Contents Canadian Holmes Fall 2014 Volume 37 Number 1 Traces of Bootprints 1 By JoAnn and Mark Alberstat From Mrs. Hudson’s Kitchen 2 By Wendy Heyman-Marsaw Sherlock Holmes and some Astronomical Connections 4 By Bradley E. Shaefer, with additional information and photos by Mark Alberstat Two Visits from Sir Arthur 12 By Jack Winn Moriarty — The Invisible Man 13 By Howard Ostrom From Petrenko to Cumberbatch: The Many 19 Faces of Holmes and Watson (Part 2) By Eddy Webb A Medical Perspective on the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes 22 By Dr. James Reed From the Editor’s Bookshelf 32 A review of Fan Phenomena by Peter Calamai Letters From Lomax 34 By Peggy Perdue News Notes from across Canada 36 Bootmakers’ Diary 37 By Donny Zaldin and Chris Redmond RACES OF BOOTPRINTS Dial M for Moriarty Moriarty is known far and wide as the ultimate foe of the ultimate detective. When Doyle first introduced the world to him in FINA, he may not have realized the force he was unleashing. If you are playing the Great Game, however, you will know that in VALL, Moriarty was already on Holmes’ trail. Moriarty was famously described as the “Napoleon of crime.” This monicker was, of course, first used to describe Adam Worth, a real-life criminal upon whom Doyle is believed to have modelled his character. To today’s readers, Napoleon is an historical figure, far back enough in the past to mesh with the likes of Catherine the Great and Henry VIII. If this were written today, he would have to be the Al Capone or Vladimir Putin of crime. However, to the readers who were the first to meet Moriarty back in 1893, Napoleon was still fresh within memory, having been dead only 72 years. Many readers of The Strand may have had grandfathers who fought against the self- proclaimed Emporer. It is interesting to note that in GREE, Holmes claims to be related to “Vernet, the French artist.” If this were Horace Vernet (1789-1863) the link between Holmes and Napoleon increases, as it was Vernet who painted Napoléon sur son lit de mort (Napoleon on his death bed) in 1826. In this issue, we take an extended look at the professor. The first article, by Bradely E. Shaefer, examines the life, similiarities and connections between this professor and Simon Newcomb, who was born and raised in Nova Scotia, not too far from the home of your humble editors. This article draws surprising similiarities between the careers of the two professors, Thankfully, Newcomb did not turn his amazingly fertile brain to crime. The second look at Moriarty comes in a roundup article by Howard Ostrom. This piece takes a look at the many actors who have played Moriarty in a wide variety of media. From Eric Porter to Andrew Scott, Howard has this murky waterfront covered. Unlike the London underworld of the Victorian past, Moriarty has not taken over this entire issue. Between the covers, you will also find an article taking a medical perspective of the Canon; Peter Calamai reviews a book on the recent increase in fandom around the Holmes stories, and comments on that as well as many of our usual Sherlockian goodies and news from across the country and around the corner — where Moriarty’s minions might just still lurk in the shadows. Canadian Holmes Fall 2014 1 From Mrs. Hudson’s Kitchen This column is by Mrs. Hudson herself and dictated to Wendy Heyman-Marsaw, a Sherlockian living in Halifax. Mrs. Hudson provided this photograph of herself at age 24, taken on the occasion of her betrothal to Mr. Hudson. “If people turn to look at you on the street, you are not well dressed.” – Beau Brummel eorge Bryan ‘Beau’ Brummell established the mode of dress for men that rejected overly ornate fashions for one of understated but perfectly fitted and bespoke (custom tailored) garments. This look was based on dark coats, full-length trousers rather than knee breeches and stockings, and above all, immaculate shirt linen and an elaborately knotted cravat. Brummell is credited with introducing, and establishing as fashion, the modern men’s suit, worn with a necktie. He claimed he took five hours a day to dress, and recommended that boots be polished with champagne. Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson were always impeccably dressed and had all their attire custom-made. The only exception was Mr. Holmes’ unfortunate “mouse coloured” dressing gown. (‘The Bruce Partington Plans’ and ‘The Empty House’) He wore this robe most often between cases as it suited his rather morose mood at those times. Mr. Holmes had two more presentable dressing gowns: blue (‘The Man with a Twisted Lip’), and purple (‘The Blue Carbuncle’). Formal evening dress consisted of a frock coat, plain or narrow pinstripe straight trousers with a dark waistcoat, white bow tie, a shirt with a winged collar, and high top hat (which was also worn in daytime by many gentlemen, including Mr. Holmes). Gentlemen out for an evening’s formal entertainment, for example, attending the opera or symphony, may wear a dark cape with a silk or satin lining. Walking canes were often highly decorative. For Mr. Holmes, an expert practitioner of single-stick fighting, canes were also highly functional (‘The Illustrious Client’). Daytime attire was similar to evening wear, save for a dark tie or a fine Harris Tweed lounge suit. Bowler hats in winter were an option to the tall hat. Knee- length topcoats, often with contrasting trim, velvet or fur collars, or calf-length overcoats were worn in winter. In summer, light-coloured, lightweight trousers and a boater (straw hat with ribbon band) were seen. Men’s city boots and dress 2 Canadian Holmes Fall 2014 pumps generally had built-up heels and a narrow toe. Mr. Holmes’ bootmaker undoubtedly contributed to impressions of Mr. Holmes being of greater height than his six feet. Savile Row, a street in London, was considered the “golden mile” of bespoke tailoring. Nearby Jermyn and Bond Streets were noted for fine haberdashery. Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson frequently sought refreshment when in the area day or night at the convenient and excellent Grand Café Royal on Regent Street. Mr. Holmes was actually accosted outside it by roughs who escaped through the restaurant and out into the street behind it (‘The Illustrious Client’). In 1894 the night porter of the Grand Café Royal was found with two bullets in his head. The case was never solved. Recipes from the Grand Café Royal Menu: Caille en Casserole — Ingredients: 8-12 quail, salt, flour, 1/3 C. butter, 1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, chopped fresh parsley, dry white wine — about 2 C. Mode: Split the birds down the back. Salt and dust lightly in flour. Sauté in skillet until browned on both sides. Remove quail from skillet and place in a casserole with lid. Pour drippings from skillet over birds, add mushrooms and parsley. Pour enough wine into casserole to half-cover the birds. Cover and place in 350 degree oven for 1 hour. (Doves and quarters of pheasant may also be done this way. Allow only 45 minutes in oven for doves and 1 1/4 hours for pheasant.) Carré d’Agneau au Sauce Menthe — Ingredients: Three 8-chop racks of lamb, 6 tablespoons Dijon mustard, 3 C. fresh white breadcrumbs, 6 Tbs. chopped fresh mint, salt and pepper. Mode: Preheat oven to 450°F. Sprinkle lamb with salt and pepper. Spread 1 tablespoon mustard on each side of each lamb rack. Mix breadcrumbs and mint in medium bowl. Press onto lamb, coating completely. Arrange lamb, meat side up, on large baking sheet. Roast lamb 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F. Roast until lamb registers 130°F for rare, or medium-rare 20 min. longer. Tent with parchment (or foil); let stand 5 minutes. Cut lamb racks between bones into chops. Arrange on plates. Garnish with mint sprigs; pass Sauce Menthe separately. Ingredients Sauce Menthe: 2 C. good quality white wine vinegar, ¾ C. sugar, ½ cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves. Mode: In heavy-bottomed saucepan, combine sugar and vinegar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then lower to simmer and cook until the liquid is reduced by half, 10 to 12 min. It should be thick and syrupy. Remove from heat and cool five minutes. Add mint leaves. Stir, then pour into a bowl. Cover the bowl, let it sit for about an hour like steeping a cup of tea. Serve at room temperature. Yield: 1 C. Sauce Menthe. Canadian Holmes Fall 2014 3 Sherlock Holmes and some Astronomical Connections By Bradely E. Shaefer, with additional information and photos by Mark Alberstat. Dr. Bradley Shaefer is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at Louisiana State University. In 2007, Bradley was awarded a share Gruber Prize in Cosmology, as part of the Supernova Cosmology Project, for the discovery of Dark Energy. In October 2011, this work was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics, with the prize going to the head of the Supernova Cosmology Project. Editor’s note: A version of this article first appeared in The Journal of the British Astronomical Association, vol.103, no.1, 1993. oriarty. The name is used almost as an expletive in the Sherlockian world. However, what do we know about this character and the inspiration for the scientific and not the criminal side of this genius? Could Simon Newcomb, a Nova Scotia-born astronomer have been Doyle’s inspiration for the arch-villain? The facts laid out in this article will outline how the Napoleon of crime may have been from eastern Canada.