Sherlockholmitos (letters Romanes-Oxoniensis)
Sherlockholmitos is are two letters published in The Times on 1 november 1932.
These letters are answers to review Sherlockholmitos (27 october 1932), and A. A. Milne's own answer (31 october 1932).
Sherlockholmitos
Letter by N. H. Romanes
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES
Sir, — There is no difference between the ending of the first paragraph in Father Knox's Study of Sherlock Holmes as it appears in "Essays in Satire" and the (presumably) original version published in the Blue Book, Vol. I., No. II., for July, 1912. The only variant I have detected in the two editions of this famous critique is the unfortunate omission from the later of Professor J. A. Smith's credentials as an expert in bicycle tires — "The Waynflete Professor of Moral and Metaphysical Philosophy." This was no doubt because by 1928 Professor Smith no longer held that chair, but the word "former" should have been inserted.
Yours, &c.,
N. H. ROMANES.
The Range, Shepperton, Middlesex, Oct. 29.
Letter by Oxoniensis
TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES
Sir, — May complete the bibliography of Father Knox's lively treatise upon the text and sources of Sherlock Holmes by recording that it was first published in 1912 in a long defunct literary review edited by a few Oxford undergraduates one of whom was the present writer? The review was called the Blue Book, it ran for no less than a whole year (twice a term), and even made a profit for a number or two. Its other "star turn" was the late A. L. Smith's "Reminiscences of Jowell."
Clearly, as Mr. Milne claims, the recognition due to the pioneer" belongs to Cambridge in this matter. Mr. Milne's concluding sentence also requires that recognition should should not be withheld from the power of whimsical inversion which has given him an enviable place among the humorists of our time.
Yours &c.,
OXONIENSIS.
