T HE N ORWEGIAN E XPLORERS OF M INNESOTA, INC. ©2012

Spring, 2012 EXPLORATIONS Issue #65 EXPLORATIONS

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It has been an exciting time lately for Garry Peterson and Michael Miller performed the Explorers! We celebrated Sherlock their quiz during the Gaslight Gala. At the Holmes in many ways through the end of Memorial Luncheon, Karen 2011 and the beginning of this year. We Murdock, ASH, won the 2012 WHIMSEY had an enjoyable movie night last fall were award for the 6HUSHQWLQH0XVH¶V most ZHZDWFKHG³$6WXG\LQ6FDUOHW´ZLWK3HWHU KXPRURXVDUWLFOHRIWLWOHG³'R

local (Minnesota) Explorers even became be a fun 2012! part of the New York festivities as well. ~Gary Thaden fURPWKHHGLWRU¶VGHVN

After a minor hiatus, Explorations is Issue 65 also has reviews from many EDFNRQWUDFN,W¶VEHHQDERXWVL[PRQWKV of our recent Explorer events. I appreciate since the previous issue but you should all the hard work of our contributors who expect to receive three issues in 2012. took time to jot notes and submit reviews Explorer John Bergquist spoke about for us all to enjoy. the life of Dr. Bryce Crawford, Jr., BSI, And as always, submissions for during our Annual Dinner in December. Explorations are welcome. Email them Dr. Crawford passed away in 2011 and directly to me in plain text or in Word was the last surviving founder of The format to: [email protected] Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota. John modified his presentation into an essay for ~Tim Reich the readers of Explorations. (It is featured on pages two and three of this issue.)

Page 2 EXPLORATIONS

Dr. Bryce L. Crawford, Jr., BSI

Dr. Bryce Low Crawford, Jr., invested into WKH%DNHU6WUHHW,UUHJXODUVLQDV³7KH 6ROLWDU\&\FOLVW´GLHGRQ6HSWHPEHU at the age of 96. He was the last remaining member of the distinguished group of U. of M. professors (four of them, including Bryce, later to become deans) who co-founded The Norwegian Explorers in 1948. Bryce was born in 1914 in New Orleans. Because his father worked for the railroad, the family moved often during his early years. Having skipped several grades, at the age of 15 the precocious youth graduated from high school, in El Paso, Texas, where he also first ³%U\FH¶V discovered the world of Sherlock Holmes in the academic vita public library. As the first-place winner in the National Edison chemistry essay contest, the 16 reads almost like -year-old future professor was flown to Menlo a parody ± too Park, New Jersey, where he was introduced to Henry Ford and Thomas Edison! His youth was JRRGWREHWUXH´ not entirely taken up by cerebral matters, however; as a teenager he spent his summers working as a ranch hand in New Mexico. (Those of us who knew Dr. Crawford only as the distinguished gentleman of his later years Dr. Bryce L. Crawford, Jr., BSI have a hard time visualizing him driving cattle on horseback.) %U\FH¶VDFDGHPLFYLWDUHDGVDOPRVWOLNHD parody ± too good to be true. After needing to founder Theodore C. Blegen in that post. He lie about his age to be admitted to Stanford at was home secretary of the National Academy WKHDJHRIKHHDUQHGKLV%DFKHORU¶VGHJUHH of Sciences for many years and was awarded 0DVWHU¶VGHJUHHDQG3K'LQ3K\VLFDO the Priestly Medal for distinguished service in Chemistry at that august institution by the age the field of chemistry by the American of 22. He then did post-graduate work, first at Chemical Society in 1982. Harvard and than at Yale. To our great benefit, in 1940, at the age of 25, he accepted a teaching Although Bryce contributed writings to the position in the Chemistry Department at the 1RUZHJLDQ([SORUHUV¶SXEOLFDWLRQExploring University of Minnesota. He and his wife, Sherlock Holmes, co-edited Cultivating Ruth, put down roots in the Twin Cities and Sherlock Holmes, and was instrumental in raised their three children here. Bryce remained helping establish what is now The Sherlock with the U. of M. until his retirement in 1985, Holmes Collections at the U. of M. Library, he DOWKRXJKKHWRRNVDEEDWLFDOVLQDQG¶WR probably is most celebrated in the Sherlockian study at Cal Tech and Oxford as a Guggenheim world for having penned the inscription on the Fellow and then again at Oxford as a Fulbright plaque placed at Reichenbach Falls in Fellow. (Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Oxford ± Switzerland in 1957 by the Norwegian how he avoided Cambridge is a mystery!) Explorers and the Sherlock Holmes Society of During his career at the U. of M. he held the /RQGRQ7KHLQVFULSWLRQUHDGV³$FURVVWKLV titles of Chairman of the Department of µGUHDGIXOFDXOGURQ¶RFFXUUHGWKHFXOPLQDWLQJ Chemistry and Dean of the Graduate School, event in the career of Sherlock Holmes, the succeeding his fellow Norwegian Explorers (Continued on page 3)

Page 3 EXPLORATIONS

(Continued from page 2)

ZRUOG¶VJUHDWHVWGHWHFWLYHZKHQRQ0D\ U. campus. After being introduced at the head 1891, he vanquished Prof. Moriarty, the table and receiving a hearty round of applause, he 1DSROHRQRI&ULPH´%U\FHKDGXQGHUWDNHQD stood, braced by his cane, and delivered a reconnaissance mission to Switzerland, characteristically eloquent off-the-cuff brief talk following up on an earlier mission by Dr. Philip about what Sherlock Holmes and the Norwegian Hench, to determine the exact spot of the Explorers had meant to him. He said that he was encounter and, thus, where the plaque should extremely gratified to have helped start an be placed. Upon his return, he submitted an organization all those years ago that was still expense report to the Sigerson requesting thriving under the guidance of a new generation, reimbursement for the approximately 32 cents specifically citing our conferences and U.S. he had paid for a funicular ride to the top publications. It was quite a compliment to our JURXSFRPLQJIURPDSHUVRQRI%U\FH¶V ´he probably is of the Falls. His request was denied because of lack of sufficient documentation, which became accomplishments. most celebrated a continual source of amusement. To his Now that Bryce has joined his illustrious in the Sherlockian delight, finally in 1998, the Norwegian colleagues, perhaps somewhere beyond the Explorers board belatedly presented him his 32 Reichenbach they still gather to debate the finer world for having cents in a nicely matted frame. points of a Holmes adventure. I would like to penned the 0DQ\RIXVUHFDOO%U\FH¶VODVWDSSHDUDQFH think so. at a Norwegian Explorers event, when he was a inscription on the guest of honor at our annual dinner some ten or ~John Bergquist, BSI, 2s plaque placed at twelve years ago at the Radisson hotel on the ™ Reichenbach )DOOV´

Page 4 EXPLORATIONS

Holmes Sightings

An Anatomy of Addiction

In An Anatomy of Addiction, Howard anesthetic. About the same time, Doyle was Markel writes about Sigmund Freud, William writing , with Sherlock Halstead, and cocaine, the miracle drug. Holmes enjoying a 7 percent solution of Despite addictions to cocaine, both Freud and FRFDLQH0DUNHOUHSRUWVWKDW)UHXGZDV³RQHRI Halstead made great contributions to science. &RQDQ'R\OH¶VPRVWDYLGUHDGHUV´0DUNHO The book has a good brief history of cocaine also notes that with the publication of Sign of and how it affects the brain. From 1863 into the Four³&RQDQ'R\OH¶VSUHFLVHGHVFULSWLRQ the 1900s, Angelo Mariani, a French chemist, RI+ROPHV¶VFRFDLQHVHOI-administration in this sold Vin Mariani, a coca-laced Bordeaux wine. novel could just as easily be applied to The beverage gained and large following and +DOVWHDG¶VWHFKQLTXHDQGPRWWOHGDUP´ UHFHLYHGHQGRUVHPHQWVIURP³7KRPDV$ ³0DUNHOUHSRUWV Edison, Auguste Rodin, Jules Verne, Arthur ~Mike Eckman that Freud was &RQDQ'R\OH´DQGRWKHUV+DOVWHDGD ™ surgeon, successfully used cocaine as an µRQHRI&RQDQ 'R\OH¶VPRVWDYLG UHDGHUV¶´ Holmes Movie Night

On Tuesday, October 5, the Norwegian 7KLVZDVDIDLUO\IDLWKIXODGDSWDWLRQRI³$ Explorers enjoyed another movie night in the 6WXG\LQ6FDUOHW´ZKLOHWULPPLQJDQG Andersen library at the University of modifying the story to fit into the hour running Minnesota. This year John Bergquist selected time. Most of the Utah elements were excised, DQDGDSWLRQRI³$6WXG\LQ6FDUOHW´IURPWKH leaving the action mostly focused on Holmes 1968 BBC TV series, Sherlock Holmes, starring and Watson. This adaptation did not include Nigel Stock as Doctor Watson, with Peter the meeting of the pair, suggesting that they Cushing taking over from Douglas Wilmer as had been working together for some time; Sherlock Holmes. Cushing had previously therefore, it was a bit surprising to see Watson starred as Holmes in the 1959 Hammer Films FDXJKWXQDZDUHVE\+ROPHV¶VNLOOV Cushing SURGXFWLRQRI³7KH+RXQGRIWKH%DVNHUYLOOHV´ brought some nice, canonical mannerisms to and so when Wilmer declined to participate in his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes, and additional episodes of the well-regarded series, comments afterwards compared him favorably Cushing was considered a fit replacement. to , with speculation that Brett may Before we watched the program, Tim KDYHWDNHQVRPHLQVSLUDWLRQIURP&XVKLQJ¶V 5HLFKUHTXHVWHGVXEPLVVLRQVIRUWKLV\HDU¶V interpretation. Those who thought Cushing Christmas Annual, while he endured some seemed too old to play Holmes, however, good-natured ribbing about his amusingly wide should be reminded that sixteen years later he -FROODUHGV+DZDL¶LDQ-style Sherlock DJDLQUHSULVHGWKHUROHIRUWKH79PRYLH³7KH Holmes shirt. Tim Johnson then told us of the 0DVNVRI'HDWK´ Perhaps someone will be interest in the collections shown during a recent able to share that rarity with the group for a SDUHQWV¶QLJKWRQFDPSXV Finally, John future movie night? Bergquist introduced the program for the ~Ray Riethmeier evening. ™

Page 5 EXPLORATIONS

Sherlock Holmes: , A Play at the Lyric Arts Theater

At the end of October, a few Norwegian Explorers visited the Halloween Capital of the World (Anoka, MN) to see the SOD\³6KHUORFN+ROPHV7KH)LQDO3UREOHP´DWWKH/\ULF$UWV Main Street Stage. The play, was a combination of the play ³6KHUORFN+ROPHV´7KH$GYHQWXUHRIWKH)LQDO3UREOHPDQG the Scandal of Bohemia. The result was an over-long play (2 1/2 hours) in two acts. Early in the production the director had Sherlock Holmes playing of recording of as the King of Bohemia entered 221B. Nice touch. Unfortunately, Sherlock Holmes (Richard Brandt) had a number of long speeches in which he mumbled and dropped off the ends of words. Dr. Watson (Ron Tolliver) was by far the best actor of the night, along with Irene ³'U:DWVRQ Adler (Beth King). I could see the King of Bohemia (Ralph Blanco) and, of course, (Adam King) at (Ron Tolliver) Reichenbach Falls in Switzerland (only 350 miles from was by far the %RKHPLD EXWZK\GLG6KHUORFN+ROPHVZHDUD¶VKLSSLH hat instead of a deerstalker? best actor of the An entertaining, but unsatisfying evening. QLJKW´ ~Gary Thaden ™

SinS: A Study in Scandal²Toronto 2011

Several Explorers ventured north to Toronto a reception at the home of Bob Coghill, complete in October to attend a stellar conference devoted with a 37th Floor view of the city at night. to the often controversial life of Sir Arthur Barbara Rusch led the conference committee, Conan Doyle. Julie McKuras and her daughter which attended to myriad details of the weekend Megan LePlavy, Gary & Andy Thaden, Mike events. Papers were presented on several topics, Eckman, Paul and Carol Martin, Dick Sveum KLJKOLJKWHGE\&KULV5HGPRQG¶VTXLFNUHYLHZRI and Pj Doyle joined Sherlockians from around the 49 mentions of scandal in the Canon. the globe at the Toronto Public Library for four Victorian fascination with scandalous actions was days of vibrant discussion and Canadian evident in their day to day life ± such as veiling hospitality. the legs of pianos. Scandal and Doyle? This man whose &RQDQ'R\OH¶VRZQVFDQGDOVZHUHQRW KHDGVWRQHSURFODLPV³6WHHO7UXH%ODGH overlooked. In particular, an interesting clip from 6WUDLJKW´"7KLVFKDPSLRQRIWKHIDOVHO\DFFXVHG a recent Antiques Roadshow episode, featured and chronicler of the master detective dedicated descendents of the perpetrators of the fairy to justice? Our Canadian hosts met the snapshots ± including the original photographs. challenge head on. The conference explored the culture of scandal endemic in the era as well as Gary and Julie joined in the banquet toasts, that included within the pages of the Adventures. representing the Explorers in fine form with eloquence and humor. The weekend began away from the stacks and onto the streets of Toronto. Stephanie The standard is high, so the 2013 Norwegian Thomas, led the group on a spooky march Explorers Conference Committee has work to do!

DURXQG7RURQWR¶VGDUNHUKDXQWVZLWKVSHFLDO ~Pj Doyle, ASH, BSI reference to Sherlockian and Doylean connections. The brisk outing was topped off by ™

Page 6 EXPLORATIONS

A Dinner with Peter Blau, BSI and Friends

At the Market Bar-B-Que in Minneapolis on There was a nice mix of people at each table October 12, 2011, Peter Blau invited the during the BBQ dinner. The conversation topics at Norwegian Explorers to join The Practical, But my table ranged anywhere from the western North Limited, Geologists for dinner. The registration Dakota oil field drilling to the origins of our love IRUPSURFODLPHGIURP3HWHU³1RVFKRODUO\ for the Holmes stories. I think everyone learned SDSHUVQRVOLGHVKRZVQRTXL]]HV«MXVW something new. WRDVWV«,¶OOJLYHWKHILUVWWRDVWWR6KHUORFN Toasts were delivered by people from both Holmes, by way of explaining to the locals why JURXSVRI3HWHU¶VIULHQGVDQGSHRSOHSUHGRPLQDWHO\ the geologists are there. Anyone is invited to spoke about Peter and a memories they have. give a toast (or more than one) proposed ad lib, and perhaps ad infinitum, by anyone who feels Before the evening concluded, Peter made is LQVSLUHG´ way around to speak with everyone at the dinner with sincere appreciation, a laugh, and/or a tale of Before the food was served, Pat Frovarp his younger years. Nights such as this seem to from Once Upon A Crime bookstore was on make me realized that friendship is one of the most hand with author Susan Cummins Miller. Susan special things about being a Sherlockian. signed copies for us of her mystery series of books featuring geologist Frankie MacFarlane. ~Tim Reich ³$Q\RQHLV ™ invited to give a WRDVW´

A photo of Julie McKuras, ASH, BSI, and Dick Sveum, BSI, delivering the most eccentric toast of the evening. (Thanks to Gary Thaden for the picture.) Dick admirably read aloud to us in Norwegian! The text of the toast is copied here. Enjoy...

Velkommen til svarte Peter og praktisk, men begrenset Geologer fra den norske oppdagere av Minnesota. Jeg hilser dere på norske siden Kongen og dronningen av Norge er også på besøk. Jeg inviterer dere alle til å komme tilbake i to tusen og tretten for vår neste konferanse ved universitetet av Minnesota Andersen bibliotek sponset av venner av Sherlock Holmes samlinger. Skål. Julie assisted with this English translation: Welcome to Black Peter and the Practical but Limited Geologists from the Norwegian Explorers of Minnesota. I am greeting you in Norwegian since the King and Queen of are also visiting. I invite you all to come back in 2013 for our next conference at the University of Minnesota Andersen library sponsored by the Friends of the Sherlock Holmes Collections. Cheers.

Page 7 EXPLORATIONS Norwegian Explorers 2011Annual Dinner

We are blessed to have the opportunity to time Explorer, Wade Manthie. Wade passed UHDGDERXW6KHUORFN+ROPHV¶VH[SORLWVLQ away at age 66 and in recent years helped host of Minnesota with his contemporaries Dr. Watson our Annual Dinner at the Minneapolis Club. Bob and Shadwell Rafferty; and are even more PHQWLRQHG:DGH¶VWLPHZLWKWKH&RDVW*XDUGDQG blessed to have access to, and spend time with, how his deep bass voice complimented his fellow the author of those stories, local historian and cast-members of the Red Throated League during author, Larry Millett. Larry was our featured performances. speaker during our Annual Dinner. President Gary Thaden introduced our main As with recent tradition, members and VSHDNHUIRUWKHHYHQLQJ/DUU\0LOOHWW/DUU\¶V friends of the Norwegian Explorers of most recent mystery is titled, The Magic Bullet: A Minnesota met at the Minneapolis Golf Club. Locked Room Mystery Featuring Shadwell On December 2, 2011 we gathered for dinner, Rafferty and Sherlock Holmes. This is the latest toasts, awards, quizzes, limericks, drinks, food, in his series of mystery novels, of which, most of ´/DUU\¶VPRVW presentations, and all the merriment we could us in attendance have read them all. recent mystery is fit into one evening. It was a pleasure to hear Larry speak. He After the pre-dinner cash bar and mingling talked about the background for his stories and titled, The Magic we settled in our seats for dinner. Upon the his desire to write a locked room mystery in Bullet: A Locked completion of our welcoming prayer, led by fashion of John Dickson Carr. Larry also writes Rev. Bob Brusic, we made our way to the books about architecture and the historical Room Mystery buffet of British delights. The food was a highlights of the Twin Cities. In fact, 2011 is the Featuring FXVWRPDU\VHOHFWLRQRIVKHSKHUG¶VSLHILVKDQG second time in his career when he had both a non- chips, Yorkshire pudding, and berry trifle. The fiction and fiction book published in the same Shadwell Rafferty meal satisfied our hardy appetites, but a few us \HDU/DUU\VDLGLQKLVRSLQLRQ³WKHSDVWLV and Sherlock wondered if we might be in the midst of a DOZD\VVWUDQJH´DQGKHHQMR\VZULWLQJDERXWLW mystery that could have been titled, The Case At the end of his time he graciously answered the Holmes.´ of the Frozen Peas. numerous questions we peppered him with. Following the dinner we honored four Julie McKuras then led our group with a members of the Canon with toasts: The Woman FDQRQLFDOTXL]ZLWKD³7UHDVXUHV´WKHPH.DUHQ (by Karen Ellery), the 2nd Mrs. Watson (by Murdock led the contest with 39 of a possible 42 Karen Murdock, ASH), Dr. Watson (by Ray points. We then read aloud the creative, and Riethmeier), and Sherlock Holmes (by Phil down right funny, quotes and limericks that we Bergem²soon to be BSI). The toasts are drafted based on pictures Bob Brusic provided. printed on page eight and nine of this issue. The night came to a close as we concluded Next, we elected board members for 2012, RXUHYHQLQJZLWKDUHDGLQJRI³:KHQ,6SHQGD discussed the financials, and presented a /RQJ(YHQLQJ:LWK+ROPHV´UHDGE\7RP

donation check for $2,000 from the Norwegian Gottwalt. Explorers to the Friends of the Sherlock ~Tim Reich Holmes Collection at the U of M. Dick Sveum ™ accepted the check on behalf of the Collections. The Sigerson Awards were presented to all the contributors our 2011 Christmas Annual. Based on the clues that they saw The theme this year was Treasures. (There are Holmes and Watson could not see a flaw still copies available of the 2011 Annual. The Until Peabody spoke cost is $8.00. Feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] if you are interested.) His canonical joke We remembered two Explorers during our And told them, "The game is a paw." ³6WDQGZLWKPHKHUHXSRQWKHWHUUDFH«´ portion of our evening. John Bergquist honored the life of Dr. Bryce Crawford who 5D\5LHWKPHLHU¶V/LPHULFNEDVHGRQWKH was one of our founding members and passed picture provided by Bob Brusic and read during the Annual Dinner. The drawing included DZD\LQ-RKQ¶VWDONLVIHDWXUHGLQWKLV Holmes, Watson, and a dog (Peabody?). issue. Bob Brusic paid tribute to another long-

Page 8 EXPLORATIONS

2011 Annual Dinner: The Toasts

A toast by Phil Bergem A toast by Karen Ellery

We Explorers have gathered to meet ³726+(5/2&.+2/0(6VKHLV And as we sit down to eat always the ZRPDQ´ ,¶YHQHYHUOLNHGWKH notion of a romance between Holmes & Let us toast to the Master Adler. Watson says right up front: ³,WZDV Who protects all from disaster not that he felt any emotion akin to love for And solves the mystery tout suite Irene Adler. All emotions, and that one particularly, were abhorrent to his cold, SUHFLVHEXWDGPLUDEO\EDODQFHGPLQG´ But In that year that we all adore ZLWKLQZKDWZHNQRZRI+ROPHV¶WDVWHV  Eighteen hundred and ninety four talents, Irene Norton, nee Adler, seems ideally VXLWHGWREHKLV«ZHOO«ideal. In Victorian times ´Holmes must She was a musician, & one of the few With Holmes solving crimes have recognized personal things we know about Holmes was :KLOHKHJLYHVWKHFULPLQDOV³ZKDWIRU´ that he loved music & was a musician himself. DIHOORZDUWLVW´ She was resourceful, observant, & In the study at 221B intelligent. She successfully guarded her damaging photograph against waylaying, +HVDLG³:DWVRQ\RXVHH diversion, & burglary. She saw through %XWGRQRWREVHUYH´ +ROPHV¶VPRNH-rocket ruse; if not in time to And pointed out with great nerve prevent her revealing her secret, in time to prevent Holmes from taking advantage of her How flawed Watson could be lapse. Unlike the earlier-berated Watson, Adler both sees & observes. %XWZLWK:DWVRQDQG+ROPHVZH¶UHLQDZH And acts. She was proactive & With emotions that run somewhat raw resolute. To the end, she did not relinquish her prize; merely her wish to use it. :H¶OOFRQWLQXHWRUHDG Finally, she had flair! Holmes must have About every small deed recognized a fellow artist in the woman who 2UZDWFKZKHQLW¶V'RZQH\DQG/DZ could disguise herself sufficiently to fool his personal observation; follow him without his notice; & outwit him in the end with a As we discuss the Canonical tomes graceful & gracious gesture. And listen to horrible poems So, when he refers to her as the woman, I Let us join in a toast believe Holmes is expressing not just his To the one we love most admiration, but his belief that she might be a model for all women, something to which we The detective, Sherlock Holmes all might aspire. I know I do. From one actress to another, I give you the Artist, the Adventuress, THE Woman.

(Continued on page 9)

Page 9 EXPLORATIONS

2011 Annual Dinner: The Toasts (Continued from page 8)

A toast by Ray Riethmeier

John H. Watson was a man of many talents. Doctor, soldier, ladies-man. ,W¶V clear that to reach his level of success in so many areas, he had to be a man with above-average intelligence. We often forget that. ,W¶VVLPSO\WKDWDQ\RQH would appear to be a simpleton next to the intellect of a Sherlock Holmes. But oddly enough, it was with Holmes that Watson found his greatest success. Is Watson remembered for his surgical skills? Is he remembered for his military endeavors? No, Watson is remembered as an author, the man who chronicled the adventures of The Great Detective. For that, we and the world are forever in his debt. Watson made an indelible mark on the world. A toast to him tonight. ´«ZHDQGWKH To John Watson, author! world are forever in his

GHEW´ A toast by Karen Murdock, ASH I find from my notebook that it was in January, 1903, just after the Some highly distinguished Sherlockians conclusion of the Boer War, that I had have conspired to provide Dr. John H. Watson my visit from Mr. James M. Dodd, a with a number of wives to rival those of Henry big, fresh, sunburned, upstanding VIII. Briton. The good Watson had at that time deserted me for a wife, the only These distinguished Sherlockians include selfish action which I can recall in our scholars such as Jay Finley Christ, June association. I was alone. Thomson, William S. Baring-Gould, D. Martin Dakin, Ernest Zeisler, Gavin Brend and T. S. 6LQFH³7KH6LJQRIWKH)RXU´WDNHVSODFHLQ Blakeney. 1887 or 1888 (depending on which of these distinguished chronologists one credits), it These wife-providing Sherlockians are the seems unlikely that, in 1903, Holmes would band of diligent, if recondite, scholars known VWLOOEHVRUHDERXW0DU\¶VWDNLQJ:DWVRQDZD\ as chronologists, who try to date all the IURPKLP7KHUHIRUHLQ³7KH%ODQFKHG Sherlock Holmes tales and put them in order. 6ROGLHU´+ROPHVLVSUREDEO\UHIHUULQJWR As Watson often mentions in one tale or another, un-named Mrs. Watson. another that the events he writes of took place just before, or just after, he got married, it is a ,VK\DZD\IURPXVLQJ³WKH) great convenience to those who attempt to date ZRUG´ ILFWLRQ ZKHQGLVFXVVLQJWKH6KHUORFN the tales to provide Watson with as many Holmes stories, since we know they are true marriages as possible. historical records, more reliable than the Gospels in many ways ² but it is possible that There is, we must remind ourselves, only one or more of the wives posited by one woman to whom John Watson positively chronologists are, indeed, fictional or, at least, states that he got married ² Mary Morstan in are long-WHUPGDOOLDQFHVRI:DWVRQ¶VDQGQRW ³7KH6LJQRIWKH)RXU´$OORWKHUZLYHV actual wives. Let us limit the wives to Mary though numerous, may be merely a matter of and the second wife, name unknown. Canonical chronological convenience. So let us raise our glasses to the second However, it is Sherlock Holmes, not one of and, we trust, the LAST Mrs. Watson: his latter-day followers, who says, in a rather ODWHVWRU\³7KH%ODQFKHG6ROGLHU´ RQHRIRQO\ To the Second Mrs. Watson! WZRWDOHVIURP+ROPHV¶VSHQ WKDW

Page 10 EXPLORATIONS

The Norwegian Explorers Upcoming Norwegian Explorer Events: Suite 111 May 19, 2012 Elmer L. Andersen Library University of Minnesota The Norwegian Explorers Study Group: The Adventure of the Red Circle 222 21st Avenue South 7KH1RUZHJLDQ([SORUHUV6WXG\*URXSZLOOEHGLVFXVVLQJ³7KH$GYHQWXUHRIWKH5HG&LUFOH´RQ th Minneapolis, MN 55455 May 19 at 2 p.m. at the Oxboro Library, 8801 Portland Ave. S., Bloomington, (612.543.5775), Metro Transit #18. Find us online at: [email protected] June 16, 2012 www.norwegianexplorers.org www.facebook.com/NEofMN The Norwegian Explorers Study Group: and the Cottlingley Fairies Twitter: @NEofMN Place TBD. Watch your email and Facebook (www.facebook.com/NEofMN) for an update soon.

Future Study Group Topics: Tim Reich The Disappearance of Lady Frances Carfax Editor, Explorations The Dying Detective 6809 Pillsbury Avenue Richfield, MN 55423 Phone: 612-869-1447 Email: [email protected]

Upcoming Sherlockian Events:

³