“The shortage of trousers had been very severely felt, especially during the winter. The matter was however promptly and efficiently taken in hand by the Bags Department, and a Kecks Controller appointed. A trouserless day once a week had been suggested, but the suggestion was dismissed owing to opposition in every part of the kingdom except the Highlands of Scotland.”
“The Case of the Teuton’s Trousers”, The Complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes, Charles HAmilton, circa 1917
Tag: Herlock Sholmes (Page 4 of 4)
This was another word that I could guess the meaning by the contest, but I didn’t know how to pronounce it. I found this word in The Complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes, “The Case of the Teuton’s Trousers”.
Denouement (pronounced da-noo-man) – the climax of a chain of events, usually when something is decided or made clear
Usage: “If you care to accompany me today, I have no doubt I shall be able to show you a very interesting denouement.”
“From certain facts within my knowledge, Jotson, I deduce that you will have no breakfast this morning,” said Sholmes.
I started.
“Sholmes!” I murmured.
“I think you will find it will prove to be so, Jotson.”
“From what data, Sholmes, do you draw this very remarkable deduction?” I could not help inquiring.
Sholmes smiled.
“I do not mind explaining, my dear fellow. The food restrictions cause only a certain amount of provender to be placed upon the breakfast-table – “
“True!”
“The portion allotted to me did not satisfy my appetite, Jotson, and I therefore at your breakfast as well as my own. There is nothing left for you, my dear fellow. To the trained mind the conclusion is obvious. You will have no breakfast this morning.”
I could only gaze at my amazing friend in silent admiration. I need not say that Sholmes’ deduction proved to be perfectly correct.
“THE CASE OF THE CURRANT BUN”, The Complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes, by Charles Hamilton, circa 1917
Volumes of reports, observations, minutes, remarks, despatches, annotations, etc., were being bound in red tape, and forwarded from the Circumlocution Department to the Sealing-Wax Office, thence to the Pipeclay Department, to the Lead-Pencil Office, then to the Permanent Consideration officials, to reach their last resting-place in the Waste-Paper Department!
Spoken by Dr Jotson in The Complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes, by Charles Hamilton, circa 1917
In “The Red-Tape Mystery”, Sholmes was requested to locate missing red tape for the Circumlocution Department. Without the red tape, all written communication had ceased. As quickly as the red tape was delivered to the office of Mr. Slack Karr, it disappeared. Although he was suffering from the effects of eating tinned tongue in Chicago, the great detective took the case and discovered the red tape which had been carefully hidden. Herlock Sholmes saved the Empire!
Let me introduce you to one of my newest friends. His name is Herlock Sholmes. If you’re thinking, “That sounds very similar to the great detective, Sherlock Holmes”, you are not mistaken.
I had the pleasure of purchasing The Complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes from my favorite used bookstore in St. Augustine, FL. Every time I visit St. Augustine, I slip into Second Read Books. It may be small, but they always have a great selection of used books in fine condition. On my last visit, I found a large, green book that seemed to be calling my name. The picture on the front was a cartoonish Sherlock Holmes with wide eyes and a large pipe; there was a massive cloud of smoke billowing from the pipe. In red letters above the picture was the name Herlock Sholmes. The subtitle at the bottom read, “The delightful Sherlock Holmes parodies of Charles Hamilton”. There was no question, I had to have that book.
From the introduction by Norman Wright, I learned that Herlock Sholmes was first printed in “The Greyfriars Herald” in November 1915. The creator of this satirical and hilarious detective was Charles Hamilton. For almost forty years, Hamilton delighted audiences with the antics of Herlock Sholmes. The introduction ends with this paragraph:
In all there were nearly one hundred Herlock Sholmes tales, most of them miniature gems of pastiche that have lain all but forgotten for over sixty years. Eighteen of them were published in the United States of America by The Mysterious Press in 1975, but this is the first attempt to collect the entire Herlock Sholmes cycle into one volume.
Norman Wright, from the introduction to The complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes, copyright 1989
I wish I could explain to you how excited I am to own a book that claims to be the first attempt to collect anything!
I am thoroughly enjoying reading these stories. Some of them are “retellings” of classic Sherlock Holmes tales. Others are wartime satire poking fun at both the enemy and the government. I decided to read these parodies at the same time I am reading a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories. It has made the experience so much greater! For example, Sherlock Holmes solved the case of The Sign of the Four, while Sholmes solved The Sign of the Forty-Four. Each detective had to figure out how the thief and murderer entered a second story room while the room was bolted from the inside. Holmes’ culprit scaled the the wall and let down a rope for his accomplice. Sholmes’ criminal used an elephant, because “a man carrying a ladder to the scene of the crimes would have excited remark”.
One of the things that sets Sholmes apart is that you do not have to be familiar with any Sherlock Holmes stories to enjoy the humorous tales of Herlock Sholmes. However, it is fun to find the similarities between the two.
In all, if you enjoy a good, old-fashioned parody, tongue-in-cheek humor, and a quick who-done-it mystery, I recommend you look up Herlock Sholmes. He will not disappoint!
(image credit goodreads.com)
I found a new word today in “The Case of his Lordship’s Engagement”, The Complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes
Absquatulate – to leave abruptly
Usage: “Clean vamoosed… Absquatulated – lit out – simply mizzled!”
“Our far-seeing statesmen, having consulted the very best expert military opinion, have now decided that cannons are more formidable to the enemy when supplied with shells.”
“The Munition Mystery”, The Complete Casebook of Herlock Sholmes,
by Charles Hamilton, circa 1916