The Parish Magazine No. 6
The Parish Magazine No. 6 is the newsletter of the The Arthur Conan Doyle Society published in march 1992.
The Parish Magazine No. 6
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE SOCIETY
ISSUE NUMBER SIX: MARCH 1992
Editorial
In A Study in Surmise, the late Michael Harrison wrote:
'We have learned a great deal about the character of Arthur Conan Doyle, not merely in the half-century which has elapsed since his death but in the near century-and-a-quarter which has gone since his birth. His was not, as so many commentators with a vested interest in clouding the issue make out, a greatly complicated character; of all the world's famous (that is, enduringly successful) writers, he is the least difficult to understand.'
This is not how many of us see Doyle. Much has been made of Conan Doyle as a complex character; his multi-faceted personality has often been highlighted. Indeed, in his own poem, The Inner Room, he offers what is, perhaps, the nearest he came to showing how he saw himself how he viewed the thoughts and turmoils of his own mind. Apart from the philosophical and theological discussion which forms a large part of The Stark Munro Letters, The Inner Room is as detailed a dissection of his own anatomy as we shall find.
Jon L. Lellenberg, in his Epilogue to The Quest for Sir Arthur Conan Doyle has this to say:
'He was not really the person he appeared to be, but still he frequently seems to have been complicated without being profound and diverse without being deep. On the other hand, it is too slighting to say, as Hesketh Pearson did, that Conan Doyle 'was simple enough to think himself complex'; for if he was not complex, there are, as Julian Symons came to realize, areas of Conan Doyle's life for which a simple explanation is inadequate. And a simple explanation for the creative achievement of Sherlock Holmes is simply impossible.'
Owen Dudley Edwards discussed 'the inner room' and 'the outer room' in The Quest for Sherlock Holmes:
'Conflict and its aspects — science against spirit, masculinity against women's rights, culture against specialisation, social orthodoxy against Bohemianism, self-reassurance against autoexperiment, dignity against financial need, antiquarianism against hatred of snobbery, love against possessiveness all played their part in the fulfilment of his creative powers...'
From these fine works, and from the in-depth articles which now appear in ACD, we learn that there was far more to Conan Doyle than his just being 'a doctor turned writer' and, as our studies progress and develop we shall, I think, see that Mr Harrison over simplified his assessment of Doyle's character.
The role of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society is, as it always has been, to provide the forum for discussion of Doyle the man as well as Doyle the writer and, occasionally, we shall, no doubt, read views with which we personally disagree. This is good for the future of the Society as differing views will stimulate the discussion needed to remain healthy and alive. One thing is, however, very clear: authors who put forward contentious viewpoints must be prepared to support statements which they make with references to source material. Without explanation, such theses lack credibility and could, quite justifiably, be regarded as mischief making.
From an Editorial viewpoint, footnotes, or other academic apparatus, are essential. Some responses to the recent questionnaire made criticism of the number of references which accompany articles in ACD but, whilst we appreciate that this practice sometimes breaks the reading flow, we believe that such references are vital both for a fuller understanding and for future research.
Recent trends in some of the Sherlockian groups would seem to indicate that there is a danger of our calenders becoming full, as some event or other is taking place on almost every weekend of the year. This is not how I envisage The Arthur Conan Doyle Society developing and I fear that, by adopting such a course, Sherlockian activities are in danger of becoming stale, thereby losing their overall appeal.
Many people are finding the new experience of the study of Doyle and his works to be a refreshing change the stories are a breath of fresh air in set reading habits. The Society, as a whole, should also take advantage of this 'freshness' which, like fine wine, may be allowed to mature and develop. Therefore, I see the future as an opportunity to develop our knowledge of Doyle chiefly through the work of our Journal which will, after all, be a lasting testament to the work on which we are engaged interspersing our studies with a visit each year to a significant Doyle location. In this way we shall, I believe, appreciate the knowledge which we gain more than we would by adopting a 'let's do everything this year' attitude.
We should begin at the beginning and I am pleased to advise members that plans are already in hand for a Society visit to Edinburgh, the birthplace of Doyle and, some would argue, Sherlock Holmes. Further details will be announced in due course.
Subscriptions 1992-1993
Members are reminded that annual subscriptions fall due for renewal on 1 June 1992. Following consideration of revised publishing plans for the coming year (please see the separate announcement in this newsletter), subscriptions will remain at last year's level, despite the fact that there will be no overall reduction in the level of printed output.
The Society's finances have also been helped by the success of the joint facsimile project and the sale of various books and publications. I should like to express thanks to all members who have supported these various initiatives. Of course, sending renewal reminders is a costly exercise and, in the long term, these costs can but be reflected in the level of the subscription. It would be appreciated, therefore, if members would renew without our having to send further reminders.
For ease of reference, the current subscription rates are:
- Full Membership (U.K) £12.00
- Full Membership (Rest of World) £14.00
All publications are sent by surface mail unless the relevant Air Mail supplement is remitted as part of the subscription:
Air Mail Supplements:
- U.S.A./Canada £5.00
- Australasia/Japan £5.50
Overseas Members may remit by personal cheque in U.S. Dollars, in currency, by sterling drafts on a U.K. bank, or by International Money Order. Please note the different rates for payment in U.S. Dollars:
Non air-mail subscription — Cheque $32.00 / Currency $27.00 Air-mail subscription — Cheque $40.00 / Currency $36.00
Subscriptions should be sent to: Christopher Roden, The Arthur Conan Doyle Society, 35 Penfold Way, Dodleston, Chester CH4 9ML
Membership Questionnaire 1991
Well over a third of the membership returned the questionnaire which was included in The Parish Magazine, Number Five.
The answers revealed few major surprises, but the chief criticism that of the stapled binding for Issue 4 of the Journal — has been noted and rectified.
The chief responses were as follows:
Q1: What prompted you to join The Arthur Conan Doyle Society? (a) An interest in Sherlock Holmes 29.8% (b) An interest in Arthur Conan Doyle 63.1% (c) Other 7.1%
Q2: To what extent do you feel that the Society's Journal has improved your knowledge of Doyle? (a) Considerably 81.6% (b) A little 18.4%
Q3: The order of preference for regular features was:
- (1) Through the Magic Door
- (2) The Inner Room
- (3) A Point of Contact
- (4) In Conversation with...
- (5) Retrospect
- (6) A Duet, with an Occasional Chorus
The popularity of 'Through the Magic Door' gives us particular pleasure. We have always attempted to offer reviews of the widest range of important books related to the subject of Arthur Conan Doyle and, occasionally, Sherlock Holmes. It is our belief that, by limiting our panel of reviewers, our readers will come to appreciate that books are judged in a constant manner enabling them to buy with some confidence. We shall continue to develop this section, supplementing Journal reviews with coverage in The Parish Magazine.
Q5: Please indicate your views on the balance of articles dealing with Doyle's spiritualist interests:
- (a) Too many articles on spiritualism 10.8%
- (b) Balanced selection of articles 78.4%
- (c) Too few articles on spiritualism 10.8%
Q6: Please indicate your views on the balance of articles dealing with Sherlock Holmes:
- (a) Too many articles related to Sherlock Holmes 19.1%
- (b) Balanced selection of articles 72.3%
- (c) Too few articles related to Sherlock Holmes 8.6%
Q12: How importantly do you regard the publication of 'Letters to the Editor'?:
- (a) Very important 50.00%
- (b) Quite important 45.8%
- (c) Not at all important 4.2%
Q14: How do you regard your own knowledge of Doyle?:
- (a) Very knowledgeable 6.25%
- (b) Quite knowledgeable 50.00%
- (c) Interested, but not very knowledgeable 35.4%
- (d) A beginner 8.35%
As far as comment on our existing content goes, it seems that, generally, you approve of what we are trying to do. There were some flattering remarks on the quality of our production and journal content.
Some comments indicated that members recognise that much of the learning from the Society will come from the Journal, at the same time expressing the hope that meetings will take place from time to time.
In reply to the question 'How do you feel that the Society's Journal could be improved?', one respondent advised a more open discussion on aspects foreign to editorial outlook.' Quite what he meant is difficult to ascertain, as he indicated that we presented a balanced selection of articles both on Doyle's spiritualism and on Holmes.
No relevant topic is closed to discussion within the pages of ACD — so long as the articles presented are well written, lucid and present a well-reasoned argument if one is needed. The main problem is that, whilst a certain number of articles can be commissioned, the number of members who feel able to write in-depth articles is few and, therefore, we are, to a certain extent, restricted by the articles submitted. There is nothing we should like more than to be inundated with discussion-provoking material.
It was pleasing to see that a large number of respondents cited Brigadier Gerard and Professor Challenger as a reason for the interest in Doyle. This was a refreshing change from the expected answer.
By far the most popular major article published to date (prior to the Autumn 1991 Journal, that is) was Thomas R. Tietze's The Other Worlds of Arthur Conan Doyle. John Crouch's Dr Conan Doyle in Bloemfontein was a close second, followed by Richard Lancelyn Green's Conan Doyle's Pocket Diary for 1889.
There were pleas for more work on Challenger, Gerard, The Historical Fiction and Doyle biography. Many expressed an interest in Doyle's true crime involvement. To some extent, this interest may have been satisfied by the two recent books on the subject, but my feeling is that there is still more to be written.
The difficulties of knowing what to look for in second-hand bookshops was also highlighted and it was suggested that the Journal could provide some modest bibliographical information.
We'll try to do all you suggest but, of course, it will take time. Articles take time both to research and write. But, of course, there is something you can do too. I feel sure that many, who have not yet contributed to our publications, have it in them to produce the type of article we are seeking. Why not try it out for yourself? If you're in any doubt about the subject matter, have a word with me first to discuss the topic in question. Above all, keep the articles, the comments and the criticism coming in!
Thank you to all who took the trouble to complete the questionnaire.
C.R.
News from Crowborough
by Malcolm Payne
Curator, The Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment
As you will all no doubt guess, we are extremely busy making sure that all of our plans for the unveiling of The Arthur Conan Doyle Memorial on 23 May come together in proper fashion. Things are most certainly afoot. The latest news is that the two daughters of ex-Doyle chauffeur, Bill Latter, will perform the unveiling, and Dame Jean Conan Doyle is most pleased to know that Doreen and Myrtle will honour us by so doing. Dame Jean is adamant that she will be there and, whilst we look forward to her presence it is obvious that we would not wish her to do anything which would in any way upset her health.
By now, all who are coming will have booked or been notified which parts of the celebrations they will be attending. The day will open with an official reception by our Town Mayor and Councillors, for invited guests, at the Town Hall, from 11.30 a.m. until 12.30 p.m. At the nearby Cross Hotel Pavilion, there will be lunch for those who have booked, from 12.45 p.m. until 2.00 p.m., when we shall all retire to the Terrace Montargis in preparation for the unveiling ceremony. The Crowborough Boy Scouts Band will play here as all gather, and will also provide trumpeters to sound The Last Post before the unveiling. Our Master of Ceremonies, Peter South, will be introducing all guests who will speak, both at the reception and the unveiling.
Our Mayor, Councillor Paul Scott, will speak at the reception, and guests from the various societies will be urged by Peter to introduce themselves and say a few words. It will be a time to mingle, chat and get to know one another. The speaker at the unveiling is to be Christopher Roden, Founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society. Dame Jean will be introduced to the Mayor and Town Council, also the Boy Scouts in which Sir Arthur took so much interest locally, and the Girl Guides with their District Commissioner whom Dame Jean has expressed a wish to meet. Dame Jean was a Brownie and later a Guide in Crowborough groups in the very early days of the Girl Guides. As Dame Jean has pointed out, Sir Arthur had an open mind, and was willing to admit his misjudgments, one of which was to tell the then Sir Robert Baden-Powell that his new Scout movement would prove too idealistic to last. Sir Arthur is said to have recounted this when he took Dame Jean, at the age of 7, to join the local Brownie pack, just after the Great War. We have a few of the ladies who were in that same pack who hope to meet Dame Jean at this special time.
As I write, plans are also being made for our local amateur radio group to set up a world-wide link with other hams, more especially those of the Sherlock Holmes Radio Society of America. This will hopefully come to fruition, and will mean that those who cannot attend may have some sort of link/contact through broadcast descriptions and interviews with those at the event. Attempts are being made for the call sign to include the letters ACD, and we are supplying artwork for a special souvenir QSL card. This all depends on the obtaining of the licence, which looks hopeful at present.
This is an occasion of some solemnity, and we are sure that all who attend will treat it as such. While there will be an air of celebration, we are sure all who attend will be aware that we are honouring the memory of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. As far as we know, this is the first memorial to carry any style or image of Sir Arthur, and whilst we do perceive the shadow, faintly, of Sherlock Holmes, he will be much in the background.
Among our members who hope to be introduced to Dame Jean is Mrs Gwen Knight (nee Harris) who, in 1933, was shorthand typist to Lady Jean Conan Doyle. She has some excellent insights on life at Windlesham in the time after Sir Arthur's death. These are unique, and we are sure that among other people of Crowborough who knew the family, you will be able to meet and talk to them all in the social time allowed at the Cross and the Conan Doyle Room after the unveiling ceremony. There will be time for you to stroll around Crowborough, if you so wish, and see something of the place in which Sir Arthur found so much peace and inspiration to write. We do ask that you do not attempt, on this occasion, to visit 'Windlesham Manor': as this is a retirement home, we ask that no one shatters the peace of the hotel with an unscheduled visit. We are giving worldwide publicity through our Press Officer, Philip Weller, and we have already had interested questions from TV companies. We feel it will attract wide interest. We trust if you come you will enjoy the occasion and feel welcome. We are doing our very best to see that you get the best from this historic occasion.
A Weekend with Arthur Conan Doyle
Presented by The Arthur Conan Doyle Society & The Northern Musgraves Sherlock Holmes Society in conjunction with Periquito Hotels
Friday 22 May Sunday 24 May, 1992 Royal Tunbridge Wells
This weekend will be the occasion of a triple celebration: 22 May in Doyle's birthday and also the third birthday of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society. The third celebration is the unveiling of the memorial to Doyle at Crowborough and we shall be joining The Conan Doyle (Crowborough) Establishment on the Saturday of the weekend for the celebrations.
FULL DETAILS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SENT TO ALL BRITISH MEMBERS.
PLACES ARE LIMITED PLEASE BOOK EARLY
The David Kirby Memorial Essay Competition 1992
With the death of Dave Kirby in June last year, many of us lost a good friend and the Sherlockian and Doylean world was left the poorer for the loss of a fine and respected dealer.
I felt that something should be done to ensure that the name of Dave Kirby lived on in the world to which he devoted so much effort that of Doylean and Sherlockian literature.
As previously announced, therefore, The Arthur Conan Doyle Society is to run, what is hoped will be, an annual essay competition devoted to Dave's memory.
The project has the blessing of Dave's widow, Paula, and will, hopefully, encourage contributions worthy of publication to ensure a lasting tribute to David Kirby, the founder of Rupert Books.
The rules are simple; the small charges made are to cover the costs of internal distribution and administration.
Please bear in mind that the deadline for entries for this year's competition is 31 December 1992.
There are two categories for this year's competition:
- (1) The life, writings and/or criticism or study of the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
- (2) Studies in the Sherlockian writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. (Please note: Pastiche and parody are excluded see Rule 5)
A prize of £50 is offered to the winner of each category.
RULES
1. Entries for the competition shall only be made on the official entry form. (A photocopy is acceptable)
2. The Competition is open to all, wherever resident and of whatever age. There shall be no categorisation to allow for age differential.
3. Entries, which shall not have previously been published, or offered for publication, should be typed (preferably in double spacing and using one side only of the paper), and submitted to The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (at the address given below), accompanied by the appropriate fee.
4. Each entry shall be accompanied by a fee of £2.00 (U.S.$4.00) to cover the costs of duplication, postage to judges and other administrative costs. Entries not accompanied by the appropriate fee will not be judged.
5. The subject matter of the essay competition shall fall into two categories:
- (1) The life, writings, and/or criticism or study of the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
- (2) Studies in the Sherlockian writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
- (Essays considered by the judges to be pastiche or parody of the work of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle will not be eligible. Such entries will not be judged. No fees will be returned.
6. The closing date for entries for the 1992 Competition is 31 December 1992. Entries received after the closing date will not be judged.
7. Entries will remain the property of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society for a period of twelve months following the closing date of the 1992 Competition, during which time the Society shall, at its discretion, publish entries within its own publications (ACD The Journal of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society and The Parish Magazine), or within an collection of entries selected from those submitted for this competition. Copyright will remain vested in the author of the work at all times and full rights of ownership will revert to the author(s) on 1 January 1994. No fees, other than those payable to entries adjudged as prize winners (for which the relevant prize money shall be paid), will be payable by The Arthur Conan Doyle Society in respect of any entry published by the Society.
8. The Decision of the judges is final.
9. The Society will not enter into correspondence in respect of entries submitted.
10. No entries will be returned. Acknowledgement will only be made for entries accompanied by a stamped, addressed envelope or, in the case of entrants outside the U.K., where entries are accompanied by 2 IRCS (International Reply Coupons).
11. Entries shall be submitted, not later than 31 December 1992, to the Competition's organiser: Christopher Roden, The Arthur Conan Doyle Society, David Kirby Memorial Essay Competition, Grasmere, 35 Penfold Way, Dodleston, Chester CH4 9ML, England.
COMPETITION ENTRY FORM
To be submitted, not later than 31 December 1992, to:
- Christopher Roden,
- The Arthur Conan Doyle Society,
- David Kirby Memorial Essay Competition,
- Grasmere,
- 35 Penfold Way,
- Dodleston,
- Chester CH4 9ML, England.
I enclose an essay entitled:
..............................
for the David Kirby Memorial Essay Competition.
I wish the entry to be considered for the following category:
(1) The life, writings, and/or criticism or study of the writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
(2) Studies in the Sherlockian writings of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
(please delete one of the above).
I confirm that this article has not previously been published, or offered for publication.
I agree to be bound by the rules of entry for The David Kirby Memorial Essay Competition.
I enclose my entry fee of .................. (£2.00/US $4.00 per entry submitted).
(Signed)..................
Date..................
Name..................
Address..................
A Midnight Encounter
by Kay Berry
Editor's Introduction:
It is not often that I consider variations on the theme of Sherlock Holmes for publication within either the Society's Journal or newsletter. The following short story from Kay Berry of Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, however, appealed to me as an illustration of the escapism which is provided by Doyle's novels and short stories. Kay tells me that she first discovered the Sherlock Holmes books in her local library and became familiar with the great detective through some very old issues of The Strand which her brother picked up in a second-hand store she adds, regretfully, that over the years these volumes have been lost. I understand that, following an introduction to Michael Doyle and Barbara Alder, Kay, a Canadian Senior Citizen, now attends meetings of The Stormy Petrels of British Columbia.
'Elementary!' the voice was crisp; authoritative.
Startled, I lifted my chin from my chest where it had fallen as I dozed. Where had the voice come from?
'Elementary, my dear Watson,' came the voice again.
I looked around the dusky room, and discerned a figure in the large chair at the other side of the fireplace. I stared into the gloom that surrounded it — the only light in the room came from the almost-burnt-out fire in the fireplace. It seemed to me that the shape and form of the figure came more from my mind than what I actually saw. The face was rather long, the eyes deep-set, the nose somewhat larger than normal, the mouth wide, with corners turning up a slightly sardonic smile. He was dressed incongruously in the style of the late nineties or early 1900s. The long legs scissoring the carpet in front of him indicated that he must be tall. He changed his position, casually hooking one leg over the arm of the chair.
'Mind if I smoke?' he asked. I shook my head and, reaching into his pocket, he produced a large meerschaum pipe. From the other pocket he took a pouch of tobacco and proceeded to fill the bowl, tamping down carefully. Reaching down to the collection of spills I kept on one side of the fireplace, he selected one, lit it from a glowing ember, and applied it to the tobacco. The pungent, sickly smoke of Turkish tobacco began to drift through the room.
Finally I found my voice: 'Who-o are you?' I asked huskily.
He gave a short laugh. 'I'm surprised that the descendant of my old friend and chronicler would have to ask me that,' he replied.
'But, you're...' I didn't finish the sentence. He did it for me: 'Dead,' he said. I nodded. He laughed again and shook his head.
'I've been killed off more times than I can count,' he said, 'starting with Moriarty in Switzerland. Of course, you're familiar with that episode?'
I nodded. 'And you came back and gave my great-grandfather one hell of a shock!'
'Ah, yes,' he said, chuckling. 'He really was shocked, wasn't he?'
'Are you really alive?' I asked.
'Touch me if you like,' he said. I shook my head.
'But you must be ...' doing a quick calculation in my head.
'One hundred and twenty-five years old,' he finished my sentence. 'How can you be?'
'Haven't you figured it out?'
'No.'
He sighed. What's that book you are reading?'
I picked up the book which had fallen to the floor and looked at the title. Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, chronicled by his friend and amanuensis, Dr John Watson. The book was an old one, one of my favourites out of great-grandfather's library, the room in which we now sat.
My visitor took it from my hand. 'Ah!' he said, noting where the book mark kept my place. The Sign of Four.' He looked at the book's title. 'Wrong place, that was one of our first adventures.'
'You are still living?' I repeated.
His pipe had gone out and he re-lit it carefully.
'Of course.'
'How? Why?'
'Elementary, my dear Watson!' he laughed, with a glint in his eye which suggested that he knew full well the much misused phrase.
I began to get a little irritated.
'I don't understand,' I said at last.
He leaned back in his chair. 'My dear Watson,' he said. 'People like me who are immortalised in books like this one, never die. Oh, we may go into a coma for a while when people think our stories are out of date. But then, someone discovers us and, presto! we come to life again.'
The thought staggered me. 'You mean that, because I brought out this old book from the shelf of my great-grandfather's library, I brought you to life?'
'Ah,' he said, 'now you have it. I am alive and sitting in this room, talking to you because you want me to be alive and talking to you. Elementary! Now, if you had a nice murder for me to solve, or a diplomatic secret to unravel, I would really be pleased and happy to be at work again.'
'Alas, no,' I said, 'I am only an ordinary physician with ordinary people as my patients. I don't even have a baronet on my panel.'
He sighed. 'It would have been good to try to solve a problem again.'
I said that forensic medicine had made great strides since my great-grandfather's day. He looked a little surprised.
'Forensic medicine?' he queried.
'Elementary, my dear Holmes,' I said, somewhat facetiously. "The art of using science to solve crimes.'
He frowned. 'Of course,' he said, 'I used science too, but I suppose that my science would be somewhat primitive now.'
'Yes,' I said, 'but if you come alive every time someone reads one of your adventures, how is it that you don't know about forensic medicine?'
He was a little nettled. 'Because not everyone is in the practice of medicine,' he said shortly. But it wouldn't take me long to become completely familiar with it.'
I agreed with him on that point, knowing the brilliance and keenness of his mind.
We sat silently for a while. He smoked his pipe, I gazed at him thinking of the incongruity of the encounter.
'Watson,' he said suddenly, sharply, 'you're falling asleep. If if you do that I shall have to leave.'
'Sorry,' I mumbled, 'it's the smoke from your pipe the fire the warmth of the room.'
'Watson,' the voice began to fade, the figure began to dissolve, the fire died down to black ash. 'Ah well,' the voice said, faintly, 'until the next time, au revoir.'
My head jerked suddenly. I realised that I had not been falling asleep — rather I had been waking up. I looked at the chair opposite. It was empty. Had he really been there? I would never really know, but the faint scent of sickly, pungent Turkish tobacco which lingered in the air was very real.
I picked up my book, closed it gently and carefully restored it to its place among the other Sherlock Holmes books on the shelf of my great-grandfather's library.
Some evening, soon, I would try again.
(©) Kay Berry, 1991
Notes from a Lumber-Room
by Catherine Cooke
'A man should keep his little brain attic stocked with all the furniture that he is likely to use, and the rest he can put away in the lumber-room of his library where he can get it if he wants.' — Five Orange Pips
'I searched the doctor's quarters and at last found suitable accommodation at 2, Devonshire Place, which is at the top of Wimpole Street and close to the classical Harley Street. There for £120 a year I got the use of a front room with part use of a waiting room. I was soon to find that they were both waiting rooms, and now I know that it was better so.' (Memories and Adventures).
Conan Doyle's account of his attempts to set himself up in ophthalmic practice and how this led him into his literary career is well known, if only as it gave rise to his undeserved reputation for many years as 'a failed doctor'. It was a pleasant surprise, therefore, when I was contacted last year by a dentist who had purchased the property at 2, Devonshire Place. He was aware of its former tenant, and wished to acknowledge the connection with Conan Doyle, perhaps through a display, and possibly a plaque.
It seems fairly certain that Sir Arthur found his rooms in late March 1891. As he wrote, they were near Harley Street. They were also less than half a mile from Baker Street. How long he remained at 2, Devonshire Place is less easy to determine. In Memories and Adventures he tells how a nasty bout of influenza helped him put his priorities into perspective and led to the abandonment of his medical career in favour of full time writing. He gives the date as August 1891. This account, however, was written in the late 1920s, a long time later. In his diary for 1891, he wrote that he was 'prostrated' by flu on 4th May 1891. As it seems highly unlikely he was victim to two separate attacks of flu, we should perhaps accept the date recorded at the time as being the correct one. It is also worth remembering that by 25th June 1891 the Conan Doyles had moved from their rooms in Montague Place to 12, Tennyson Road, South Norwood. The practice at Devonshire Place, therefore, can hardly have lasted more than 6 weeks. One additional point of detail, no doubt influencing the decision to give up medicine is that during April 1891 Conan Doyle is recorded as having earned £177 from his literary efforts, over half what he earned in one year in practice in Southsea.
There is another small problem with 2, Devonshire Place. Is the building referred to actually number 2, Devonshire Place? Conan Doyle himself refers to the address as 2, Upper Wimpole Street, for example in the manuscript of A Scandal in Bohemia, a story we may safely accept as having been written at the practice. This has never really been fully explained. Maybe Conan Doyle just wished to differentiate to which Devonshire Place he was referring, there being several in London. It has been suggested that he had rooms at different times in this period at both; 2 Upper Wimpole Street is only 1 block south of 2, Devonshire Place. This does seem rather unlikely for a period consisting of little more than 6 weeks. Maybe there was just some confusion in his mind; he was rather new to London. Even in the autobiography, only a page after the section quoted above we find the following: ... I saw how foolish I was to waste my literary earnings in keeping up an oculist's room in Wimpole Street.... What is certain is that 2, Devonshire Place has always been a doctor's establishment, at least according to its owners, and the tradition has been passed down among them that it was Conan Doyle's practice.
The building is the second on the right, walking north up Devonshire Place. Remarkably, it has hardly been altered, even internally, since Conan Doyle's day, though a lift was added in the 1920s or '30s (which has a period charm of its own, despite being the wrong period!) It is a classic Georgian building, on five floors, with three windows across on the 1st floor and above, those on the first floor reaching to floor level. On the ground floor, facing it from the street, the door is on the left, with a semi-circular window above it, on which is painted '2, Devonshire Place'.
Entering through the big, double front doors, you find yourself in a long entrance hall, off which two rooms lead to the right, one leads off in front of you at the far end, and the stairs lie half-way along on the left. Conan Doyle recounted how he would leave his Montague Place rooms every day and walk to his consulting rooms, reaching it at 10am. There he sat until 3 or 4 o'clock 'with never a ring to disturb my serenity... It was ideal, and so long as I was thoroughly unsuccessful in my professional venture there was every chance of improvement in my literary prospects.' His writing, therefore, was done in his consulting room, which was the front room. The present owner assured me that doctors' consulting rooms in the late nineteenth century were always on the ground floor. We can therefore easily identify the room, which has changed very little, it seems. It is a large, light room, where there is still the fireplace; still the old bell pulls to summon a servant, though one end is now partitioned off. Even the wallpaper in the hallway looks original — a heavily embossed paper depicting plants, swallows and fish in a river. (It is hoped to restore this where it has been damaged by the occasional later fitting). The waiting room is less easy to identify, though it seems likely that it was the one which lies at the end of the hallway, and overlooks the yard. It is here that the owner is considering a small display on Conan Doyle and his association with the property.
The Parish Magazine Postbag
Richard Lancelyn Green's review of Peter Costello's The Real World of Sherlock Holmes (ACD, Autumn 1991) has produced a particularly lively batch of correspondence. Chiefly this has been in defence of Doyle. Some of the matters raised in the following letters are vitally important to our greater understanding of Doyle and his motivations and it is proposed, therefore, to reprint the following letters, together with any further comments received and, hopefully, a response from Richard, in the 1992 Journal.
From Mr. Julian Symons,
Hon. President, The Arthur Conan Doyle Society:
I was surprised by the tone of Richard Lancelyn Green's review of Peter Costello's book in the last issue, and by what seemed thinly veiled suggestions that there are discreditable passages in Conan Doyle's life we should know about, or that we do know about and conceal. Unless authors can bring themselves to consider the facts about Doyle's life in an open way... What facts does he think or know are being hidden? He should surely have been explicit.
Instead he proceeds by menacing hints, as in the remark made in relation to the death of Louise Hawkins' brother Jack: 'Nor was he (Conan Doyle) innocence personified or he would not have married Touie.' Does he mean that Conan Doyle had in effect murdered the young man under his care? Surely not. Or that he behaved in a mercenary way by marrying Louise? That seems to me against all we know of Conan Doyle's character, but if Mr Green has information to that effect he should say so. This would still fail to justify the statement that he was not 'innocence personified', meaning that in some sense he was guilty. The phrase is deeply offensive as it stands, and should be justified or withdrawn.
Surprising too is the zest with which Mr Green attacks Conan Doyle's activities (or as he would have it lack of activity) in the cases of Edalji and Slater. He says Conan Doyle did not 'prove Edalji's innocence'. In a technical sense this is so, for it is almost impossible legally to prove innocence, but the points made in his Daily Telegraph articles make it overwhelmingly unlikely that Edalji was guilty. Or so it seems to one who has not seen the 'new detailed study of the subject' available to Mr Green, which has convinced him that Conan Doyle 'manipulated the evidence'. Again, such a discreditable suggestion should be backed by facts if it is to be made. In relation to Slater, Mr Green casually dismisses Conan Doyle's 80-page booklet on the case, which seemed to this reader more impressive than it did to him. It is true that Conan Doyle acted in part 'as a propagandist' in these matters, but that is the most effective contribution he could have made. He is surely to be praised for giving time in a busy public life to the causes of Edalji and Slater, and not blamed for failure to take a greater interest in their personalities and their fates.
From Mrs. Georgina Doyle, Brockenhurst, Hampshire:
On a previous occasion you published two reviews of a controversial book, namely Mr Kelvin Jones' Conan Doyle and the Spirits. This provided a welcome balance of views.
I should like to suggest, in fairness to Mr Costello, that the same ruling should apply again. Mr Richard Lancelyn Green's 'review' of Mr Costello's book is no such thing. There may be some valid criticism but, in the main, it is a vehicle for Green's bias. Reading to the end one has little idea about the book in question, only Green's prejudices.
It would seem that Green has forgotten the Arthur Conan Doyle Society's aims. He would also appear to have forgotten his own words in his preface to The Uncollected Sherlock Holmes (1983), in which he states that he hopes he does justice to Sherlock Holmes and the memory of his creator. Green's current vitriolic attacks on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would appear now to reflect the negative views of a man bent on denigrating both author and writings in the present instance through the unfortunate Mr Costello's work.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's reputation will, of course, survive these attacks.
From Mr Joe Cooper, Leeds:
I cannot resist responding to Richard Lancelyn Green's recent review of Peter Costello's book in the Autumn 1991 Journal. In it he savages the author for suggesting that Conan Doyle was a 'sophisticated criminologist' while also being an ardent spiritualist'. Indeed, our scholarly critic implies that such a latter belief in conjunction with being a fairy believer blends gullibility with foolishness. He does not use such nasty nouns but his phrases 'a man .. who could believe in fairies' and 'a criminologist would have taken one look at the phenomena of spiritualism and would have exposed the lot, root and branch' savour of censuring those who would clap hands for Tinkerbell and know that conscious identity survives bodily extinction. To which schools of thought, of course, I joyfully belong.
First we had better put the matter of Tink to one side, even though she may pout and swish her wand awhile. I have given her plenty of elbow room in my last two books and those interested enough will find out what they were called and where they may be obtained and read them. Meanwhile, for the cautious, let me say that it is not so much a matter of whether you believe in fairies as to if the fairies believe in you; their favours, you may discover, pass all mortal understanding.
I had the pleasure of meeting Richard Lancelyn Green in person at a recent Doyle gathering in London. I was agreeably surprised that he was youngish rather than oldish, amiable rather than austere, and agnostic rather atheist in his psychic orientation. We are at counterpoint on the two topics mentioned above and I enjoyed our walk along Baker Street, of all places, when we went through the usual exchanges as to ACD and spiritualism.
I had been expecting somebody after the sharpish vibe of the late Trevor Hall with whom I have had several conversations on such a topic. He and I both enjoyed the facilities of the Leeds Library, founded in 1768 and thus one of the oldest private libraries in the world. Before his untimely death last year, Hall used his financial acumen to secure the premises well into the next century a formidable legacy to leave us, together with his literary mailings of such psychic pioneers as Fred Myers, Edmund Gurney and William Crookes. In his 1978 book Sherlock Holmes and his creator he echoed the opinion of RLG:
'Doyle may have been right about spiritualism or (as I believe) he may have been wrong about it.' (Page 143)
When he was president of the library a year or two ago, I recall having a conversation with him on the floor of the venerable Main Room, with thirty feet of shelves and choice volumes stretching above and around us.
'You think Doyle went soft in his later years,' I seem to remember saying. 'Unhinged by the war and carnage. He didn't. He was sharp as ever till his dying day.'
'He believed too easily. When I was a boy my father, who knew him, took me to meet him round at his Psychic Bookshop. Doyle showed us a plaster cast of an arm and hand which he said had been made by the spirits.'
Hall had paused benignly, serenely well coiffeured and suited, regarding me with amused tolerance.
'Read Geley on it,' I responded. 'He'll swamp you with similar evidence. That's the trouble nobody reads up the data for psychic phenomena. It's been there by the bucketful since the Dialectical Committee Report of 1874.'
So we begged to differ in gentlemanly fashion, and passed on to talk of the irregularities of agents and publishers, a less controversial and mutually common source of dissatisfaction.
It is difficult to know where to begin to counter RLG's outmoded agnosticism apart from the advice I gave to Trevor Hall. To be specific, half a day's reading of, say, the botanist Crookall on soul projections and the criminologist Lombroso on after death conditions may ease his pain. The last name, of course, should have a special appeal for Richard, since he belonged to the tribe of potential debunkers mentioned in the Costello review.
Of course Doyle's The History of Spiritualism is biased. All histories are; for there is no such being as a value free historian. And in presentation terms Doyle knew not the wiles of Goffman or Packard and sought to demonstrate the miraculous paranormal rather than the plausibility of his case. And as for human frailty and fraud, our species is shot through with such Brighton Rock imperfections, from the South Sea Bubble of 1720 up to (dare I write) the matter of pension funds in 1991.
The big need, of course, is for us all to declare peace and work more harmoniously together. Champions may suffer from self delusion and critics may be underinformed and exchanges, however lively, are always preferable to silence. Having run classes on psychic studies for half a dozen years, I have passed from handouts and the founding of the SPR to listening how others listen and rendering people light of heart and step, for, as the philosopher Santayana has observed, it is the inner atmosphere, the weather in the soul that is important to an individual above all else. The psychic ever dominates the physical and debates between atheistic chemists and those who experience angels should bear useful fruit.
During his last missionary years, ACD would carry a notebook around with him which contained many names of prominent academics who moved from ridiculing spiritualism to accepting that some higher order is within and around us in whatever terms this may be expressed.
In my fancy I see him on some lofty plane, angel robed and with tablet and scribing instrument in hand, eager to add the name of Richard Lancelyn Green to his long list.
I feel it only a matter of time before he will do so.
From Mr Michael Doyle, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada:
We owe a great debt to Richard Lancelyn Green. His excellent books and papers, particularly his A Bibliography of A Conan Doyle, his Unknown Conan Doyle trilogy and his splendid introductions to The Sherlock Holmes Letters and The Uncollected Sherlock Holmes, provide invaluable information and do much to stimulate interest in the life and works of Sir Arthur. His research is exemplary, his knowledge immense and his style interesting. No one had appeared better suited for writing the definitive biography of ACD and, for this reason, I am distressed by his contentious review of The Real World of Sherlock Holmes in the Autumn 1991 edition of the Journal.
His spiteful assertions that ACD succumbed to a sense of his own infallibility, that he manipulated the evidence in the Edalji case, that he refused to honour his commitments to meet costs in the Slater case and that he would not have married his first wife Louise had he been innocent of the death of her brother, astonished me. They contradict, in fact and inference, other reports, including those of ACD's previous biographers. Clarification, outside the constraints of a book review, is needed. The cause of these attacks appears to lie in his final four paragraphs where RLG writes in a fury of contempt about ACD's interest in spiritualism: 'He was blind in a way which was perverse... he gave blanket approval to the fraudulent... (his gullibility) defies belief'. Such a prejudice towards a man whom RLG otherwise respects and admires jeopardizes the objective view of his subject so essential to the biographer. For our sake, for posterity, and before further harm is done to his own reputation, Richard must be urged to recognise and deal with his bias.
Conan Doyle got it right about spiritualism. There is life after death; the soul does exist independently of the body; the living can communicate with the dead. These three tenets, intrinsic to the Resurrection, are central to the faith of Christians. Christ preached, and practiced, all three. Evidence, in addition to that found in holy writ, is abundant and as near as the library. It is childish to deny it.
I suggest, however, with respect, that ACD was in error but it was not the error that RLG supposes. In his enthusiasm for uncovering evidence, ACD certainly underrated, perhaps even disregarded, its creator. Asked by Jean Dorsenne in A French View of Conan Doyle 'Can you reconcile your beliefs with those of the Christian religion?' he replied: 'No man admires the life of Christ more than I, with the examples that it offers of constant charity, largeness of spirit, self-abnegation, courage and effort towards progress.' Christians, asked whether Christ is God will reply unequivocally: yes. ACD's answer shows he did not believe that. It is ironic that, in the matter of spiritualism, it was ACD who apparently confused the doll with the maker; ACD who was the undiscerning critic. Of this Sir Arthur was well aware: in an interview with Charles Dawbarn he said, 'In spiritualism, as I can now see, I spent too long a time in demanding proofs of things already proved.'
Nothing great is accomplished without enthusiasm. Enthusiasm impels but it does not guide. Many have been led by it into side streets and down wrong turnings. Sir Arthur's enthusiasm for pursuing the evidence of spiritualism was innocent, understandable and altruistic. Scion of a family whose interest in the occult was endemic, he found himself in a highly materialistic world that had wandered far from the Victorian simplicities. As George Doran puts it: 'As the war went on... there was not the slightest evidence of spiritual uplift — all was grim, desperate, hellish. With an external stoicism the fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers of Britain accepted their bereavements, but deep down in their souls was a terrific craving for the comforts of abandoned beliefs... it was impossible to urge from the pulpit the waging of a war for the extermination of a misled brotherly nation and at the same time to offer the consolation of the Christian doctrine of love.' Sir Arthur put it bluntly: 'The churches have failed in the present crisis. People get cold comfort from ordinary religion.' The evidence that Sir Arthur uncovered was just such as would bring relief. He saw his duty as drawing attention to it. Why would he not?
If Sir Arthur spent too much time on his evidence, Richard Lancelyn Green has spent too little. I suggest that RLG has made the error of judging such evidence for spiritualism as he has taken the trouble to consider only by the legal yardstick: 'Is this evidence so strong as to preclude other theories or possibilities?' From his own answer 'In my opinion, no' he has erroneously deduced that the evidence is therefore worthless. Future knowledge may show such evidence, not presently persuasive, to be entirely vindicated. Circumstantial evidence is a very tricky thing. If Richard will evaluate it briefly and impartially if he will shift his own point of view a little he may find it pointing not to the nonsense he now perceives but to something entirely different. He may find that in the vigour with which ACD pursued his enthusiasm, in his gallant crusade, in his dogged persistence in his beliefs, in his seeking to bring comfort to others, in the moral courage he showed in making himself liable to the ridicule of others, in his fearlessness in the face of scorn, in his enquiring mind, in his generosity to those who tricked and misled him, and, yes, in his trusting nature too, he may find not a gullible naif, but some of the strongest and most fascinating of those many simple, single threads whose juxtaposition has produced this complex genius, this great and loveable man.
I have no particular interest in spiritualism nor, despite my surname, do I claim to be related to Sir Arthur. I make this plea for the sake of truth, of Sir Arthur's reputation, of our Society's objectives and for posterity: Mr Green, you are much needed. Please consider your bias rationally and in a spirit of inquiry and then restore spiritualism to its proper place in the life and works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
If you have particular views on any topic discussed in any of the Society's publications, why not drop us a line we, and the other members, would like to hear from you.
PUNCH 150
by Philip K Wilson
From 11 October to 17 November, 1991, a splendid and massive exhibit of Punch 150 was held at the Royal Festival Hall, London. Among the 241 items in the exhibition, four were of particular interest to readers of The Parish Magazine. These were displays of some original Punch sketches as drawn by Richard ('Dicky') Doyle, Sir Arthur's uncle.
Doyle was introduced to those who attended the exhibit through the exhibition catalogue as follows:
Richard Doyle (1824-1883) joined Punch when only 18 years old, and almost immediately designed the magazine's best-known cover, which was used from 1849 to 1956. His work would include fairies and other fantasy figures, along with some political cartoons on the Irish Question. He resigned from the staff in 1850 over some remarks in the magazine about the Pope.
Doyle items displayed included exhibit No.11, Doyle's 'Union is Strength (Famine in Ireland)', 1846. According to the catalogue, 'Punch was normally rather rude about Ireland and the Irish, but this is a sympathetic image of the potato famine.' Item 12, 'Mr Punch Louis-Philippe', 1847. 'Mr Punch gives the emperor a good talking to. It didn't work Louis-Philippe was overthrown the following year'. Item 13, 'Political Pantomimes Almanack', 1849. 'Mr Punch at the opera, sharing a box with Queen Victoria and Prince Albert'. The first of these was on loan from the British Museum, and the latter two from private collections. Even more sensational was Richard Doyle's sketch book, exhibited within a collection of other Punch artists' sketch books, also on private loan.
Doyle's presence went beyond these few exhibits, for it was his artistic Punch cover that enveloped much of the art work on display when it was first enjoyed by the magazine's readers.
Can You Help?
The Parish Magazine's Wants Page
Michael W Homer, 47 West Jennings Lane, Centreville, Utah 84014, USA, is seeking copies (or photocopies) of the following Spiritualist pamphlets written by ACD: (the bracketed references refer to the Green & Gibson Bibliography)
1. Spiritualism Some Straight Questions and Direct Answers (1922) (B.30)
2. Spiritualism (London: Psychic Book Shop, 1927) (B.39)
3. An Open Letter to Those of My Generation (The Psychic Press, 1929) (B.42)
4. 'Life After Death' (A Form Letter) (1918) (B.24)
5. 'Our Reply to the Cleric' (Halifax: Spiritualist National Union, 1920) (B.26)
If anyone can help (Michael is also interested in purchasing originals), please contact him at the above address.
CAROLAN
Michael Doyle, 1840 West 61st Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6P 2C4, Canada, would be grateful for any information regarding a possible relative, probably surnamed Doyle, who was on the staff of The Times and wrote columns for Chambers's Journal under the name Carolan. A staunch Fenian, he emigrated to England, probably Manchester, from Ireland, probably Limerick, in approximately 1840, at the time of the Great Irish Potato Famine. He may have lived in Edinburgh; reportedly found strangled near his home in Hammersmith.
Michael, an enthusiast of the noble sport of pugilism, has also asked if anyone has further information regarding Charlie Ball, the champion of Scotland who is intriguingly referred to on p.xxi of Green & Gibson's Introduction to Uncollected Stories. Perhaps anyone who can help would channel this information through me.
Finally, in the never-ending quest for source material, Christopher Roden is always interesting in hearing from anyone who can supply booklets and pamphlets written by ACD (originals or photocopies), or books with a bearing on the study of ACD. In particular Ernst & Carrington's Houdini and Conan Doyle is still sought. Contact me at Grasmere, 35 Penfold Way, Dodleston, Chester CH4 9ML, England (Tel: 0244-660988).
Publishing News
The Macmillan Press, publishers of Professor Harold Orel's Arthur Conan Doyle: Interviews and Recollections have taken on board the comments made in my review of the book (ACD, Autumn 1991) and are offering members of the Society the opportunity to purchase this valuable work at a considerable discount: £32.95 against the published price of £45.00. If you haven't already purchased a copy, I recommend that you do so now. The closing date for this special offer is 30 June 1992. See the full page advertisement in this issue for further details.
Professor Orel's new book, to be published in America by Twayne in May this year, is Critical Essays on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A preview of the contents suggests that this collection will be just as valuable an addition to the Doylean library as Interviews and Recollections, and we hope to have a substantial extract from Professor Orel's introduction for his new book in the 1992 edition of ACD.
The Glenliffer Press, specialist producers of miniature volumes, announces a limited edition of 200 numbered copies of The Three Students. In a format no larger than an unbelievable 1" high x 0.75" wide, the complete story is set in 3 point Times, bound in red with gilt titling on spine and front and contains several tiny illustrations. The 64 pages cost £15 or US $30 (post paid). Orders, with payment, should be sent to The Glenliffer Press, 11 Low Castlehead, Paisley, Scotland PA2 6AQ.
BBC Radio Drama (Radio 4) has produced as an attractive set of postcards as I have yet seen for the latest series of The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. The eleven cards in the set are printed brown on cream and housed in an attractive folder. The price is £3.50 per set (plus 36 pence to cover postage). Obtainable from Sherlock Holmes Postcards, 812 Henry Wood House, Langham Place, London WIA 1AA.
Finally, ACD Society President, Julian Symons, celebrates his 80th birthday in May this year. (Or, as he wrote in a recent letter, his 800th perhaps it just feels that way, Julian!). By way of celebration, Macmillan is reissuing Bloody Murder, with what they describe as 'an incendiary new last chapter'. In addition, there will be a book by members of the Detection Club entitled 'The Man Who ... There is also a new Julian Symons crime story to coincide with the birthday celebrations. All of these should be worth looking for. A little in advance of the event, may we wish Julian a very happy 80th and thank him for his continuing support for the Society's activities.
News of our Members
SARAH CROMBLEHOLME, one of the Society's newest members, wrote what was one of the most enthusiastic letters I have read in a good while. 'I was bought The Lost World as a present but, due to college exams, didn't really have time to pick it up until last night. I started reading at about 11.45 p.m. just planning to read a couple of chapters to wind down. However, as the cliché says: I just could not put it down. It was marvellous. I sat up until 3.30 a.m., eyelids drooping, but there was no way I could have gone to bed before I knew how it ended. The plot and the characters were wonderful the book was just magical. I honestly cannot remember being so 'excited' by a book for a long time. On the strength of that, today I looked out an old book of Conan Doyle stories a real mixed bag of boxing, medical, mystery, adventure and terror. As the book is over 1,000 pages, I can't say that I've progressed very far — but I'm entranced all over again!'
Well spoken, Sarah. You're just one of the many who are discovering the real world of Arthur Conan Doyle!
Four years ago, CHERRIE WALTHO was accepted on to a degree course to study Fashion Design at Lancashire Polytechnic which included a period of Industrial Training. Her major project 'The Final Collection' commenced in Autumn 1990, and for this she had to research, design, buy fabrics, pattern cut, make-up and accessorize six outfits consisting of two or more garments. The culmination of this effort was a Fashion Show. Cherrie also had to compile a personal design portfolio and write a dissertation — all of which culminated in her obtaining her degree. But what has all of this got to do with ACD? Let Cherrie take up the story:
'I took the opportunity to use my keen interest in Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes as the inspiration behind the designing of my collection. I was able to source information from my library of books on Sherlock Holmes. In the initial stages, I decided to concentrate on the dress descriptions written by Conan Doyle. These were plentiful and I was able to compile a sketchbook of photocopies of quotations and Sidney Paget illustrations as a basis for my design work.
This theme coincided with my dissertation. For this research paper I was compiling information to put together a student handbook based on researching historical dress which would include an essay on my interpretation of early nineteenth century attire. I had decided to study the works of George Eliot and Mrs Gaskell and use dress descriptions from their novels alongside actual references.
With the compilation of a large amount of research from various people, places and books, I sorted out the most informative quotations on Sherlockian menswear to design womenswear for Autumn/Winter 1991. I would use the trends that showed pinstripes, and suits would be fashionable in the coming seasons and incorporate the cut, styling, fabric and colours found in the dress descriptions. The Conan Doyle quotations and the illustrations by Sidney Paget gave me two individual views of Victorian dress, whereas the history books were too generalised.
My design work began to show the combination of Victorian influences and 90s styling; small, neat lapels, cut-away fronts, defined waists, fancy waistcoats and limited trimmings/accessories.
The sourcing and purchasing of the fabric was an important factor to the project. I found a very helpful manufacturer in Scotland who produced suitings in pure wool. My designated market required that I use pure and natural fabrics. The company let me buy pure wool herringbone suiting in shades of navy and dark green. These were very strong, rich colours which blended well together.
In contrast, two blouses would be produced in 100% cotton with a slant towards a masculine cut and look, whilst the others were made in pure habatoi silk in rich red, pink and yellow. The use of a 'feminine' fabric in conjunction with crisp cotton and suitings was to emphasisie that I had designed womenswear and had not produced menswear that women could wear.
I had to be sure that my collection, which was based on such a well known character as Sherlock Holmes, did not turn into a 'costume' collection, but that it was a wearable and marketable range of clothes. I wanted to show I was using the true image of Holmes and the townwear that Conan Doyle described.
The fabrics made up well and all worked well together. I was able to interchange each item to create the best effect for the fashion show catwalk.
For the fashion show, a brochure was produced and, for this, I had to compose a quote describing the collection for the audience. My statement was as follows:
'221b' — Sherlockian tailored separates for women a long, lean silhouette reminiscent of the great detective, using blends of pure wool, cotton and silk'.
In retrospect, I could return and produce a better collection. But I am grateful to all at Lancashire Polytechnic, tutors and students, because they pressured me to work hard and achieve what I had set out to do in 1987.
Well done Cherrie! It only goes to show that ACD is still providing inspiration through words he wrote over a century ago.
Playing with Fire
by Malcolm Payne
What may appear as a strange title for an article on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is, in fact, taken from the title of one of his stories which first appeared in the March 1900 issue of The Strand Magazine. The story tells of a seance which went wrong because an extra person was introduced to the circle. This person, as Doyle is at pains to point out, provided the very element which should not have been present, thus allowing an evil presence to be conjured into the house in which the seance was being held.
Whilst the story is intriguing, gathering the reader's sense of stepping into the unknown, the very excellence of the use of his craft by the author carries the story along, depositing the idea of not meddling with spiritualism, as if it were a game or entertainment, almost subconciously, even to the lightest reader. The piece is also valuable to those who would research Doyle's background and motivation, for it reveals how he fitted into the role of spiritualist.
Written in the first person, the writer referring to himself as Markham, the story shows this person as far removed from the serious student (in 1900) of spiritualism which Doyle himself was. Of himself, Markham says:... I was not the devotee. I was not the scientific critic. Perhaps the best that I can claim for myself is that I was the dilettante man about town, anxious to be in the swim of every fresh movement, thankful of any fresh movement, thankful of any new sensation which would take me out of myself... open up fresh possibilities of those who are ...' This was not, of course, true of the real Doyle. In fact, it was just about as off track as his once joking reference to himself as 'the man in the street'.
There is, in this piece, a reflection of Doyle's father, as revealed in the now well-known published diary, with its strange fairies, angels, dragons, flying horses and heraldic symbolism. One of the seance circle is an artist, Harvey Deacon, who could have been modelled on Charles Altamont Doyle. In viewing a painting by Deacon, Markham describes it, and asks questions about it: ... Well it's above me,' said I. 'These beasts what are they? Mythical monsters, imaginary creatures, heraldic emblems, a sort of weird, bizarre procession of them. There is the question of a white horse which Markham sees in front of this procession, which the artist testily points out is a unicorn. The beast turns out to be most important in the story and, of course, is one of the heraldic symbols. Why should Doyle represent his father as a spiritualistic character? Does he wish to point out to himself, and reinforce this idea by putting it into writing, that his father's strange behaviour can partly be put down to his being of artistic nature, combined with something of the mystic; and either a spiritualist or, even greater, an un-realised medium? It could be taken as so. Could this also account for Doyle's own interest in spiritualism? One would feel not, for he had the interest in looking into the belief as far back as his days at Southsea and, in a more minor way, some time previously. It is, in part, his interest in anything which he finds worthy of deeper study. As he did with military or battle planning, armaments, protection and safety for soldiers and sailors, new inventions, or anything that would advance the sum of human knowledge and achievement. Perhaps, having found his ideal in spiritualism, he also found in it a niche for his father. This would have allowed a mellowing of the way in which he may previously have seen him.
Whilst Doyle had a vast range of interests which required him to study quite deeply and research amongst the many avenues along which his interests took him, he rarely appears to have looked into his own motivation. One can conjecture that this was because he was afraid to look into his dark recesses. There is no record of his being afraid of anything, not to the extent of not looking into it; if it served him so to do. Could this have been a subconscious effort of not really wanting to know what made him tick? One cannot give a definite 'yes', even to this; it may have been. It is not unknown for people of great purpose, or with a great sense of purpose, to completely ignore self if they are altruist in the truest sense.
Some of Doyle's most serious writing was on the subject of spiritualism. Could it be that in his stories on this subject he reveals most?
Plans for the Future
I made a passing reference, earlier in this issue of The Parish Magazine, to the fact that we were revising our publishing schedule for 1992.
Following the announcement, in the Autumn 1991 edition of ACD, that we were considering a single issue of the Journal each year, I have received a hefty mailbag sympathising with my current workload and expressing support for the idea of expanded Parish Magazines and a two hundred page Journal each year. As you will see from this issue, the expansion is already underway and this will be continued with the single edition of the Journal which is planned for publication in August/September. The prospect of publishing a book-sized Journal each year is somewhat daunting and, of course, requires your support in the form of contributions. The content of the 1992 Journal is already assured and, hopefully, you will provide the stockpile of articles for future years. There is so much that we have to learn of ACD and his life. For example, has anyone considered detailing the Spiritualist lectures which he gave in Britain and abroad? Would someone be prepared to look at Conan Doyle's cricketing career? Which other literary figures, apart from Poe and Stevenson, were an influence on his writings? What relationship did ACD have with prominent literary figures of his day? Just what did he say to the electorate in his two unsuccessful election campaigns? Could someone describe Windlesham in ACD's time? All of these topics, and many more, will occupy us for years to come.
In a sense, we are all beginners in the study of ACD's life and works. The neglect of his writings, other than the Sherlock Holmes stories, ensures that we come to things anew and with fresh thinking. You can help to ensure that we do not miss the opportunity which we now have to leave a lasting memorial to the man whose work and writings we so admire.
One final plea: the Society is in need of an organiser of an Annual Dinner, or similar function. Is there anyone out there who would feel comfortable negotiating with hotels and arranging such a function? Please contact me if you feel you would like to help.
PLEASE REMEMBER YOUR RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTION IS DUE ON JUNE 1ST, 1992
THE PARISH MAGAZINE THE ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE SOCIETY, 1992
PUBLISHED BY THE ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE SOCIETY FROM GRASMERE, 35 PENFOLD WAY, DODLESTON, CHESTER CH4 9ML
EDITED BY CHRISTOPHER RODEN. INDIVIDUAL COPYRIGHT RETAINED BY AUTHORS.
- Article courtesy Christopher Roden, founder of The Arthur Conan Doyle Society (1989-2003).
