Pilgrims Greet A. Conan Doyle
Pilgrims Greet A. Conan Doyle is an article published in The Chicago Tribune on 29 may 1914.
Pilgrims Greet A. Conan Doyle
Man Who Does the Most Wonderful Detective Stunts — with His Pen.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Lady Doyle arriving in New York.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes, arrived in New York on Wednesday last with Lady Doyle on his first visit to the United States in twenty years. The photograph was taken as they stepped ashore from the ship.
English Novelist, Creator of 'Sherlock Holmes,' Guest of New York Society.
HAS FRIENDLY MESSAGE.
Sees Steady Spiritual Current Binding Together America and Great Britain.
New York, May 28. — [Special] — Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, introduced by Joseph H. Choate as the Englishman best known today in America, was the guest of the Pilgrims today at a luncheon held in the Whitehall club. Some 200 Pilgrims and their guests gave a hearty welcome to the novelist, who was one of the early members of the parent society in London.
"I hope," said Mr. Choate. "that he will create more Sherlock Holmeses — and we need them. The history of the United States and New York City would read better if a ship-load of Sherlock Holmeses had been at work here."
Sees Friendship Between Nations.
"The Marconi message that reached me in midocean inviting me to this luncheon," said Sir Arthur, responding to Mr. Choate's introduction, "was a warm hand of welcome extending across the sea. It made my heart quicken at the thought of being in America again. It is twenty years since my last visit, when I came here on a lecture tour. International relations were then a bit strained and an irritable feeling was noticeable.
"I am happy to say that since then a slow, steady spiritual current has been drawing the two countries closer together, so that today that feeling of irritation and suspicion has vanished."
Referring to his connection with the Pilgrims, Sir Arthur recalled that the equipment of the early Pilgrims consisted of a staff and an empty wallet. He had, he said, a good English umbrella as a substitute for the staff and Lloyd-George, with his financial laws, had seen to it that his wallet was empty.
New Motto for England?
England's slogan, he opined, was no longer that hoisted by Nelson. "England expects every man to do his duty," but "England expects every man to pay his duties."
As to Sherlock Holmes, he said he could not resist repeating the criticisms made to him by a Cornish fisherman, who said: "Mr Holmes may not have killed himself by falling off that cliff, but he certainly did himself serious injury as he never been the same man since."
Sir Arthur vigorously denied the statement credited to him that he advocated lynch law being applied to the militant suffragists.
"Not a word of truth in the statement," he said. "I never said anything like that."
