I've been slowly transcribing every article referring to Sherlock Holmes in Australian newspapers and magazines, from the time of the first appearance up to the time of Hound of the Baskervilles. It's been incredibly instructive to see how popular the stories were, and how quickly the concept of a good detective being a "Sherlock Holmes" settled entered common use.
This article is long, and too good not to post to the blog. It was published in several Australian papers in 1900, and was undoubtedly originally published in the US or UK. The article describes Doyle's home of "Undershaw" located at Hindhead.
The article was written by Mr. Day Allen Willey (1860-1917), an American freelance journalist born in Rochester, based in Baltimore, but he clearly spent a great deal of time in the UK. Willey published multiple articles across different magazines each month on a wide range of topics.
This article provides a great deal of insight into Doyle's home, some anecdotes from his earlier life, and reveals that "Perhaps the most notable feature of Dr. Doyle's library is a bust of Sherlock Holmes, the detective whose marvellous performances as depicted by the author have been the wonder of the English-reading world."
Enjoy:
Cobram Courier (Vic. : 1888 - 1954) Thu 19 Apr 1900
DR. CONAN DOYLE.
A POPULAR AUTHOR AT HOME.
The presentation of "Sherlock Holmes" as a play has revived the interest in Dr. Conan Doyle to a remarkable degree. Sherlock Holmes is unquestionably the greatest detective in modern fiction, and his impersonation by Mr. Gillett has set critics to thinking again about Dr. Doyle's newer works and his work ways.
I had the pleasure (writes Mr. D. A. Willey) of visiting Dr. Doyle recently in his English home. He is as far removed from civilization as is Kipling in his home at Rottingdean. He lives fully four miles from the nearest railroad — at Hindhead. It is one of those charming English residence towns, free from most of the unpleasant features of city life, yet with urban advantages. A person of means and tastes, who desires both country and city existence, should feel satisfied in this part of the Queen's domain unless over-fastidious. Along the range of hills can be found the homes of some of our most noted writers and scientists, past and present. Tennyson lived here. Professor Tyndall was also one of the Hazlemere colony, living next door to Dr. Doyle. The natural beauties of the surroundings impress themselves on the mind at once. From his rear or perhaps front verandah — for the house seems to have a front where the rear should he - the owner can look directly down the volley to its foot five miles away. Both sides contain thickly wooded groves divided by wide patches of heather, with here and there a cultivated field or a strip of natural pasture land, six hundred feet above the sea, it is high enough to get the invigorating air of such altitude, while from the English Channel, but twenty miles away, comes the pleasant seabreeze.
A FINE SPECIMEN OF MANHOOD.
A glance at Conan Doyle indicates how well the country is suited to his tastes and habits. He might be 45 — he might be 40. It is hard to say, as he stands over 6ft., a fine specimen of the vigorous, hardy manhood native to Great Britain . His strong, resolute features are tanned by exposure in the cricket field, on the tennis court, and by season after season of bird and rabbit shooting. It can be seen at once that he needs no tonics for nervousness or dyspepsia. Apparently, he has no nerves, for whether handling a cricket bat in a play or sighting Ihis gun in a supreme moment, one cannot trace a tremor of the muscle or a quiver of the eyelids. Indoor and outdoor exercises have given him muscles of steel and the suppleness and agility of a youth in his teens.
As one turns the pages of such books as "The White Company," " Micah Clarke," and "Brigadier Gerard," he is struck with the rugged masculinity of the principal characters, while throughout each work a tone of vigour and virility prevails, which is native to the writer. Talk with him even for half an hour, and you realise that they are the product of a mind not enfeebled by over exertion, but nourished and strengthened from a superb physical system. in a word, he has not developed his mental faculties at the expense of the others, but has kept both well balanced, with the result that today he seems as capable of accomplishing as much in the literary field as he has already accomplished — and perhaps more.
He has built up his constitution so that today he is capable of enduring any amount of fatigue without being the worse for it. The four miles from Hindhead to Haslemere is a short walk for him. and many times a year does he over it. Probably everyone for ten miles around knows him by sight, for his figure is familiar to the country folk.
AN ENCOUNTER AT SOUTHSEA.
Naturally of a peaceable disposition, the author is not to be trifled with any more than some of the characters in his writings. He is a great believer in fair play, and on more than one occasion has stood up for the weaker man in trouble to the cost of his assailant. They tell a story about Hazlemere of a little adventure in which he took part at Southsea, his former home. One morning, as the doctor was getting a little exercise to whet his appetite for breakfast, a cart came along. The driver, a heavily-built man, had been drinking until he was in an ugly mood. For some reason he became angry with the boy, who was in the cart with him to help to deliver the goods. Stopping his horse, he began beating the lad with the handle of his whip. He was so busily engaged that he did not know anyone else was interested until a hand grasped him by the shoulder and pulled him headlong into the street. "I think you've done enough of this, my man."
"It's no business of such gentry as you to interfere when the young rascal needs healing." ami the enraged driver, who had struggled to his feet, drew back his whip to strike the new-comer. The doctor's right fist landed on his face, and he went down like a log. When ho arose it, was to apologise. The fight had been, to use a slang phrase, "knocked out of him."
They call him "Kenn'n Doyle" in the neighbourhood., The word "Conan" seems to be difficult to use, and is so commonly mispronounced and mis-spelled, as the writer has indicated, that at the time of his visit he saw a boy from London directed to "Mr. Canon Doyle. Hindhead." Probably no one relished the joke conveyed in that religious title more than the author himself.
A KEEN SPORTSMAN.
But little sign of literary work is to be found about the house. Even Dr. Conan Doyle's library is made the receptacle for cricket and tennis kits, guns and trout tackle are spread all over the place ; for while the family at Hindhead is small, excluding the six servants, friends from London or near by are being entertained. The doctor is a member of one of the best amateur cricket teams in the country, and during his week every year as host it is an open house to all lovers of the sport. Nothing is reserved from them. The players generally have a contest daily, and are driven to it in the brake; a vehicle very essential to country life, which will carry the entire eleven, with room to spare. On the return to evening tea, the table is illuminated bv a banquet lamp, shaded by a design in salmon silk. This is called the Victory shade, as it is considered a sign of good luck, and is always brought out by Mrs. Doyle during "Cricket Week." Through its influence several trophies are supposed to have been won. The hostess is as enthusiastic as her husband over the sport, and if necessary to afford room will "bundle" the children off to some relatives to remain until the guests have departed.
As Dr. Conan Doyle's cricket season occupies nearly two mouths, it may be surmised that very little literary work is done about "Undershaw" until its close, or between spring and autumn. In addition to cricket, a spring trap and the fragments of numerous clay pigeons scattered about the grounds attest his fondness for shooting. The six horses in the stable include two fine saddle mares, one of which has a record as a jumper. At the side of the house is a grass tennis-court bearing the indications of frequent usage, while one of the largest rooms — in fact that apartment opposite the drawing-room is given up to billiard and pool tables for indoor sport in inclement weather, although the rain must fall fast or the snow lie deep to keep the author sportsman from enjoying some outdoor pastime if he feels thus inclined.
A ROUND OF THE HOUSE.
"Undershaw" is very much of to-day — like its host. It cannot boast of anything historical. as it was built but two years ago. The exterior is that of a modern villa so popular in Surrey. All of the decorations are of light tints. The drawing-room and chambers are also furnished in light design, and with the numbers windows properly be called a sunny home. The front door opens into a square hall large enough to accommodate a sofa and numerous chairs. A generous fireplace as to size suggests the attractiveness of this part of the home during the long, cold winter and, is a gathering place for the family and friends. Opening into it are the billiard-room, drawing-room, and dining room. Probably the good wife selected for the author the location of the library, which is one of the pleasantest in the house. From it he can look away down the valley with its ever-varying hours upon a picture which nothing enters to tarnish its peaceful beauty. Near at hand he can see his property, partly level and partly hillside, the latter covered with gorse and heather and alive with rabbits. The long writing-table of oak, upholstered in leather, contains the necessary room for writing material, also for a box of tobacco and an assortment of pipes, as well as a dictionary and one or two other reference books. Each of the two cases against the wall holds perhaps a hundred books of poetry, history, travel, biography, and fiction, including several of his own works, also an elaborate edition of Scott. But the selection is very miscellaneous, and is principally for family reading.
THE ORIGINAL OF SHERLOCK. HOLMES.
Perhaps the most notable feature of Dr. Doyle's library is a bust of Sherlock Holmes, the detective whose marvellous performances as depicted by the author have been the wonder of the English-reading world. It has been questioned whether Holmes was a true personage or whether he was a myth conjured up to play his part in the novelist's several dramas, such as "The Sign of Four." etc. It was well-known that Holmes's friend, "Dr. Watson," was none other than the author, but the identity of Holmes himself was questioned. The writer can positively state that he did exist, although the name of Holmes was naturally fictitious. The man whose right name was Dr. Bell, was a Scotchman residing in Edinburgh. His study of human nature led him to play the part of detective and he met with success in hunting down several noted criminals who had eluded the professional detective force of the country. Dr. Doyle chanced in make his acquaintance, and an intimacy sprang up between the two men that resulted in the production of "detective stories," which have been so interesting because the reader was forced by the narration to believe that they were true. The famous character was a man of medium height, and though delicate in appearance, very wiry and muscular. He was what Americans would call a "dead" shot with a revolver, and the knowledge of his skill among the criminal classes undoubtedly saved his life on several occasions when tracing out the perpetrators of crime.
THE MISTRESS OF " UNDERSHAW."
Throughout the home the evidences of woman's presence are numerous— in the dainty rosettes and other ornaments on the furniture, in the tasteful arrangemnt of the draperies in the apartments, in the touches here and there to convert the commonplace into t.he ornamental — all indications of a woman's pride in her house. And the mistress of "Undershaw" is truly what one imagines after seeing her handiwork. She is decidedly petite in contrast to her big athletic husband, and her delicate appearance is an indication of her health. For years she has suffered from weak lungs. The Doctor has taken his wife to various places on the Continent recommended by specialists. The South of France has been as beneficial as elsewhere, but has not entirely relieved her. Through friends the author heard of the Hazlemere Valley, with its combination of sea and mountain air, with the result that his wife has found at last a place which affords her permanent relief, while it is especially suited to his taste and mode of life. Her illness has not in any way affected the spirits of the lady in question, who has the rare faculty of making those who cross the threshold feel that at least for the time they are a part of the household.
There are no traits which prominently distinguish Mrs. Doyle from other women in her rank of life. She is naturally proud of her husband, and as interested in his work as though she herself was performing it. She has been his companion both at home and on his travels, except when he visited the United States in 1895.
A FAITHFUL COMPANION.
One of the author's most faithful friends and an important personage at his home is Row. He only exhibits his appreciation of what is done for him by showing his teeth or wagging his tail, but visitors prefer the latter, as Row is a bull-dog of high degree. He is as ugly as any similar member of the canine race who ever wore a blue ribbon, and one of the largest species of Great Britain. He is of a very affectionate disposition, and is a great pet with the children.
Mr. Doyle's workshop is always ready with an abundance of paper, pens, and pencils, while the box of smoking mixtures always contains a good supply for the favourite stumpy black pipe. How many thrilling descriptions have been written with that pipe clenched between the author's teeth will probably never he known, but its appearance indicates that it has done yeoman service.
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