure of the same name) is private boarding school of some note.

When did boarding-schools come to be? What changed in the legislation of England at the time that made education more of a thing? We explore the societal forces that came to bear on schools at the time.

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Victorian Schooling
Board Schools
Standards of Education from 1872
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Where Was the Shadow? May 29, 2019

“the calculation now was a simple one” [MUSG]

The questions in the Musgrave Ritual lead us to answers that are nearly as cryptic as the questions themselves. Among the questions was "Where was the shadow?" The answer, of course, is "Under the elm."

But how was Sherlock Holmes able to calculate the location of the object of the Musgrave Ritual, given the lack of an elm and the passing of over 200 years? It's one of the trifles in the Canon.

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French and Sherlock Holmes May 22, 2019

“an autograph letter of thanks from the French” [GOLD]

France and England have always had a close relationship, if contentious at times. Is it any small wonder that we find plenty of French influences in the Sherlock Holmes stories?

From quoting French philosophers to referencing French detectives and from earning French accolades and casually revealing French relatives, Sherlock Holmes was well versed with all things French. We investigate a few trifling examples.

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Ken Ludwig on IHOSE
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Odd Jobs May 15, 2019

“He could carve a bit and gild and frame, and do odd jobs.” [SIXN]

There were scores of jobs mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories, but we focus on some of the more trifling titles in this episode.

You've heard of doctors and lawyers and even consulting detectives as professions. But what about gamekeepers? Or yeggmen? Mendicants (amateur or otherwise), tide-waiters and an abbess await your inquiry as well.

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Episode 36 - Tradesmen in the Canon
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You've Got a Deal May 08, 2019

“I would not have missed it for a good deal” [BERY]

Eight episodes ago, we talked very specifically about a card game: whist. But we're aware that there's more to cards than whist, and there are additional references in the Sherlock Holmes Canon.

A brief review of a number of Sherlock Holmes stories will show "card playing" as well as one or two specifically named card games. Oh, and what about a card game specifically related to Sherlock Holmes? It's all here in Trifles.

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Poisons May 01, 2019

“less poisonous than one might expect” [BRUC]

From the very first Sherlock Holmes story, we're introduced to poisons and their role in crime and detective fiction. From there, it's a hopscotch of poisonings and poisons in the Canon.

From alkaloids to airborne toxins, we come across a variety of substances that cause harm, both intentionally and accidentally. What are they? Tune in and you may pick up a Trifle or two...

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Old Money Apr 24, 2019

“old coins, apparently” [MUSG]

This is National Coin Week, according to the American Numismatic Association. What better week to consider old money in the Sherlock Holmes stories?

The terminology and math can be confusing to us today. Quid? Sovereign? Shilling? How do these relate to each other and how much buying power did they have? Greg Ruby, BSI of The Fourth Garrideb put a bug in our ear and that became a Trifle...

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Sherlock Holmes and Australians Apr 17, 2019

“distinctly Australian” [BOSC]

To readers of the Sherlock Holmes stories in the late Victorian era, Australia was an exotic and dangerous place. It was not all that far removed from the days of transportation, when some criminals and the destitute were put on ships bound for the land Down Under.

Australia makes a number of appearances in the Canon. What do these have in common and what inferences can we make? These are but a Trifle...

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Hyde Park Barracks (Sydney)
Convict Sydney Exhibit
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 97: The Sydney Passengers
Trifles Episode 27 - Rebellion!

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Tennis, Anyone? Apr 10, 2019

“two on the lawn” [CROO]

Sherlock Holmes and tennis — they go together like...like... Well, we're here to tell you that while combining the great detective with a lawn sport is actually elementary.

There are a handful of passing references to this sport in the Canon, and pointing them out is merely a Trifle...

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History of Tennis
History of Tennis Shoes
Nicholas Meyer on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere

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Fool Me Once Apr 03, 2019

“we can't have tomfoolery of this kind” [FIVE]

The beginning of April dependably brings April Fools' Day. And while there weren't outright hi-jinks in the Sherlock Holmes stories, there were a fair share of instances where individuals were fooled.

You might think that it's Watson who's fooled frequently, but there were a number of times when Sherlock Holmes himself had the wool pulled over his eyes. We explore examples that add up to a little more than a Trifle...

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Who Then, Is Porlock? Mar 27, 2019

“It is Porlock's writing” [VALL]

The opening of The Valley of Fear introduced us to a mysterious individual: Porlock, who sent a cryptic note to Sherlock Holmes to warn him of doings afoot at Birlstone.

Sherlock Holmes didn't look into Porlock's identity too closely, but we do have a number of clues and inferences that may lead us to an identification. Or that may at least narrow things down a bit. It's just a Trifle...

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Irish and Sherlock Holmes Mar 20, 2019

“The dancing Irish deviltry” [VALL]

The Irish make scant appearances across the earlier Sherlock Holmes stories, but once we pass The Valley of Fear, it's as if Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's brogue has been released onto the pages.

We explore some of those instances — including the subtle and passing ones early on — and just how Sherlock Holmes found himself inside of an Irish secret society in America.

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The Adventure of the Stalwart Companion by H. Paul Jeffers

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Whist Mar 13, 2019

“the game was whist” [EMPT]

We continue our monthly investigation into Games and Sports in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and in this case, we turn our attention to a card game. Specifically, whist.

There aren't too many instances of card games in the Canon, but whist comes up a couple of times. How was it played? We discuss that, and something of a trifle with respect to the game of whist that was discovered in "The Devil's Foot."

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Whist (Wikipedia)
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
Let's Make a Deal (George Carlin)

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Poetry Mar 06, 2019

“volumes of poetry” [ENGR]

When we think of poetry, it's a style of writing that transports us, particularly emotionally, to another plane of existence. Poetry is like the rose over which Sherlock Holmes had a moment of reverie in "The Naval Treaty":

"But this rose is an extra. Its smell and its color are an embellishment of life, not a condition of it."

Holmes wasn't known for his poetic moments. In the story that proceeded the excerpt above ("The Greek Interpreter"), Holmes admonished Watson for projecting humility onto Holmes:

"To the logician all things should be seen exactly as they are, and to underestimate one’s self is as much a departure from truth as to exaggerate one’s own powers."

So there wasn't much room for poetry in the Sherlock Holmes stories. We manage to pick out a few of the finer points. They are, as usual, a Trifle...

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The Detective Who Will Never Die

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Villains: Grimesby Roylott Feb 27, 2019

“There has been some villainy here” [COPP]

A look at some of the villains in the Sherlock Holmes stories, beginning with the first real heavy that we encounter.

Sherlock Holmes said "When a doctor goes wrong, he is the first of criminals." And Dr. Grimesby Roylott did not disappoint: he killed a man and served hard time for it, had a temper, kept wild animals, associated with gypsies, and more. Perhaps it's just a bit more than a Trifle...

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Italians and Sherlock Holmes Feb 20, 2019

“Have we any Italians on the staff?” [SIXN]

Italians seem to surround us in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Restaurants, music, artisans, and of course criminals.

But Sherlock Holmes himself had some familiarity with Italy, both before and after his experience at the Reichenbach Falls. How far does this association with Italy go? Well, it's just a Trifle...

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Boxing Feb 13, 2019

“a straight left against a slogging ruffian” [SOLI]

Sherlock Holmes, boxer? We don't often consider Sherlock Holmes for his boxing abilities, yet Watson very clearly noted his talent in that field in the very first story.

But Holmes wasn't the only boxer in the Canon. We repeatedly see mentions of the sport made official by the Marquess of Queensbury, as both tangential mentions and more central parts of the stories. But we'll try to keep this discussion of boxers brief. After all, it is a Trifle...

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Governesses Feb 07, 2019

“glancing at the governess” [WIST]

They pop up here and there around the Canon quite infrequently. However, you can be sure that when a governess is featured in a Sherlock Holmes story, she's part of the plot.

What was this profession, and what did the ladies in these roles do? What was their station in life? We explore these questions, which shed light on why they might have found themselves in sticky situations from time to time in this episode of Trifles.

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Brands in the Canon Jan 30, 2019

“Look at this advertisement” [STUD]

For well over 100 years, Sherlock Holmes has been seen in advertisements around the world. The fact is: Sherlock Holmes sells. He's good for brands.

There are a number of instances of brands that were mentioned within the Sherlock Holmes stories themselves. What are they? Well, we enumerate them, plus provide a few "what-ifs" ourselves in this episode of Trifles.

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Germans and Sherlock Holmes Jan 23, 2019

“Who were these German people” [ENGR]

Sherlock Holmes had a number of encounters with German people. Who were they, and how did these interactions reflect on international relations at the time?

This is the first in a new series on Trifles focusing on international elements of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

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An Inspector Calls Jan 16, 2019

“the smartest of the Scotland Yarders” [SIGN]

If you ask anyone familiar with the Sherlock Holmes stories to name a Scotland Yard inspector, they'll invariably answer, "Inspector Lestrade."

But Sherlock Holmes had a healthy respect for a handful of other police inspectors, both from Scotland Yard and from the surrounding areas. Who were they, and in which stories did they appear?

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Board Games Jan 09, 2019

“to play games of that sort” [REIG]

This marks the first in a semi-regular series on Trifles in which we spend time talking about sports and games in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

In this episode, we look specifically at board games that were mentioned in the Canon and discuss their history and origins.

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Beards in the Canon Jan 02, 2019

“the tall, black-bearded figure” [HOUN]

We begin our third season with a discussion of facial hair in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Specifically, beards. That's right, hipsters: you've got company. Very, very old company.

Interestingly, we found that many of the more famous bearded characters in the stories shared a similar character trait. Just what was it? It's just a trifle, but you'll have to tune in to find out.

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E.J. Wagner in I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere: Episode 159
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Sherlock Holmes's Dining Habits Dec 26, 2018

“he had invariably breakfasted and gone out before I rose” [STUD]

The holidays typically bring a bounty of food, followed by solemn pledges to exercise and take better care of ourselves in the new year.

What do we know about Sherlock Holmes and his eating habits? He was thin, but did that mean he didn't have an appreciation for food? From fast food to fine dining, Sherlock Holmes displayed a wide range of culinary appreciation. And it's our topic for the final episode of Trifles for 2018.

Do you have any special requests for 2019? Let us know what additional topics you'd like us to discuss in the coming year.

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Unpublished Cases: A Very Commonplace Little Murder Dec 19, 2018

“if it turns red, it means a man's life” [NAVA]

We often fixate on the famous cases like the Giant Rat of Sumatra, James Phillimore and his umbrella, or Wilson, the notorious canary trainer. But there are times when some trifling detail escapes our notice.

In this, the final episode of our Unpublished Cases series, we look at the tiniest bit of detail around a chemistry experiment that had to do with a man's life in the balance...

And we need your help for 2019! Let us know what additional topics you'd like us to discuss.

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Inside 221B: On the Floor Dec 12, 2018

“he slipped down upon the floor” [PRIO]

It's not often that we have our eyes cast downward at 221B Baker Street. There are so many interesting things to see at eye-level: the Persian slipper, the chemistry set, the patriotic 'VR' on the wall. But there were floor coverings in the famous flat.

In this, the final episode of our Inside 221B series, we look at what was on the floor and the care that must have gone into them. They are just a Trifle...

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You're So Hansom Dec 05, 2018

“In the morning you will send for a hansom” [FINA]

The Sherlock Holmes canon is a wonderful snapshot of the times. In particular, we get a good sense of the kinds of transportation that conveyed citizens around London and its environs.

The hansom cab is probably the most well-known, but there are a number of other types of horse-drawn vehicles that we find in the stories. What are they? Well, it's just a Trifle.

And we need your help for 2019! Let us know what additional topics you'd like us to discuss.

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Hansom cab
Four-wheeler / Clarence
Transport and Carriages in the Victorian Era

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Telephonically, My Dear Holmes Nov 28, 2018

“Did you tell him of our telephone appointment?” [3GAR]

From the Gramophone to the telephone, November seems to be quite the month of technology here on Trifles.

Yes, even though Holmes did most of his work in the late 19th century, there were opportunities to use the newfangled voice-to-voice communications device known as the telephone. We explore just when and where, as well as certain supporting clues.

And we need your help for 2019! Let us know what additional topics you'd like us to discuss.

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Unpublished Cases: The Ferrers Documents Nov 21, 2018

“I am retained in this case of the Ferrers Documents” [PRIO]

The arrival of Dr. Thorneycroft Huxtable on the doorstep (and hearth rug!) of 221B Baker Street was dramatic. He collapsed like a beached whale, and Sherlock Holmes was able to infer a great deal about the reason for his visit.

And yet, Holmes gave an excuse for potentially turning down the case: he was involved with the Ferrers Documents. We're not told what that is, but we think it may just be a Trifle...

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Les Klinger on Episode 155 of I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
The Alternative Sherlock Holmes: Pastiches, Parodies and Copies by Peter Ridgway Watt and Joseph Green

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Inside 221B: The Gramophone Nov 14, 2018

“modern gramophones are a remarkable invention” [MAZA]

When you glance across the Sherlock Holmes stories, there really aren't that many instances of children. Some of the tales are just not suitable for little ears, after all.

But there were key instances in which children played a vital role in the plot or moving the action forward. We explore some of those, as well as the warning signs that you might want to spend a little more (or less) time with the young ones. It is just a Trifle...

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Trifles Episode 80

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Sherlock Holmes and Children Nov 08, 2018

“Children, my dear boy, children.” [GREE]

When you glance across the Sherlock Holmes stories, there really aren't that many instances of children. Some of the tales are just not suitable for little ears, after all.

But there were key instances in which children played a vital role in the plot or moving the action forward. We explore some of those, as well as the warning signs that you might want to spend a little more (or less) time with the young ones. It is just a Trifle...

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The Four Stages of Cruelty - William Hogarth

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Trick or Treat Oct 31, 2018

"Disguised, and under an assumed name" [STUD]

Sherlock Holmes was a master of disguises. They allowed him to infiltrate areas that would have otherwise been off-limits or situations in which he would have been discovered.

What were some of the incarnations he undertook? Can you remember the four named aliases he assumed? It is just a Trifle...

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Woof Oct 24, 2018

"a small monograph upon the uses of dogs in the work of the detective" [CREE]

There are a handful of dogs sprinkled throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories. And while a few of them are used in a traditional police-tracking way, the great detective found other uses for them.

Whether friendly, hostile, or just plain silent, dogs were vital to helping Sherlock Holmes solve some of his cases. It's just a Trifle...

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Unpublished Cases: John Vincent Harden Oct 17, 2018

"the peculiar persecution of John Vincent Harden" [SOLI]

The famous year of 1895 holds many wonders. Many of the cases in The Return of Sherlock Holmes took place in this year, and as you would imagine, many of the untold tales are mentioned during that timeframe.

And it would seem that if one has three names — John Hector McFarlane, John Scott Eccles, or in this case John Vincent Harden — there's some dirty work afoot. How is it that a tobacco millionaire can come to be persecuted in a peculiar way? It's just a Trifle...

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Sherlock Holmes: The Peculiar Persecution of John Vincent Harden by Dan Andriacco
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 141: Baker Street Beat

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Inside 221B: Have a Seat Oct 10, 2018

"Pray take a seat" [MAZA]

As we glance around the sitting room at 221B Baker Street, the famous lodgings of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, there's no lack of seating. In fact, one might have the pick of any number of seating styles.

From armchair to basket chair, settees to sofas, we explore the seating arrangements found in Sherlock Holmes's flat. We discuss who sat where and when, and how one particular chair gave away a criminal. These are just Trifles...

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Wessex Press
Archie and Edith Bunker's chairs at the American History Museum
Christopher Morley: Minty's Varsity Chair
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 153: The Rooms at 221B Baker Street

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Telegrams Oct 03, 2018

"he could send some telegrams" [PRIO]

"My correspondence certainly has the charm of variety," said Sherlock Holmes in "The Noble Bachelor." He could have been easily referring to the medium as well as the message. For Holmes was an inveterate sender and receiver of telegrams. What was the messaging industry like in those days? And why did Holmes have Watson read his correspondence to him from time to time? That's what we explore in this episode of Trifles.

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How Insulting Sep 26, 2018

"either a very bad joke or an insult" [SILV]

We occasionally hear "Mr. Cocksure" and "jack-in-office" thrown about as epithets in the Sherlock Holmes stories. But by and large, there is very little profanity in these Victorian and early Edwardian detective tales.

But Sherlock Holmes manages to insult and put down some of his rivals, in a decidedly cool and casual way. Explore the sometimes harsh language that was meant to insult in this episode of Trifles.

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Unpublished Cases: On the Continent Sep 20, 2018

"come on to the Continent with me" [FINA]

Watson occasionally accompanied Sherlock Holmes onto the Continent (i.e., Europe), but there were many other instances when Holmes's work took him there without Watson. And we, along with Watson, were later treated to tantalizing hints as to what happened.

What were some of these places and what were the untold and exotic tales that Sherlock Holmes was involved with? They are the topic of this episode of Trifles.

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Episode 66: Sherlock Holmes's Honorifics
The Alternative Sherlock Holmes: Pastiches, Parodies, and Copies
The Island of Uffa identification by James O'Leary via Doyleockian

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Inside 221B: Stradivarius Sep 13, 2018

"off to violin-land, where all is sweetness and delicacy and harmony" [REDH]

One of the most off-hand but arresting comments that Sherlock Holmes made was that he owned a Stradivarius violin. That he had purchased for a mere 55 shillings!

What do we know of Stradivarius instruments, and about Holmes's own ability on the violin?

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Stradivarius (Wikpedia)
The tale of Roman Totenberg's stolen Stradivarius (NPR)
Top image via the Falk Archive - KFA

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Doctors in the Canon Sep 05, 2018

"when a doctor does go wrong, he is the first of criminals" [SPEC]

The Sherlock Holmes stories are told from the perspective of a doctor. So it only stands to reason that he would notice other medical men throughout his adventures with the great detective.

As we look at doctors across the Canon, we find heroes, villains, suspects, victims, clients and more. This episode takes a closer look at who some of these medical types were, and what roles they played in the plots.

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Sherlock Holmes Reference Library: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
William Palmer
Edward Pritcher

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The Good Doctor Aug 29, 2018

"the good doctor took us to the yew alley" [HOUN]

John H. Watson, M.D., late of the Army Medical Department, had a number of medical practices throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories. He waffled between being a flat-sharing colleague of Holmes and a doctor with his own thriving practice.

From Paddington to Queen Anne Street, we follow Watson's rise. But what of his methods? Did he dispense reasonable medical care of the age? Or was he too far removed from the practice of medicine by the time he took on his own practice in the mid- to late-Eighties?

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Wine & Spirits Aug 22, 2018

"any other spirit but rum" [BLAC]

We're accustomed to thinking about Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson being associated with whiskey and brandy. But there are plenty of other kinds of alcohol in the Canon.

More than the infamous Imperial Tokay of "His Last Bow," or the ancient and cobwebby bottles, there are some curious references to wine and spirits that warrant your attention. Even if they're a trifle.

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Unpublished Cases: The Sign of Four Aug 16, 2018

"I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs. Cecil Forrester" [SIGN]

We know what you're thinking: The Sign of Four wasn't an unpublished case. You, as a Trifles listener, are very astute. We should have expected nothing less.

However, within The Sign of Four, we do have a glimpse of a number of unpublished cases: including one with Mrs. Cecil Forrester, with whom Mary Morstan lives in Camberwell. Could this be a connection to a later case mentioned in "The Adventure of the Five Orange Pips"? Or perhaps it's a reference to "the most winning woman" Holmes ever knew, who is also mentioned in The Sign of Four? These trifles await your consideration.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles85

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Inside 221B: The Morocco Case Aug 08, 2018

"neat morocco case" [SIGN]

We all know that Sherlock Holmes used drugs. "A seven-per-cent solution" of cocaine is what he recommended to Watson in The Sign of Four.

But in the prelude to that, we're told that Holmes took "his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case." This case must have graced the interior of 221B Baker Street. But just what is it? And what do we really know of Holmes's drug mania?

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles84
Morocco leather

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 83 - Smoke If You Got 'Em Aug 01, 2018

"I trust you have no objection to tobacco smoke" [SIGN]

Sherlock Holmes is probably the most famous smoker in the world. But in popular culture, he's always pictured with a pipe. The Canon tells us that he also smoked cigars and cigarettes.

What was the frequency with which he smoked each? Did he tend to favor one form of smoking over another? And was there something that cause him to choose a pipe versus a cigarette versus a cigar? Step into the smoking room with us as we investigate.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles83
The eBSJ

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 82 - Sherlock Holmes's Underground Network Jul 25, 2018

"the irregulars are useful sometimes" [RETI]

Homeless children. A gossip columnist. A dog. What do all of these have in common? They're part of the underground network of helpers that Sherlock Holmes cobbled together.

With these individuals and more, Holmes was able to fan out across the great metropolis and gather information that helped him solve his cases. And they're the subject of this week's Trifles episode.

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Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 81 - Unpublished Cases: Holmes's Early Clients Jul 18, 2018

"before my biographer had come to glorify me." [MUSG]

We've previously covered the tantalizing cases that Sherlock Holmes pulled out of his tin box. This time, we spend time thinking about some of his other clients before he met Dr. Watson.

There's one we know by name, but the speculation begins fairly early on, as we try to use Holmes's methods to determine who some of his other clients might have been in those first years of his consultancy.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles81
Tit-Bits (Wikipedia)
Sherlock Holmes at Oxford by Nick Utechin (2nd edition 1981)
"The Adventure of the Clapham Cook" by Agatha Christie

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 80 - Inside 221B: The Wax Bust Jul 12, 2018

"a wax-coloured model of my old friend" [EMPT]

One of the handiest items found at 221B Baker Street has to be the wax bust of Sherlock Holmes. More than once it played a role as a decoy for Sherlock Holmes.

But when did Holmes commission it and how did it get to Baker Street? And was it even the same bust between the two tales? These questions and more await in the latest edition of Trifles.

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Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 79 - Umbrellas in the Canon Jul 04, 2018

"the streaming umbrella" [FIVE]

London is supposed to be a decidedly rainy place. The place where one might expect to find an umbrella or two carried about.

But only a handful of stories of Sherlock Holmes included the mention of umbrellas, galoshes, waterproofs or other rain gear. We investigate the trifling matter of the few umbrellas in the Canon.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles79
Episode 60 - Unpublished Cases: James Phillimore
Fox Umbrellas (London)

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 78 - Where Are They Now? Inspector Gregson Jun 27, 2018

"the smartest of the Scotland Yarders" [STUD]

When you think of a Scotland Yard inspector in the Sherlock Holmes stories, odds are your thoughts immediately go to Inspector Lestrade. He makes the most appearances in stories and certainly gets the most name recognition, in part thanks to Dennis Hoey's portrayal of the bumbling but capable policeman.

But what about good old Inspector Gregson, who appeared alongside Lestrade in the very first Sherlock Holmes story? He manages to make a number of appearances, but doesn't rise to the same level of household awareness. We look at his trifling (and non-trifling) appearances in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles78

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 77 - Unpublished Cases: Holmes's Tin Box Jun 20, 2018

"pulling a large tin box behind him" [MUSG]

We're accustomed to referring to Watson's famous tin box, held in the vaults of Cox & Co. Inside were contents that we were not meant to see: heretofore unseen tales of Sherlock Holmes.

But Holmes himself was in possession of his own tin box, and boy did it contain a few surprises. We take an inventory and surmise what some of the contents meant.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles77

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 76 - Inside 221B: Destructive Habits Jun 13, 2018

"a shocking habit,—destructive" [SIGN]

It's June, which is the month of the Queen's birthday. What a perfect time to look at the "patriotic V.R." that Sherlock Holmes adorned the wall of 221B Baker Street with.

But Sherlock Holmes didn't stop there. He had some other habits that were rather destructive when it came to his rooms. What were they and why did Holmes do that? We discuss these in the latest episode of Trifles.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles76

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 75 - Nummi in Arca, or The Fiscal Holmes Jun 06, 2018

"I pocket my fee" [STUD]

How much money did Sherlock Holmes make from his clients? And when did he begin making money?

We went back to an early piece of Sherlockian scholarship by Robert Keith Leavitt, first published in Vincent Starrett's 221B: Studies in Sherlock Holmes for inspiration. We run through Leavitt's assessment, commenting on certain cases and even finding a few points where we disagree with his analysis.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles75
"Nummi in Arca, or The Fiscal Holmes" by Robert Keith Leavitt, as originally appeared in 221B: Studies in Sherlock Holmes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 74: The Administrative Side of Baker Street May 30, 2018

"Bring me the books" [BLUE]

Sherlock Holmes was a consultant—or more properly, a consulting detective—but he was a consultant, nonetheless. And consultants need clients, who in turn pay the bills.

But have you ever stopped to think about how Holmes went about collecting his fees? We don't know anything about his fees, other than a handful of high profile cases with rewards, and that (he says) he didn't vary them save for when he remitted them altogether.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles74
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 140: Sherlock Holmes and the Elusive Ear

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 73 - Myths in the Canon May 23, 2018

"I could easily dispose of the mythical" [SILV] There are assumptions and myths mentioned throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories. Whether they're believed by clients, Scotland Yard inspectors, or others, they throw our attention elsewhere. And the Sherlockian world has had its own fair share of myths to deal with over the years as well. Join us as we try to identify and bust a few myths. Have you left us a rating and review on the podcast player of your choice yet? We could really use your help. Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles73
A Scintillation of Scions
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 52: Sherlockian Mythbusters

Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 72 - Unpublished Cases: The Abernetty Family May 16, 2018

"the dreadful affair of the Abernetty family" [SIXN]

Among the published cases, there are a handful that can be identified by a simple reference. If we said "a tale for which the world is not yet prepared," you'd say the Giant Rat of Sumatra.

Similarly, if we mention "the depth to which the butter had sunk on a hot day," you'd think of the Abernetty family, as mentioned in the opening of "The Six Napoleons." But what was going on there? And what have scholars said about it over the years?

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles72
"The Adventure of the Six Napoleons"
Sherlock Holmes of Baker Street by William S. Baring-Gould
Parsely (Wikipedia)

Credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 71 - Inside 221B: Where There's Smoke May 09, 2018

"put that in your pipe and smoke it, Mr. Busybody Holmes!" [SOLI]

Sherlock Holmes is possibly the most famous smoker in literature. But more than his ubiquitous pipe, his manner of supporting his habit within his rooms at 221B Baker Street was a bit odd, shall we say.

From his placement of cigars and tobacco, to what he did with his pipe remnants, the trimmings around his flat were quite unique, if trifling.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles71
Our other show: I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
My Lady Nicotine by J.M. Barrie
Dunhill tobacco

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 70 - The Worst Parents in the Canon May 02, 2018

" insight into the character of parents" [COPP]

We're coming up on Mother's Day in the United States, and that made us think about parents. We've covered mothers in the Canon discussed alternative parents in previous episodes.

But now let's take a look at the most corrosive parental relationships in the Sherlock Holmes stories. After reading Jenn Eaker's article on "A Case of Identity" in the Autumn 2017 issue of The Baker Street Journal, we thought a look at the top 5 worst parents would be in order. In this episode, we go from bad to worst.

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Links / Notes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 69 - Occupations in the Canon, Part 1 Apr 25, 2018

"Does it not strike you as a strange occupation" [RETI]

In the 60 tales that comprise the complete Sherlock Holmes stories, we come across a variety of jobs. Certainly there are the garden variety: cab drivers, butlers, governesses. But what about the more rare?

Sherlock Holmes billed himself as the world's only unofficial consulting detective, but he interacted with people whose jobs were out of the ordinary - at least by today's standards. So we decided to spend some time talking about what some of these occupations were.

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Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 68 - Unpublished Cases: See What V Has to Say Apr 18, 2018

"see what V has to say" [SUSS]

Among the cases that Watson tantalizingly dangles before us, "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire" offers the Matilda Briggs and the giant rat of Sumatra (one of the tales we mentioned in Episode 55 concerning Weird Animals), one of the most famous of the untold adventures.

But it also offers up a handful of others in quick succession, coming from the 'V' volume of Sherlock Holmes's index, rather than from the tin box mentioned in "Thor Bridge," and they are worthy of discussion. Along the way, we question why some of these cases find their way into this volume.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles68
"The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 67 - Inside 221B: Chemistry Apr 12, 2018

"abstruse chemical analysis" [SIGN]

Along with the deerstalker, Inverness cloak, magnifying glass and curved pipe, Sherlock Holmes is most often associated with chemistry – chemical compounds as well as chemistry equipment.

In this installment of our Inside 221B series, we take a look at Sherlock Holmes's experience with chemistry and other laboratory setups we encounter in the stories.

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Links / Notes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 66 - Sherlock Holmes's Honorifics Apr 04, 2018

"I was overwhelmed by the honour" [BERY]

Sherlock Holmes was a well-known public figure. But he was also a known and sought-after expert specifically by other well-known public figures and entities.

Which notable public figures sought and received Holmes's services and then bestowed upon him some gift other than cash?

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles66
The Legion of Honor

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 65 - Time Marches On Mar 28, 2018

"I heard you marching about" [SIGN]

From the first cricket match in England in 1877 to the wireless mentioned in 1914, there are numerous things connected to Sherlock Holmes that happened in the month of March.

As the month draws to a close, we reflect on happenings historical and Canonical. Let's see if our bluster lives up to the weather this month is known for.

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Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 64 - Unpublished Cases: The Amateur Mendicant Society Mar 21, 2018

"two rather leprous mendicants" [ILLU]

When Watson glances across his notes and teases us with adventures that he and Sherlock Holmes have experienced, but only gives us a topic with only the barest of details, it makes us wonder exactly what happened.

So is the case in this episode as we talk about the Amateur Mendicant Society and its rather unique meeting location — which in this case coincides with a real-life Sherlock Holmes society.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles64
"The Adventure of the Five Orange Pips"
Mendicant (Wikipedia)
The Amateur Mendicant Society of Detroit

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

--

Episode 63 - Inside 221B: Drink Up! Mar 14, 2018

"as we sat over a glass of whisky and soda in Baker Street" [REDH]

Step into the sitting room at 221B Baker Street with us again and look around, as we take in the sights, smells and sounds within that most famous of addresses.

This time, we investigate the physical elements that accompany alcoholic drinks within the walls of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson's abode. Namely: the gasogene and tantalus. We explore the origins of those phrases and discuss them in detail.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles63
Tantalus (spirit case)
Tantalus (Greek god)
Gasogene
"A little song, a little dance..."
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 132: Unquiet Spirits (Bonnie MacBird)

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 62 - Reference Sources Mar 08, 2018

"a line of books of reference beside the mantelpiece" [NOBL]

In Episode 58, we discussed Sherlock Holmes's index books – those collections in which he tracked criminal cases, looked up necessary trivia, etc. But this time, we reach a little deeper and discuss some of the actual named reference books at 221B Baker Street.

Which publications were these and how did they help Holmes and Watson connect the dots and solve some cases? It's a trifle, certainly, but there's nothing so important as trifles.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles62
"The Noble Bachelor"
"The Red Headed League"
"The Five Orange Pips"
The Valley of Fear
"The Copper Beeches"
"The Retired Colourman"
"Shoscombe Old Place"
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 54: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Image credit: Special Collections Toronto Public Library (Flickr)

--

Episode 61 - John Watson, Ladies Man Feb 28, 2018

"Now Watson, the fair sex is your department." [SECO]

John Watson knew women; Holmes tells us so. And Watson certainly tells us so, in his admiration of Mary Morstan as well as his description of some of the leading ladies of the Canon. He also told us outright in The Sign of Four that he's managed to get around:

"In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents..."

But three? We know for certain he's been to Europe an Asia. But which of the other five might be the one to round out Watson's travels? We investigate the lively love life of Dr. John H. Watson, MD.

Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles61
The Private Life of Dr. Watson
"Watson Was a Woman"
"That Was No Lady" ("Nuts to Rex Stout")
They Might be Giants

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

--

Episode 60 - Unpublished Cases: James Phillimore Feb 21, 2018

"never more seen in this world" [THOR]

In "The Problem of Thor Bridge," Watson treats us to a tantalizing look at the possibilities that lie before us as readers:

"Somewhere in the vaults of the bank of Cox and Co., at Charing Cross, there is a travelworn and battered tin dispatch-box with my name, John H. Watson, M.D., Late Indian Army, painted upon the lid. It is crammed with papers, nearly all of which are records of cases to illustrate the curious problems which Mr. Sherlock Holmes had at various times to examine."

Possibly one of the most intriguing of the untold tales was "that of Mr. James Phillimore, who, stepping back into his own house to get his umbrella, was never more seen in this world," as the setup was so stark, so mysterious, and so final.

What are some possible explanations of what happened? And how does this untold tale rank among the many that were mentioned? In this latest episode in our Unpublished Cases series, we delve into the rich history of the strange disappearance of James Phillimore.

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Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles60
"The Problem of Thor Bridge"
The Best Untold Tales of Sherlock Holmes compiled by Randall Stock
The Alternative Sherlock Holmes: Pastiches, Parodies and Copies
BBC Sherlock tie-in
The Disappearance of Mr. James Phillimore by Dan Andriacco

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

--

Episode 59 - Inside 221B: On the Wall Feb 14, 2018

"applying his tape to the walls" [STUD]

There's quite a bit we know about the inner sanctum of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson at 221B Baker Street. The cozy sitting room with its fireplace and windows at once beckons us in to look around.

Upon glancing at the walls, though: what do we see? Is it typical of Victorian bachelor decor? Or is there hidden meaning behind any of the wall hangings? We investigate the trifling matter of the walls of the sitting room at 221B.

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This episode: ihose.co/trifles59
"The Cardboard Box"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

--

Episode 58 - Sherlock Holmes's Index Feb 07, 2018

"Good old index. You can't beat it." [SUSS]

Sherlock Holmes had quite the index. We get glimpses of it in use at various times throughout the Canon, from a biographical reference to a logging of crime. Was Holmes's index a single large volume, or many smaller volumes? Was it hardbound or simply an assembly of files?

And it never quite seemed like it was organized in a sensible way. How did Holmes manage to call to mind whatever he needed to find in this index?

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Show notes available at ihose.co/trifles58

Music: Beethoven's Violin Concerto performed by the US Marine Chamber Orchestra, public domain.

Episode 57 - Coffee, Tea, or 221B? Jan 31, 2018

"Mrs. Hudson entered with the tea and coffee" [NAVA]

When it comes to British mysteries, tea is like aqua vitae. It's a given that it's part of the scenery. And of course we do come across tea a number of times in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

But have you ever taken a tally of how many times we witness tea being served versus coffee? Or of the therapeutic uses of either? Grab a cup (or a cuppa) and pull up a chair - we're about to have a coffee klatch on Trifles.

Or as one entertainer might put it: Sherlockians in Cars Getting Coffee. Or is it tea?

Links / Notes

This episode: ihose.co/trifles57
A Cup of Coffee, a Sandwich, and You

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 56 - The Hudsons Jan 24, 2018

"it is surely Hudson" [GLOR]

One of the most enduring figures of the Canon after Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson, Mycroft Holmes and Inspector Lestrade is Mrs. Hudson. We know a little about her, but how did she happen to become the landlady of 221B Baker Street? And what were the "princely" rent payments that Holmes made?

As we make our way across the Sherlock Holmes stories, we do come across one or two other Hudsons as well. What is their relationship to the landlady? These questions await your attention in the latest episode of Trifles.

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Links / Notes

How Much Do We Really Know About Mrs. Hudson?

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 55 - Unpublished Cases: Weird Animals Jan 17, 2018

"it is a nice household" [SPEC]

We've got another recurring feature for you here on Trifles: seeing as there were so many unpublished cases that Watson mentioned, we find that there are plenty of trifles to discuss with regard to those. We're calling this series of episodes Unpublished Cases and we'll regularly revisit the topic.

When we glance across a number of such cases that Watson mentioned in stories like "The Sussex Vampire," "The Problem of Thor Bridge," "The Golden Pince-Nez," "Black Peter," and "The Veiled Lodger," we find some unusual animals mentioned — animals that would not commonly be found in the home or on the farm. Just what are some of these species?

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Links / Notes

The giant rat of Sumatra
The Sherlock Holmes International Exhibition
The Canary Trainer by Nicholas Meyer

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 54 - Inside 221B: On the Sideboard Jan 10, 2018

"upon the sideboard" [BERY]

In this episode of Trifles, we're starting what will become a recurring feature over the course of a few episodes: namely, we're looking at some of the things you'll find in Sherlock Holmes's sitting room at 221B Baker Street. We're calling the series Inside 221B.

The sideboard makes a number of appearances in the Canon, and serves as a solemn but essential member of the Baker Street set as it features beef and fowl, drinks and related accouterments, and as a resting place for various objects. But just what is a sideboard and in which stories do we find it?

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Links / Notes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Compounding a Felony Jan 03, 2018

"compound a felony as usual." [3GAB]

Welcome to Season 2 of Trifles. We'll be working through some of the questions we ask in our show introductions this season, including a number of recurring themes. We hope you'll subscribe.

In Episode 48 ("Gotcha!") we discussed times when Sherlock Holmes caught his criminal red-handed, dead to rights. But what about the times that he caught criminals but let them go?

Was it solely his strong sense of right and wrong that caused Holmes to allow them to go free? Or was he simply disdainful of the official police? And what was it that he was doing with regard to felonies - compounding, commuting, or condoning? It's just a Trifle.

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Links / Notes

The Hero's Journey
A Sherlock Holmes Handbook by Christopher Redmond
The Encyclopedia Sherlockiana by Jack Tracy

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 52 - The Second Morning After Christmas Dec 27, 2017

"compliments of the season" [BLUE]

"The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle" is one of the more well-known stories in the Canon. And yet we're presented with a few trifling issues, including the color of the gem.

But beyond that, we have a victim and perpetrators who didn't seem to have thought through things to their logical conclusion. How else can we factor in the use of poultry as a hiding place? And animal anatomy lessons indicate that that place didn't even exist...

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Links / Notes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 51 - Peace in the Canon Dec 20, 2017

"there was peace in our hearts" [SIGN]

Peace in the canon. Reading the Sherlock Holmes stories to find peace is something like going to Casablanca for the water.

"But there are no waters in Casablanca."

"I was misinformed."

Regardless, during this season of peace, we reflect on moments — even if they're glimpses — of bucolic, peaceful moments we find scattered throughout the Sherlock Holmes canon. They're there, if you look for them — trifling as they may be.

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Links / Notes

Christmas Peace (Wikipedia)

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 50 - The Agony Column Dec 13, 2017

"what a chorus of groans, cries and bleatings" [REDC]

Agony column. Agony column? To the modern reader, that term might be unfamiliar. Well, at least it would be unfamiliar with the reader who is new to the Sherlock Holmes stories. The first time we come across Holmes using the agony column is in The Sign of Four when he advertised for the Aurora in the agony column of the Standard.

Holmes regularly used newspaper classified ads and personal columns to track down criminals and surface clues. But just what is an agony column, how did it help Sherlock Holmes, and in which stories did he and others find a use for it?

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Links / Notes

Stories mentioned in this episode: A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, "The Engineer's Thumb," "The Noble Bachelor," "The Red Circle," "The Bruce-Partington Plans"
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: A Textbook of Friendship by Christopher Morley
The Agony Column of The Times: 1800-1881, edited by Alice Clay, London: Chatto & Windus, 1881

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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Episode 49 - Sherlock Holmes and Rugby Dec 06, 2017

"You have a grand gift of silence, Watson" [TWIS]

When Cyril Overton sent a telegram to Sherlock Holmes, proclaiming the status of Godfrey Staunton, it was met with puzzlement. And even after Overton arrived at Baker Street, Holmes was still puzzled. We know that he had his "limits," based on Watson's famous list from A Study in Scarlet.

But Watson sat in silence as Holmes twisted in the wind, his ignorance of popular rugby laid bare. Why was this? Was it for the sake of his readers, or did Watson have other intentions in mind?

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Links / Notes

"The Missing Three-Quarter"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 48 - Gotcha! Nov 29, 2017

"you have been caught in the act" [BERY]

One of the general bits of enjoyment of the Sherlock Holmes stories is the denouement in which Sherlock Holmes apprehends the criminal. In some instances, he does so after the crime has been committed; in other instances, no crime has been committed.

But what about those delicious times when the criminals are caught in the act? Or even better, those instances when they greeted with sweet, swift justice. It's just a Trifle.

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Links / Notes

"The Dying Detective"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 47 - Happy Families Nov 22, 2017

"to mar the contentment of their family life" [VALL]

Family. For many, it's a part of the holiday season. And with Thanksgiving coming up tomorrow in the United States, it's a perfect opportunity to reflect on families in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

And in doing so, we come to a rather sad conclusion: that many of the families in the Canon were not happy ones at all. Just what was it about these familial situations that caused things to go awry? We explore that question in this episode of Trifles.

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Links / Notes

I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 58: Thankful for Sherlock Holmes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Episode 46 - A History of Pince-Nez Nov 15, 2017

"observing the dint of a pince-nez" [IDEN]

For many of us, the first time we encounter the word "pince-nez" is in the Sherlock Holmes stories. But for many of us, we very likely saw pince-nez on characters in movies, cartoons or the theater before we knew exactly what they were called.

Mentioned in three separate stories (do you know which three?), the eyewear is most closely associated with the adventure that contains its name. But what about the history of these peculiar glasses? We explore the various forms of pince-nez and how Sherlock Holmes came to make his deductions from a pair.

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Links / Notes

Pince-nez (Wikipedia)
"The Golden Pince-Nez"
Colonel Ross in a monocle in "Silver Blaze"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

45 - Military Morality Nov 08, 2017

"his military challenge" [STUD]

November 11 marks Veterans Day in the United States, when we honor our men and women who have served in the military. From the very first Sherlock Holmes story, we're exposed to the military: A Study in Scarlet opens with "(Being a reprint from the reminiscences of John H. Watson, M.D., late of the Army Medical Department.)"

And from there, we find other members of the military who make questionable decisions in their lives. We explore some of the more notable cases, and we give you a trivia question that might possibly stump your Sherlockian friends at your next meeting.

Links / Notes

A Study in Scarlet
The Sign of Four
"The Crooked Man"
"The Empty House"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

--

44 - The Supernatural Nov 01, 2017

"The world is big enough for us." [SUSS]

With Halloween just behind us, it's natural to reflect on the supernatural. The Hound of the Baskervilles and "The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire" loom large in our consciousness as stories whose central premise was focused on spectral occurrences.

But what of other references? And of the most curious case of all: Arthur Conan Doyle's belief in otherworldly things (such as spiritualism) juxtaposed with his most famous creation, who was steeped in facts and logic.

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And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links / Notes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

--

43 - Sherlock Holmes's Monographs Oct 25, 2017

"Why do you not write them yourself?" [ABBE]

Aside from the untold tales which are hinted at occasionally by Watson, the most intriguing writings in the Canon are those penned by Sherlock Holmes himself. We of course refer to his famous monographs.

In his earliest published cases, Holmes himself admits "in fact, I have written a monograph on the subject" [STUD] and "I have been guilty of several monographs" [SIGN], seemingly qualifying himself in the good doctor's (and our) eyes.

How many monographs were there and what were they? We sum them up and categorize them, with the help of T.S. Blakeney and S.C. Roberts.

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Links / Notes

Sherlock Holmes: Fact or Fiction by T.S. Blakeney (1932, John Murray)
Dr. Watson by S.C. Roberts (1931, Faber & Faber)

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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42 - A Noble Supper Oct 18, 2017

"a quite epicurean little cold supper" [NOBL]

In "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor," Lord Robert St. Simon assumed that Holmes was going up in the world by taking him on as a client; Holmes replied that he was actually descending, as his previous client was something of a king. But it was still a royal feast set out at 221B Baker Street for Lord Robert and the assembled guests.

Just what was in that supper for five, and what did it say about Holmes and his guests?

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Links / Notes

"The Noble Bachelor"
"221B Baker Street: Certain Physical Details" by Paul McPharlin, The Baker Street Journal, Vol. 2, No. 2 (OS) 1947, pp. 180-194
Dining with Sherlock Holmes by Julia Carlson Rosenblatt and Fritz Sonnenschmidt
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 103: Al & Julie Rosenblatt

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

--

41 - Great Voyages Oct 11, 2017

"several successful voyages" [BLAC]

The second week of October marks the remembrance of Christopher Columbus in the U.S.. Long thought to be the individual who "discovered" America, we've come to understand that claim to be overblown and his tendencies less than flawless.

Still, he was a brave voyager. What about some of the great voyages we know that took place in the Sherlock Holmes stories? From traversing the Atlantic and Indian oceans to travel to the deepest regions of Africa, we find ourselves among adventurers, tourists and immigrants alike.

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Links

Queen Mary 2
IHOSE Episode 122: Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce
A Study in Scarlet
"The Gloria Scott"
Trifles Episode 27 - Rebellion!
"The Priory School"
"The Devil's Foot"
"The Sussex Vampire"
"The Empty House"
"His Last Bow"
Sherlock Holmes and the Titanic Tragedy by William Seil

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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40 - Who Was Sarasate? Oct 04, 2017

"Sarasate plays at St. James's Hall this afternoon" [REDH] We know Sherlock Holmes enjoyed music. From his own violin playing to a few mentions of concerts he attended, he often escaped from the woes of the world and the problems he was trying to solve through music. In "The Adventure of the Red Headed League," he says "Sarasate plays at St. James's Hall this afternoon," and he and Watson make their way to the concert, where Holmes clearly enjoyed himself, "wrapped in the most perfect happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the music." But what do we know about Sarasate? Who was this performer who was able to distract Holmes for a few hours? Have you left us a rating and review on the podcast player of your choice yet? We could really use your help. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal. Links

Pablo de Sarasate (Wikipedia)
Anthony Burgess's Murder to Music
A recording of Sarasate playing Zigeunerweisen from 1904 in Paris

Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 --

39 - The KKK of The Five Orange Pips Sep 27, 2017

"this terrible secret society" [FIVE]

The Ku Klux Klan famously plays a role in "The Adventure of the Five Orange Pips." To British audiences, the 'K.K.K.' note would have seemed mysterious - something along the lines of a Dancing Men code. But to American audiences, it was a known entity.

The KKK was a secret society founded in the southern United States following the Civil War, which committed many outrages. But the KKK as portrayed in this particular Sherlock Holmes story: was it true to life? Or was it a case of literary license?

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Links

"The Adventure of the Five Orange Pips"
"Two Southern Exposures of Sherlock Holmes," Manly Wade Wellman, The Baker Street Journal, Vol 2. No. 4 (1947) - available on the eBSJ.

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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38 - Photography Sep 20, 2017

"fondness for photography" [REDH]

During the earliest days of the Sherlock Holmes stories, photography was still in its infancy. And yet, we are greeted with a number of instances in which photography plays a central or partial role in the plot.

Who were the Canonical photographers and why did they pursue this hobby? And how did photographs play into Sherlock Holmes's ability to solve crimes?

We also have a follow-up item from Episode 37, thanks to some listener feedback.

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Links

Stories mentioned in this episode:
- "The Red Headed League"
- "The Copper Beeches"
- "A Scandal in Bohemia"
- "The Veiled Lodger"
- "The Three Garridebs"
- "The Lion's Mane"
Arthur Conan Doyle, Photographer and the tale of "Chawles" - The British Journal of Photography
Evidence of Holmes's studies: Sherlock Holmes at Oxford (2nd edition 1981)
Fibber McGee and Molly
Walter Paget

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

--

37 - The Student Days of Sherlock Holmes Sep 13, 2017

"I have no idea what he intends to go in for" [STUD]

It's our Back to School Blowout Sale! Okay, not really. But since it's September and class is in session, we thought it would be the perfect time to talk about Sherlock Holmes's school days.

In his student days, Holmes said that he considered his habit of observation and deduction to be "the merest hobby." What subjects was he studying at college? What profession did he propose to follow before detective work lured him away? Wouldn't he have considered his skills at observation to be an asset in his main course of study, rather than a hobby unto itself? Or was he studying something where observation and deduction were not particularly useful to him?

And listen closely — particularly if you're Nick Utechin — there is a listener challenge.

Links

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

36 - Tradesmen in the Canon Sep 06, 2017

"I was already in debt to my tradesmen" [COPP]

With Labor Day just behind us, what do we find in the Sherlock Holmes stories in the ways of the working class? Holmes said that the public could hardly tell "a weaver by his tooth or a compositor by his left thumb," [COPP] as two examples of the working class.

Certainly, Sherlock Holmes himself took on the guise of workers, such as "a drunken-looking groom" [SCAN] and "a plumber with a rising business." [MILV] And the Molly Maguires played a role in VALL. What other Canonical tradesmen were we exposed to?

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Links

The Encyclopedia Sherlockiana by Jack Tracy
The famous sniffing scene in Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

--

35 - The Real Greek Hero Aug 30, 2017

"a Greek by extraction" [GREE]

"The Greek Interpreter" gives us our first glimpse of Mycroft Holmes, through the meeting with him at the Diogenes Club. But it's the introduction of the peculiar Mr. Melas, the Greek interpreter, that sets things in motion.

When you think about all of the activity in this case, couldn't we argue that Melas was really the hero of this story? Or was it Holmes, with his deductions and bravery? Or was it Paul Kratides, who endured torture in order to protect his sister?

We address the premise of the Greek hero in this episode of Trifles.

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Links

The Greek Interpreter

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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34 - A Mysterious Box Aug 23, 2017

"the matter is more mysterious" [CARD]

"The Cardboard Box" opens with an iconic diversion on a hot August day on Baker Street. And while the story was published in The Strand Magazine just following "Silver Blaze" and just prior to "The Yellow Face." And yet when the second collection of short stories was published in book form as The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes in 1894, "The Cardboard Box" did not appear (at least in British editions) until it was included the collection of short stories titled His Last Bow in 1917.

What's more, the famous "mind reading scene" originally included in "The Cardboard Box" was then inserted into "The Resident Patient" when The Memoirs were published. Just what is going on here?

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Links

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

33 - Thumb Up for Engineers Aug 16, 2017

"Very well thumbed, I assure you" [HOUN]

"The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb" marks the only time that Watson has been responsible for bringing a case to Sherlock Holmes. Go ahead and look it up. We'll wait.

Meanwhile, the few engineers we meet in the Canon are of varied types. But Bliss Austin, BSI, in his masterful magnum opus "Thumbing His Way to Fame," from the Baker Street Journal Vol. 1, No. 4 (Old Series) draws out one or two scientific details that seemed to have escaped Holmes but that may have been more apparent to a trained engineer.

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Links

The Engineer's Thumb
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 75: Bliss Austin

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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32 - A Return to Normalcy via Norwood Aug 09, 2017

"you will find your time very fully occupied" [NORW] In the opening of "The Norwood Builder," we find Watson back in Baker Street—he sold his practice and has moved back in with Sherlock Holmes. And we discover that it was Sherlock Holmes who made the financial arrangements that made it possible for Dr. Verner to purchase Watson's practice. What's going on here? Did Holmes tacitly indicate that he missed Watson and wanted his flatmate back? Was there a practical side to the partnership as well? Was this Holmes's way of saying that Watson was his ideal colleague and assistant? There are many questions to be answered regarding this particular trifle. Links

The Norwood Builder

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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31 - Frederic Dorr Steele's Gift Aug 01, 2017

"worthy of our steel" [HOUN]

Sidney Paget was the illustrator who first brought widespread visual recognition of Sherlock Holmes to the public. His American counterpart Frederic Dorr Steele got a later start, but made a lasting impact as well.

We discuss Steele's inspiration and the ultimate gift that he left us: an indelible impression of Sherlock Holmes through various publications for the better part of his career.

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Links

Frederic Dorr Steele (Wikipedia)
The Players

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

30 - A Lengthy Treaty Jul 26, 2017

"The chain of events is certainly one of extraordinary interest." [NAVA]

Nepotism, bullying, carelessness and a locked room mystery — "The Naval Treaty" has it all. A young government employee is given a top secret assignment that keeps him at his desk late at night, but the document he was working on goes missing. And it's up to Sherlock Holmes to find the culprit.

Clocking in at 12,701 words, this story is the longest of the 56 short stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon. But should it really have taken Holmes that long to figure out the mystery? We discuss some of the finer points of the story, including glaring plot point that you may have missed before.

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Links

Please nominate us for a People's Choice Award or in the Arts category in the 2017 Podcast Awards
"The Naval Treaty"
"Bob's your uncle"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

29 - Who Wrote The Mazarin Stone Jul 19, 2017

"there can be no question as to the authorship" [SIGN]

"The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone" took place in July 1903 and it shares a distinction with one other Sherlock Holmes story: like "The Adventure of the Lion's Mane," this is the only other story that is told by a third person.

We review some theories, summed up by Leslie Klinger, BSI ("The Abbey Grange") in his Daypark Press publication of a Baker Street Irregulars dinner memento in 2001. From Christopher Morley to O.F. Grazebrook, Gavin Brend, Martin Dakin and more, there are clever and preposterous suggestions as to whose pen was behind this story.

Not to mention the question of the layout of 221B Baker Street, the mysterious bay window, the condition of the wax bust, and more.

See which theory you side with in this episode of Trifles...

Links

Please nominate us for a People's Choice Award or in the Arts category in the 2017 Podcast Awards
"The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone"
Tim Greer on I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 115: Sherlock Holmes in the Theater
There was a connection between Charlie McCarthy / Edgar Bergen and Sherlock Holmes:

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

28 - Harpoons: A Pointed Subject Jul 12, 2017

"among the harpooners my research was nearing its end" [BLAC]

We have one of the most iconic openings in the Sherlock Holmes stories in "The Adventure of Black Peter" - the year '95, Holmes in disguise, returning from the butcher's with his weapon of choice: a harpoon.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle pulled on his own knowledge of whaling vessels and voyages (as referenced in an earlier IHOSE episode), but how likely was the occurrence which we learned of in this story? The era of hand-held harpooning was over by that time. How does one go about practice-harpooning a pig in polite London society? And what of the physics of the demonstration?

These questions and more await in this episode of Trifles...

Please leave us a rating and review on the podcast player of your choice, and consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links

Please nominate us for a People's Choice Award or in the Arts category in the 2017 Podcast Awards
"The Adventure of Black Peter"
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 48: Dangerous Work

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

--

27 - Rebellion! Jul 05, 2017

"there really was a plot" [GLOR]

Independence Day is celebrated in the United States on July 4. It marks the date of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, a document that preceeded the American Revolution. This, as well as numerous other acts of rebellion in the years leading up to the war, represented a principled stand against British authority.

And we have rebellion against British authority aptly represented in "The Gloria Scott," which William Baring-Gould placed in July of 1874. Trevor Sr. was sentenced to transportation for "breaking my country's laws" while he was a banker - namely, embezzlement. And perhaps the rebellious streak continued with Trevor, Jr. as he brought his dog on campus, to which we offer a toast penned by John Baesch, BSI, ASH.

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Links

Please nominate us for a People's Choice Award or in the Arts category in the 2017 Podcast Awards
"The Gloria Scott"
A history of transportation in Australia
The Hyde Parks Barracks Museum in Sydney

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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26 - The Plot Device of The Three Garridebs Jun 28, 2017

"Saw through my game, I suppose" [3GAR]

Once again, we have a con man at work, eager to enrich himself. He finds his mark, manages to get him away from the scene where his work needs to happen, and is eventually caught red-handed by Sherlock Holmes. Does this plot device sound familar? It should. Or at least it did, once we got the names of the minor characters straight...

This tale has been recognized as sharing the plot of "The Red-Headed League" and "The Stock-Broker's Clerk". If indeed the plot is strong enough to be employed three times, which story makes the best use of it, and why?

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Links

"The Adventure of the Three Garridebs"
"The Adventure of the Red Headed League"
"The Stock-broker's Clerk"
I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 91: The Confidence Game

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

25 - An Unbelievable Case of Identity Jun 21, 2017

"she will not believe me" [IDEN]

In the early stories in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson was admittedly new to the bio-docu-drama genre that he was creating. And while we've gotten comfortable with putting "The Adventure of..." in front of nearly every short story about Sherlock Holmes, a handful of these early stories were not titled that way. "A Scandal in Bohemia" and "A Case of Identity" were the first and third stories to be published in The Strand and did not carry that title.

But aside from that difference, "A Case of Identity" stands out. Not because it was devoid of a crime, but because its premise seemed inherently unbelievable. A young lady not recognizing her own stepfather? How is it that Watson (and Arthur Conan Doyle) managed to pull this off?

Links

"A Case of Identity"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band.

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

24 - Heads of Household Jun 14, 2017

"He had described his household" [WIST]

We're acutely aware of some of the fathers in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and the dastardly deeds associated with them. Individuals such as Jephro Rucastle and Grimesby Roylott spring to mind.

But what about figures who occupied a position as head of the household who weren't necessarily fathers themselves? With Fathers Day coming up this weekend, we thought this was an excellent time to take a moment and reflect on who these individuals are and what their role in the Canon was.

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Links

I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 43: Fathers in the Canon

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band.

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

23 - Married Life with Dr. Watson Jun 07, 2017

"not long after my marriage" [ENGR]

In this episode, we look at how married life was treating Dr. Watson in "The Adventure of the Boscombe Valley Mystery." William S. Baring-Gould placed this at June 6 or June 8, 1889. It was published as the fourth short story in the collection known as The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

In the opening scene, Holmes sends for the recently married Watson to accompany him on a case, and Mary Watson, far from nagging her husband about his penchant for dashing off with his friend, actually urges Watson to go. Watson gives her a charming compliment in return by alluding to their romantic meeting in The Sign of Four. The affectionate circle is completed when Holmes gives Watson very gracious thanks for agreeing to come along on the trip.

What are we to make of Watson's home life? Is he simply using a literary technique by making his marriage seem able to weather the storm of Holmes? Or was Mary genuinely understanding of the push-pull relationship between the doctor and the detective?

A tribute to the late Peter Sallis, an appearance by Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, and more surprises await.

Links

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band.

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

22 - Pubs and Taverns, Part 2 May 31, 2017

"back to the same establishment" [GOLD]

The last time we met, we were in the middle of a pub quiz. How were you doing? We're going to pick up where we left off, talking about various public houses, bars, taverns and inns that were mentioned in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Each played an important role in the story in which it was set.

And as a bonus, we'll get you inside some of the real-life establishments* that you might stroll past the next time you're in London.

*We're pleased to report that the Criterion is open, but under the name Savini at Criterion.

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Links

Episode 21 - Pubs and Taverns, Part 1
The Criterion - now Savini at Criterion
The Criterion as seen in The Dark Knight
The Sherlock Holmes Pub

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band.

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

21 - Pubs and Taverns, Part 1 May 24, 2017

"gone to the nearest public house" [SOLI]

We owe the entire Canon to Watson's drinking habits. Because he found himself at the Criterion Bar, he eventually found his way to Holmes. And just as importantly, public houses, taverns and bars play a role throughout the Sherlock Holmes stories.

These locations are where they gathered intelligence, and met clients, or simply refreshed themselves. In the spirit of British pubs, we'll treat you to a bit of a pub quiz. Let's see how you do.

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Links

Academic Festival Overture by Johannes Brahms
Gaudeamus igitur
Bright College Days by Tom Lehrer

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

20 - The Duke and the Doctor May 17, 2017

"His Grace is surprised, Dr. Huxtable" [PRIO]

The opening of "The Adventure of the Priory School" is one of the best in the entirety of the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Dr. Huxtable lands on the bearskin rug and from Watson's brandy administration to Holmes helping himself to the contents of Huxtable's pockets, it's vintage Sherlock Holmes.

What do we know of Dr. Huxtable, and more importantly, what did he know about the Duke of Holdernesse? His days-long delay in seeking help meant that the trail was slightly cold for Holmes — a strange priority, even if His Grace was concerned about publicity. Just when did Dr. Huxtable first get to know the Duke and what did his station require?

From tennis to tails, and Monty Python to Morgan Freeman reading the Canon, we've got it all.

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Links

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

Mothers in the Canon May 10, 2017

"by the honour of your mother" [SIGN]

There's no question that fathers play a significant role in many of the Sherlock Holmes stories. But what about mothers? As Mothers Day will be celebrated on May 14 in the United States, we thought it was an appropriate time to look at mothers and motherly figures in the Canon.

From independent women to those who tragically lost their mothers, we see a common thread of strength. Where did Conan Doyle draw his examples from? And what did Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson make of such women? Its all here in Trifles.

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Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

18 - Horse Sense in Silver Blaze May 03, 2017

"have a look at the horse" [SILV]

One of the best regarded stories in the Sherlock Holmes canon is "Silver Blaze." The story has so many elements to it that lend themselves to the lore of Sherlock Holmes: the Baker Street opening, the image of Holmes and Watson in the railway carriage, a number of famous quotes. We'll be revisiting this story again in Trifles.

But for this time, our focus is on the horse. With the Kentucky Derby approaching on May 6, it's an apt time to consider the heritage of Silver Blaze and the associated activities that were happening during that time. Noted sports columnist Red Smith had some thoughts about Holmes's actions and the racetrack bookie, and S. Tupper Bigelow took an opposite tack. Who was right? You'll have to tune in to hear.

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17 - Glimpses of Holmes in The Copper Beeches Apr 26, 2017

"I caught a glimpse of a great heart as well as of a great brain" [3GAR] In "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches," we're treated to a range of emotions and reactions from Sherlock Holmes. The opening scene is one of those Canonical gems: Outside, there is a thick fog, while inside, we see a cheery fire, the gleaming breakfast table, and an eloquently irritable Holmes with his cherry-wood pipe, expounding upon art and detection just long enough to bring us up to the arrival of his attractive and interesting young client. We have a plethora of information about Holmes's personality in not only this opening, but the story itself: his annoyance with Watson and the general public, his charming way with female clients, his thinking, and the age-old question of whether he was attracted to Violet Hunter. Hop on board with us as we explore the glimpses we have of Sherlock Holmes in "The Adventure of the Copper Beeches," the story that originally appeared in the Strand Magazine in June 1892 and was the final story in the Adventures.

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Links

"The Copper Beeches"

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band.

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

16 - The Surprise of a First Reading of the Final Problem Apr 19, 2017

"it is with a heavy heart" [FINA]

"The Final Problem" is a shocking tale, both for contemporaries of the Strand Magazine as well as for first-time readers of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. Christopher Morley wrote: "Devoted readers have rarely had such a shock as the opening words of this story when it first appeared in the Strand Magazine."

And so too did we. Some reflections on the drastic turn of events and of the reactions to readers around the world.

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Links

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band.

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

15 - Sherlock Holmes and Easter Apr 12, 2017

"tell me how you came alive" [EMPT]

While there is no explicit mention of Easter in the Sherlock Holmes story, we do have a story arc that follows the Easter mystery.

While Holmes himself may not have been terribly religious (although he did express some acknowledgement of a higher power from time to time), he respected the tradition and the necessary belief in resurrection.

14 - The Speckled Band and its Snakish Temper Apr 05, 2017

"roused its snakish temper" [SPEC]

"The Adventure of the Speckled Band" is consistently ranked as one of the most popular Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. And in it, there are so many gems, so many possibilities to explore.

We manage to delve into a few of them, including Dr. Roylott's clever yet poorly executed plan, the seemingly disparate time it took for victims to die, a passing glance at scores of untold cases accumulated during those early years, and more.

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Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

13 - Quarter Day Is at Hand Mar 29, 2017

"quarter day is at hand" [WIST]

There are at least two instances in the Sherlock Holmes stories when we come across a mention of quarter day. Just what is quarter day, and what is the significance with regard to these two stories?

We delve into the history of quarter days, cross-quarter days and why the real estate market had such an impact on calendars and ultimately played into the plots of "Wisteria Lodge" and "The Resident Patient."

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Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

12 - Irene Adler: A Legend Is Born Mar 22, 2017

"To Sherlock Holmes, she is always the woman" [SCAN]

It is the first story in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and it is also the first of what we might call the stories of legend: those Canonical tales that have inspired our imaginations far beyond the events that Watson wrote down.

We already have Holmes and Watson, legends enough for anyone, but just as "The Greek Interpreter" reveals brother Mycroft Holmes, and "The Final Problem" outlines the evil figure of Moriarty, "A Scandal in Bohemia" introduces a character so compelling that she pervades our image of Sherlock Holmes forever after. Irene Adler, of dubious and questionable memory — to us, she is always "the woman!"

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Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

11 - Celebrations Mar 15, 2017

"you could not celebrate him without being known yourself" [HOUN]

With mid-March upon us, we thought it was high time to investigate some of the Irish connections in the Sherlock Holmes stories. From the obvious to the subtle, we go from Belfast to Waterford to Skibbereen, across the pond to America, and back again.

Short stories and novels alike, there are glimpses of the Emerald Isle in a number of hiding places in the Canon. Did we miss any? Well, you'll just have to tell us.

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Links

No links this episode

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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10 - The Dressing Gown of Many Colors Mar 08, 2017

"He was clad in his dressing gown" [CREE]

You'll find Sherlock Holmes lounging in his dressing gown in no fewer than 14 of the original stories. And yet, its color changed from story to story. Sherlock Holmes's dressing gown was alternatively purple, blue and mouse — how can this be?

We discuss the possibilities that scholars have put forth over the course of many decades and even add our own conjecture. Add in a quick primer on what dressing gowns are and what Victorian / Edwardian habits were that required them, and you've got the best podcast episode about dressing gowns and Sherlock Holmes you've ever heard.

A tip of the deerstalker goes to Bill Hyder, BSI, whose 1995 BSI Dinner publication "TRIFLES" contained this very topic.

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Links

Dressing Gowns: Loungewear of Old

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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9 - A Matter of Faith Mar 01, 2017

"embrace the true faith" [STUD]

We see glimpses of religion in a number of stories, from plot devices to red herrings, saintly inferences to clever disguises. What role did religion play in the Sherlock Holmes stories?

And Arthur Conan Doyle's own faith had some bearing on what we see as well. It's a chat about religion, faith, and their multitude of instances in the Canon.

Links

The Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

8 - The Wrinkle in The Beryl Coronet Feb 22, 2017

"it is a very sweet little problem" [BERY]

One of the more comical openings to a story occurred in "The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet," in which the banker Alexander Holder raced his way through to snow to 221B Baker Street, which he followed by beating his head against the wall.

You don't get much more dramatic than that. But when it comes to reporting the crime, would the criminal, Holder, or the owner of the beryl coronet have been more at risk if the details came to light? After all, the coronet was a public holding and its absence could have been an embarrassment.

Links

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

John, James and Mary Feb 15, 2017

"what's amiss with the names?" [VALL]

One of the most puzzling passages in the Sherlock Holmes stories is when Mrs. Watson referred to her husband, the good Doctor, as "James." However, we know that his given name is John. What could be afoot here?

Was it a typo? An impostor? A slip of the tongue? We review some of the longstanding theories and even provide a few of our own to see if we might get to the bottom of this mystery.

Links

"The Adventure of the Man with the Twisted Lip"
Sherlock Holmes: A Study in Sources by Donald A. Redmond

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

6 - Dating the Missing Three Quarter Feb 08, 2017

"a puzzled quarter of an hour" [MISS]

The Sherlock Holmes stories are filled with hints of dates, places and people that cause them to be intertwined with reality. It is therefore natural to think that we can arrive at some certainty as to the date of an adventure when Watson gives us a specific month in which a case begins. It is also wrong to think so.

"The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter" is one such example. We're given a February date (hence the release date of this episode) and yet, as we can plainly see, that date is impossible, given other facts. So we follow the path of many Canonical chronologists who attempted to determine the actual date of this adventure, using logic and history as our guide. Were they right? Tune in to find out.

Links

"The Adventure of the Missing Three-Quarter"
An online version of some of the chronologies of the stories
"The Date Being—?"
The Annotated Sherlock Holmes by William S. Baring-Gould
The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes by Leslie S. Klinger
The Sherlock Holmes Reference Library: The Return of Sherlock Holmes

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

5 - Moral Relativism in Charles Augustus Milverton Feb 01, 2017

Charles Augustus Milverton was considered by Sherlock Holmes to be "the worst man in London." Watson tried to shield the date of the case — not to protect Milverton, but to protect his victims.

And Holmes and Watson went to extraordinary lengths to defeat the odious blackmailer, from burglary to destruction of property, and even a faux engagement by Holmes. While reputation was everything in Victorian times, did the pair go too far? Their willingness to break the law was in service of victims, but what about their own reputations and adherence to the law?

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Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band. Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

4 - Guilt in The Abbey Grange Jan 25, 2017

Sir Eustace Brackenstall met with a grisly, if appropriate end in "The Abbey Grange." Ultimately, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson let his killer go free.

But was Captain Crocker solely responsible for Brackenstall's death? Other individuals were involved with the calm plotting of the aftermath of the death — but whose shoulders bear the ultimate brunt of the guilt in the end?

Links

"The Abbey Grange"
"The game's afoot" as found in King Henry's speech "Once more unto the breach" in Henry V.

3 - Simpson's Jan 18, 2017

Dr. Watson tells us that he and Sherlock Holmes visited one London restaurant two times. And while the gustatory habits of the famed Baker Street duo are not entirely well-documented, we have a good sense as to what they must have eaten at the famed Simpson's in-the-Strand.

This is a case of fact meeting fiction, as Simpson's is very much a real establishment in London — one that was recently in danger of losing its identity. We bring you inside this gem that dates from the 1820s as a cigar and chess divan and explore what dining like Sherlock Holmes was like.

Links

Simpson's in-the-Strand
Restaurant Frequented by Sherlock Holmes May Vanish — I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere
"The Illustrious Client"
"The Dying Detective"

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2 - Watson in the City Jan 11, 2017

The opening lines of A Study in Scarlet are rich with details about Dr. Watson's past. His medical degree, his army service, even his injury. He recalls how he came to London without knowing anyone in the city and proceeded to blow through his cash reserves.

Just how far could one get on 11s. 6p. per day in 1881? And how fortunate we are that Watson couldn't keep to his budget. For his cash situation is what required him to find a flatmate...

Links

The Man Who Created Sherlock Holmes: the Life and Times of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Andrew Lycett
Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle by Daniel Shashower
A Study in Scarlet

1 - Optimism Jan 04, 2017

The new year usually brings resolutions and offers a new beginning. In our new podcast which begins in January 2017, we thought it was the ideal time to look at optimism in the Sherlock Holmes stories.

Was there more hope or despair in the Canon? Certainly, many cases began with despair, but which ones ended in optimism?

From "The Stockbroker's Clerk" to "The Copper Beeches," we have clients who were optimistically heading into new jobs. But all was not as it seemed... And what ends well for Sherlock Holmes does not always mean the same thing for his clients.

Links