Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

"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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles308 Related episodes: Episode 96 - Trick or Treat Episode 148 - Aliases and Disguises Episode 198 - Clothing in the Canon Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles307 "Occasionally to Embellish": Some Writings on Sherlock Holmes (Wessex Press) Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles306 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 Other episodes mentioned: Remembering Bob Thomalen Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles305 Seventeen Steps to 221B by James Edward Holroyd Other episodes mentioned: IHOSE Episode 156: The Complete Paget Portfolio Inside 221B Playlist Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles304 Candles of the Canon (and off to bed) (Sherlock Peoria) Closing soon: this brief survey about the availability of The Grand Game Volume One Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles303 Beyond Baker Street (Abebooks) Other episodes mentioned: I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 249: Remembering Nicholas Utechin I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 250: A Sherlockian Semiquincentennial Please take this brief survey about the availability of The Grand Game Volume One Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles302 The Anti-Society: An Account of the Victorian Underworld by Kellow Chesney Please take this brief survey about the availability of The Grand Game Volume One Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles301 Brief survey about the availability of The Grand Game Volume One Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles300 Brief survey about the availability of The Grand Game Volume One Previous episodes mentioned: Episode 299 – Lowenstein of Prague Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. 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/trifles299 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 Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. Sponsor The Grand Game Vol. 2 Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 --

"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. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. And, we have Chris Redmond's booklet A Sherlockian History of England available as a PDF. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles298 Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022) British Monarchs in the Sherlock Holmes Stories Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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 [email protected]. If you use your idea on the air, we'll send you some Sherlockian goodies. Our Patreon supporters can listen to our shows ad-free and every one of them is eligible for our monthly and quarterly drawings for Baker Street Journals. Join our community of patrons today. Links / Notes This episode: ihose.co/trifles297 Other episodes mentioned: Episode 71 - Inside 221B: Where There's Smoke Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Listen to us ad-free on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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. This is the episode in which we announce 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/trifles296 Sherlock Holmes Magazine Other episodes mentioned: Episode 183 - Justice, Part 1: Unresolved Episode 184 - Justice, Part 2: Disproportionate I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 206: Sherlock Holmes Magazine Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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) Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock DOT com Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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

"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 Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock DOT com Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 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 Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock DOT com Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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

"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 Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock DOT com Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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

"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 Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock DOT com Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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

"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 Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock DOT com Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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

"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 Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock DOT com Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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

"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 Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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 --

"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: Episode 286 - Strange Business Episode 109 - Brands in the Canon Episode 50 - The Agony Column Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock DOT com Support us on Patreon and become eligible for our regular giveaways. 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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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 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.

"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

"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 --

"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

"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

"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

"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

"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 Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Support us on Patreon 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 --

"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: Episode 14: Its Snakish Temper Episode 225: Viper / Wiper Episode 242: Worms Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Support us on Patreon 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 --

"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) Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube Email us at trifles @ ihearofsherlock.com Support us on Patreon 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 --