The Notorious Canary-Trainers
A Scion of the Baker Street Irregulars
for friends and fans of Sherlock Holmes
-- celebrating our 40th year!

Cases reviewed in November and December 2008 12/15/2008

Holmes, from "Three Garridebs." Artist: Howard K. Elcock

DECEMBER 2008: THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LADY FRANCES CARFAX
Tuesday, July 1 - Friday, July 18, 1902

This adventure takes place less than a week after the case of "The Three Garridebs" which we reviewed at our November meeting.

This adventure was first published in December 1911 in The Strand Magazine, with 5 illustrations by Alec Ball, and in the American Magazine the same month with 5 illustrations by Frederic Dorr Steele. It now is found in "His Last Bow" collection.

Quotes to Note:

(Holmes) "One of the most dangerous classes in the world is the drifting and friendless woman. She is the most harmless, and often the most useful of mortals, but she is the inevitable inciter of crime in others."

(Holmes) "…(O)n general principles it is best that I should not leave the country. Scotland Yard feels lonely without me, and it causes an unhealthy excitement among the criminal classes."

(Holmes to Watson) "I cannot at the moment recall any possible blunder which you have omitted."

(Holmes to Watson) "We simply can't afford to wait for the police, or to keep within the four corners of the law."

(Holmes to Watson) "Would you go in, Watson? Your appearance inspires confidence."

To read the full text of this story online, go to this Web site or The Sherlockian Net.

For a Wikipedia plot summary and related links, click here.

For a commentary on this account, try this essay.

For other questions to review after reading the story -- to test yourself on how well you have observed -- check out these links:

Hounds of the Internet

The Sherlockian Net

What else was happening in 1902? Click here to find out.

NOVEMBER 2008: THE THREE GARRIDEBS
Thursday, June 26 - Friday, June 27, 1902

This adventure was first published in the U.S. in Collier's Weekly Magazine of October 1924, with three illustrations by John Richard Flanagan, and in England's Strand Magazine, January 1925, with five illustrations by Howard K. Elcock. It now may be found in "The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes" collection.

A MINOR DIVERSION (Watson) "I say, Holmes, Scotland Yard has arrested a trio of female spies. They were posing as debutantes from Indiana."

"Quite right, old fellow--the three Gary debs!" (Submitted by W.W. Higgins, August 1995).

WORTH NOTING The first known television adaptation of a Sherlock Holmes case was "The Adventure of the Three Garridebs," in 1937. There's brief information about it at Turner Classic Movies where you also can suggest it be scheduled for airing. It's not available on DVD.

Quotes to Note:

(Holmes) "You're not hurt, Watson? For God's sake, say that you are not hurt!"

(Holmes) "By the Lord, it is as well for you. If you had killed Watson, you would not have got out of this room alive."

To read the full text of this story online, go to this Web site where you can choose a version which allows you to click on any highlighted word and find out all of its uses in other stories. Otherwise, go to Wikilivres or The Sherlockian Net.

For a Wikipedia plot summary and related links, click here.

For those interested in a different take on this account, try this essay whose author suggests it's essentially a love story -- between Holmes and Watson.

Listen to a radio dramatization of this story here. This episode is from September 4th, 1964. (Thanks to NCT member Sean Duncan for finding this and hosting it on his Web site.)

For other questions to review after reading the story -- to test yourself on how well you have observed -- check out these links:

Hounds of the Internet

The Sherlockian Net

What else was happening in 1902? Click here to find out.

For information on other Sherlock Holmes stories we've recently discussed, click here.