Sherlock Holmes: Trifles

"It is always awkward doing business with an alias." [BLUE]

Back in Episode 96, we chatted about the many disguises and other identities of Sherlock Holmes. But what about other people in the Canon who played dress-up?

Whether they were trying to dupe one of his clients or Sherlock Holmes himself, these individuals each had good reasons to be incognito. It's just a trifle.

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• This episode: ihose.co/trifles148
• Episode 96: Trick or Treat
• Get your own Sherlockian merch from our store.

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• The BSI Press

Music credits Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

"this young stranger from Canada" [HOUN]

Canadians are so polite. Why, Sir Henry barely complained of being killed by his family's legendary spectral hound.

Where do we find Canadians and Canadian influences in the Sherlock Holmes stories? There aren't terribly many instances, but there are just enough to be a Trifle.

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Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles147
• Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts.

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• The BSI Press

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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"a very different level to your Majesty" [SCAN]

"The Adventure of the Dancing Men" has a similar theme to that of "The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor": a British gentleman and his flighty American bride with her checkered past.

Is there some lesson implied here about the importance of sticking with one's own tribe and class? And what other instances in the Sherlock Holmes stories stand out as examples of the separation of classes in Victorian society? It's just a Trifle.

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Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles146
• Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts.

Sponsor

• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

"excellent wild-duck shooting" [GLOR]

When we think of English country estates, it's only natural to think of outdoor activities. In many cases this included the pastimes of hunting and shooting.

Where in the Sherlock Holmes stories do we find the landed gentry headed off to bring down some quarry that the gamekeeper has stocked? Our monthly series on games and sports take us on this wild goose chase that's just a Trifle.

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Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles144
• Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts.

Sponsor

• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

"three times repeated" [FIVE]

There's a familiar plot device that runs throughout a number of Sherlock Holmes stories. That number is three, but do you know which stories make use of it?

We discuss this recurring theme, where it's the most convincing, and why humans get hoodwinked by such arrangements. It's just a Trifle.

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Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles144
• Shakespeare's sources of inspiration
• I Hear of Sherlock Everywhere Episode 91: The Confidence Game
• Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts.

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• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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"he was bearded" [SIGN]

Well this is embarrassing. As we finished our editing and prepared to leave for a business trip, we realized one critical fact about this topic: we've already talked about it (in Episode 105).

Nevertheless, we suggest you listen and perhaps compare and contrast the two episodes. Yes, there may be a little overlap, but the discussion goes to show how the Sherlock Holmes stories allow us to riff on one topic again and again. It's just a Trifle.

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Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles143
• Check out all of our Appearance & Attire episodes

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• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

"he still made India too hot to hold him" [EMPT]

India is a wonderful land. And it plays a part in a number of Sherlock Holmes stories. Certainly, it's a center point in The Sign of Four, but where else do we find the influence of India in the Canon?

In our regular feature of international influences in the Sherlock Holmes stories, we learn about battles, cities, districts and other Indian curiosities. It's just a Trifle.

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We're available everywhere you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and RadioPublic.And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles142
• Pondicherry (Wikipedia)
• Bhurtee - the Siege of Cawnpore (Wikipedia)
• Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts.

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• The BSI Press Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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"I'm a bit of a single-stick expert, as you know" [ILLU]

In listing Sherlock Holmes's limits in A Study in Scarlet, Dr. Watson indicates that Holmes is something of an amateur sportsman: "11. Is an expert singlestick player, boxer, and swordsman."

In this latest entry in our Games and Sports series, we look at singlestick and its relation to other pastimes and run-ins in the Canon. It's just a Trifle.

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We're available everywhere you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and RadioPublic. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles141
• Singlestick (Wikipedia)
• Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts.

Sponsor

• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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"Let us escape from this weary workaday world by the side door of music." [RETI]

Sherlock Holmes took a great interest in musicians and concerts, mentioning a few by name in the Canon.

In the last episode, we discussed composers and their works; this time, it's off to violin-land where all is sweetness and light. We look at performers real and fictional, where they plied their trade, and what instruments they played, including musical families. It's just a Trifle.

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.

We're available everywhere you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and RadioPublic. And please consider supporting our efforts through Patreon or PayPal.

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles140
• Other episodes mentioned in this episode:
• • Episode 40: Who Was Sarasate?
  • IHOSE Episodes 68 and 69 with Burt Coules
• Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts. But hurry! The Special Summer sale will end soon - 25% off with code SUMMER.

Sponsor

• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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"a composer of no ordinary merit." [REDH]

From the very beginning of the Sherlock Holmes stories, we know that Sherlock Holmes plays the violin. It's one of the personality traits he admits to Watson and that Watson later chronicles.

In addition to Holmes's own performances, we come across a number of other composers and their works in the Canon. Who and what were they? It's just a Trifle.

Have you left us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts yet? You don't need to own an Apple device, and every review helps more people find the show.

We're available everywhere you listen to podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, and RadioPublic.

Andsupporting our efforts through Patreon or Substack

Links / Notes

• This episode: ihose.co/trifles139
• Les Huguenots by Meyerbeer (Wikipedia)
• "That little thing of Chopin" (Camden House)
• Offenbach - "Barcarolle" from The Tales of Hoffmann (YouTube)
• Other episodes mentioned in this episode:
• • Episode 78: Where Are They Now? Inspector Gregson
  • Episode 89: Stradivarius
  • Episode 98: The Gramophone
• Get your own "Signs of Four" merchandise from our store. Over 20 designs to choose from on mugs and a variety of colored t-shirts. But hurry! The Special Summer sale will end soon - 25% off with code SUMMER.

Sponsor

• The Baker Street Journal

Music credits

Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra

Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band

Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0

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