First we had the discovery of William Gillette's 1916 film, 'Sherlock Holmes'. Now an unknown Sherlock Holmes story written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle seems to have surfaced.
It appears Conan Doyle wrote 'The Brig Bazaar' as part of a fundraiser to save Selkirk Bridge which was destroyed two years earlier by the great flood of 1902. The short story (1,300 words) appeared in 'The Book o' the Brig,' a collection of stories penned by Conan Doyle and local writers. The book has resided in a local historian's attic for the last 50 years and it will be on display at Selkirk's Community Museum from Saturday, if anyone is in the area.
Time will tell if the story is authentic or if it was just a pastiche written for the book by a local author (popular opinion currently rests on the latter). In the meantime, here is the full transcript of it:
"Sherlock Holmes." - Discovering the Border Burghs, and, by Deduction, the Brig Bazaar
'We've had enough of old
romancists and the men of travel, said the Editor, as he blue-pencilled his
copy, and made arrangements for the great Saturday edition of the Bazaar Book.
'We want something up-to-date. Why not have a word from "Sherlock Holmes"?'
Editors have only to speak and
it is done, at least, they think so. 'Sherlock Holmes!' As well talk of
interviewing the Man in the Moon. But it does not do to tell Editors all that
you think. I had no objections whatever, I assured the Editor, to buttonhole
'Sherlock Holmes,' but to do so I should have to go to London.
'London!' scornfully sniffed the
Great Man. 'And you profess to be a journalist? Have you never heard of the
telegraph, the telephone, or the phonograh? Go to London! And are you not aware
that all journalists are supposed to be qualified members of the Institute of
Fiction, and to be qualified to make use of the Faculty of Imagination? By the
use of the latter men have been interviewed, who were hundreds of miles away;
some have been "interviewed" without either knowledge or consent. See
that you have a topical article ready for the press for Saturday. Good day'.'
I was dismissed and had to find
copy by hook or by crook. Well, the Faculty of Imagination might be worth a
trial.
The familiar house in Sloan
Street met my bewildered gaze. The door was shut, the blinds drawn. I entered;
doors are no barrier to one who uses the Faculty of Imagination. The soft light
from an electric bulb flooded the room. 'Sherlock Holmes' sits by the side of
the table; Dr Watson is on his feet about to leave for the night. Sherlock
Holmes, as has lately been shown by a prominent journal, is a pronounced Free
Trader. Dr Watson is a mild Protectionist, who would take his gruelling behind
a Martello tower, as Lord Goschen wittily put it, but not 'lying down!' The twain
had just finished a stiff argument on Fiscal policy. Holmes loq,-
'And when shall I see you again,
Watson? The inquiry into the "Mysteries of the Secret Cabinet" will
be continued in Edinburgh on Saturday. Do you mind a run down to Scotland? You
would get some capital data which you might turn to good account later.'
'I am very sorry,' replied Dr
Watson, 'I should have liked to have gone with you, but a prior engagement
prevents me. I will, however, have the pleasure of being in kindly Scottish
company that day. I, also, am going to Scotland.'
'Ah! Then you are going to the
Border country at that time?'
'How do you know that?'
'My dear Watson, it's all a
matter of deduction.'
'Will you explain?'
'Well, when a man becomes
absorbed in a certain theme, the murder will out some day. In many discussions
you and I have on the fiscal question from time to time I have not failed to
notice that you have taken up an attitude antagonistic to a certain school of
thought, and on several occasions you have commented on the passing of
"so-called' reforms, as you describe them, which you say were not the
result of a spontaneous movement from or by the people, but solely due to the
pressure of the Manchester School of politicians appealing to the mob. One of
these allusions you made a peculiar reference to "Huz an'
Mainchester" who had "turned the world upside down." The word
"Huz" stuck to me, but after consulting many authors without learning
anything as to the source of the word, I one day in reading a provincial paper
noticed the same expression, which the writer said was descriptive of the way
Hawick people looked at the progress of Reform. "Huz an' Mainchester' led
the way. So, thought I, Watson has a knowledge of Hawick. I was still further
confirmed in this idea by hearing you in several absent moments crooning a
weird song of the Norwegian God Thor. Again I made enquires, and writing to a
friend in the South country I procured a copy of "Teribus." So, I
reasoned, so - there's something in the air! What attraction has Hawick for
Watson?'
'Wonderful,' Watson said, 'and
-- '
'Yes, and when you characterised
the action of the German Government in seeking to hamper Canadian trade by
raising her tariff wall against her, as a case of "Sour Plums," and
again in a drawing room asked a mutual lady friend to sing you that fine old
song, "Braw, braw lads," I was curious enough to look up the old
ballad, and finding it had reference to a small town near to Hawick, I began to
see a ray of daylight. Hawick had a place in your mind; likewise so had
Galashiels - so much was apparent. The question to be decided was why?'
'So far so good. And -- '
'Later still the plot deepened.
Why, when I was retailing to you the steps that led up to the arrest of the
Norwood builder by the impression of his thumb, I found a very great surprise
that you were not listening at all to my reasoning, but were lilting a very
sweet - a very sweet tune, Watson - "The Flowers of the Forest;" then
I in turn consulted an authority on the subject, and found that that lovely if
tragic song had a special reference to Selkirk. And you remember, Watson, how
very enthusiastic you grew all of a sudden on the subject of Common-Ridings,
and how much you studied the history of James IV., with special reference to Flodden
Field. All these things speak, Watson, to the orderly brain of a thinker.
Hawick, Galashiels, and Selkirk. What did the combination mean? I felt I must
solve the problem, Watson; so that night when you left me, after we had
discussed the "Tragedy of a Divided House," I ordered in a ton of
tobacco, wrapped my cloak about me, and spent the night in thought. When you
came round in the morning the problem was solved. I could not on the
accumulative evidence but come to the conclusion that you contemplated another
Parliamentary contest. Watson, you have the Border Burghs in your eye!'
'In my heart, Holmes,' said
Watson.
'And where do you travel to on
Saturday, Watson?'
'I am going to Selkirk; I have
an engagement there to open a Bazaar.'
'Is it in aide of a Bridge,
Watson?'
'Yes,' replied Watson in
surprise; 'but how do you know? I have never mentioned the matter to you.'
'By word, no; but by your action
you have revealed the bent of your mind.'
'Impossible!'
'Let me explain. A week ago you
came round to my rooms and asked for a look at "Macaulay's Lays of Ancient
Rome." (You know I admire Macaulay's works, and have a full set.) That volume,
after a casual look at, you took with you. When you returned it a day or two
later I noticed it was marked with a slip of paper at the "Lay of
Horatius," and I detected a faint pencil mark on the slip noting that the
closing stanza was very appropriate. As you know, Watson, the lay is all
descriptive of the keeping of a bridge. Let me remind you how nicely you would
perorate -
When the goodman mends his
armour
And trims his helmet's plume,
When the goodwife's shuttle
merrily
Goes flashing through the loom,
With weeping and with laughter.
Still the story told -
How well Horatius kept the
bridge,
In the brave days of old.
Could I, being mortal, help
thinking you were bent on some such exploit yourself?'
'Very true!'
'Well, goodbye, Watson;
shall be glad of your company after Saturday. Remember Horatius' words when you
go to Border Burghs :- "How can man die better than facing fearful
odds." But there, these words are only illustrations. Safe journey, and
success to the Brig!'
