Watson's Tin Box meeting summary - September 15, 2025

Each third Monday of the month, the Watson's Tin Box of Ellicott City scion meets - and we gathered on Monday September 15 for another great gathering of members - 22 in total. This included several first-time attendees, and some who haven't visited in a long time.

The story of the meeting was The Adventure of the Golden Pince Nez.

After introductions (we AGAIN had more attendees from Frederick MD than anywhere else, and visitors from THREE states/districts including PENNSYLVANIA), we moved to the toasts. 

After a traditional toast to The Woman, Liane Luini shared a wonderful poem on 'brain fever' - in the form of a toast. This was published in Irene's Cabinet Volume 8, 2010 - which of course like all issues is available digitized at our site.

'A Medical Minute, circa 1895'
April Curnow, Gasogene XXI

Whenever someone’s found to be 
Showing signs of lunacy, 
The sufferer’s most probably 
Afflicted with brain-fever.

Delirium or sudden rage, 
Bad nerves, an incoherent stage, 
Disorder nothing can assuage –
These all point to brain-fever.

And if the patient’s sore oppressed 
He’ll lie abed six weeks at best, 
For nothing else but calm and rest 
Will serve to treat brain-fever.

’Twas Alice Rucastle’s sad plight. 
Her father plagued her day and night 
To sign away her legal rights, 
Until she got brain-fever.

When Percy Phelps went half insane 
With fits and raging, cries of pain, 
To one and all his case was plain:
He suffered from brain-fever.

This ailment’s so imprecise
Most any symptom will suffice.
On Harley Street they don’t think twice – 
“Poor devil’s got brain-fever.”

The doctors have the final word. 
Disputing them would be absurd. 
The diagnosis most preferred 
Is certainly brain-fever.

This toast was followed by the traditional Haiku for the story was delivered by Tom Fahres:

    French Titled story
    Of dysfunctional Russians
    Playing hide and seek.

We then moved on to Announcements. It was agreed that I would try and capture meeting announcements in my blog summary.... so here we go! By the way, if you're looking for things to do - you can keep track of all Sherlockian events at.... http://www.sherlockiancalendar.com/ 

• Save the date, Thursday Oct 23 - the Maryland SPODE to meet for Happy Hour in Montgomery County. Location and time TBA.
• The Red Circle of Washtington DC has announced its 75th Anniversary celebrations, featuring the U.S. Premiere of three restored Eille Norwood "Silent Sherlock" films and a Celebration Dinner. Keep track on the Red Circle web site for more details.
• The Adventuresses of Sherlock Holmes (ASH) will hold their fall (autumn) luncheon in New York City on Saturday, November 8.
• There is lots of info at https://www.sherlockbaltimore.com/ about the upcoming weekend of activities in Baltimore on the weekend of September 26/27. This includes the Six Napoleons of Baltimore dinner on Friday 26th at the Maryland Club (Steve Doyle will be the guest speaker) ; the Sherlockians of Baltimore luncheon will be held on Saturday, September 27 at Sabatino's restaurant in Baltimore's Little Italy neighborhood ; and the Black Pearls of the Borgias SPODE dinner will be held Saturday, September 27th. 
• Coming in November is the 46th Annual 'Sherlock Holmes at the Pratt Free Library' - more information will be coming soon, and it will include presentations from several members of WTB.
• The new series of the Rosenbach Library (Philadelphia) 'Biblioventures' has been announced - returning on September 27 is the Sherlock Monthly series. It's free to register, and the first story will be... 'Golden Pince Nez'. 

Following announcements, we stood on the terrace for Ken McQuage BSI .Ewy Herzog spoke about Ken, and her attendance at his memorial. Ken was an occasional attendee at WTB meetings, as well as the Six Napoleons (Baltimore) and the Red Circle (DC). M. Kenneth McQuage was invested into the BSI as "The Plumstead Marshes" in 1989, published Sherlockian articles, was an attendee at the annual dinner at the Sherlock Holmes Society of London, and even created a Sherlockian weathervane!

Ken McQuage BSI

Jacquelynn Morris then presented the Evidence Box on behalf of Debbie Clark, and moved us toward our discussion on the story of the evening - the Golden Pinze Nez. The items were laid out. A reminder that you can browse the Evidence Box items at our website, but here are some photos of the laid-out evidence. What do you recognize from the story?

 

I'll let you think about the lemon..... and I am glad i managed a photo of the eponymous eyewear!

The discussion of the story was wide-ranging. The story opens with the wonderful description of 'three massive volumes' for 1894 - very 'Tin-Boxian', and mentions of so many stories I wish I could read. I have to say, I do love a story with a MAP, so this one always pleases, even if the truth is that the design of the home leaves a lot to be desired. And does anyone have coconut matting on their hallways? And what is the difference between a vial and a phial?

We wondered why pince nez aren't around any more, and it was suggested that they cause stigmatism. We discussed what Russian events led to the nihilists being jailed as they were, what gulag were they in, and when exactly would all this have taken place in the past (we know the story occurred in 1894). If the wife you sold out turned up in your bedroom having murdered your secretary, would you hide her? And can you really smoke 4 cigarettes an hour, for 18 hours a day, every day, and be alive? All this was discussed. Last but most certainly not least we discussed a chapter written by Jacquelynn Morris in the BSI Manuscript Series book on this story - in which  Jacquelynn analyzed the possible poison used by Anna and discovered that she may well have not died!

We then moved on to our guest for the evening. Travis Shick, of the White Rose Irregulars of PA drove all the way from Reading PA for the evening to deliver his talk entitled "The sign of ... FORE! The intersection of Sherlock Holmes and Golf.". Travis delivered a tour-de-force, educating us on golf and the explosion of its popularity in the late 1800s and early 1900s, Doyle's own exploits on the gold course, and discussed the two mentions of gold in the canon. As we entered the back nine, Travis discussed the difference between a golf club and a golf club, and then showed a range of vintage clubs of the period, and a gold ball (at the time they were 'reverse dimpled'). 

To thank Travis as a guest speaker, he was presented with an EXCLUSIVE AND RARE Watson's Tin Box tote bag, that you too can own for the basement price of $15, along with a WTB pin. Travis understands he needs to visit us again to achieve full membership (cheaper than joining a golf club!). THANK YOU TRAVIS for the visit and talk ; please tell your family you didn't embarrass them.

We ended the evening with a 'shout out' quick from Olivia Millunzi, freshly returned from a vacation to Scotland (always somewhere!!!). And with that, members dispersed.... until October !!

As always, please get in touch through the Watson's Tin Box website if you'd like to know more. (And if you have corrections for this blog post - please get in touch).