There are so many holiday stories out there. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. A Visit from St. Nicholas. A Christmas Carol. My Little Pony: A Very Minty Christmas.* My favorite, however, is William Dean Howells’ “Christmas Every Day,” about a little girl who gets her wish, with unexpected consequences. For children, that is. We adults can see it coming.
Anyway, my favorite line in the story occurs when Christmas has gone on for quite awhile and (spoilers!) the presents are piling up. Tempers have frayed and people fulfill their perpetual holiday obligations by throwing boxes at each other and shouting “‘Take it, you horrid thing!'”
There is, of course, such a thing as too many gifts. But there can never be too much Sherlockiana. Not when one still has space under the bed! And here is your chance to add to your collection by answering today’s question….
Arthur Conan Doyle was quite the athlete. What was his proudest athletic accomplishment?
(Note: I have one in mind, but there are others I will accept.)
Today’s prize is rather unique: a copy of the script from the Rathbone/Bruce film, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. It’s complete and includes an alternate ending. I bought it off of eBay, and have no way of vouching for its authenticity, but it’s still something interesting you might like to have on your shelf.
No, John, you can’t keep it.
And here’s a close-up…
Just send your answer via blog comment, FaceBook PM, or Twitter DM to qualify for the drawing, and enjoy your holiday!
Holiday parties, ACD-style.
Day 1 Winner….
William Winwood Reade, 1838-1875
Congratulations to our first winner, Paul Hayes! He knew that Sherlock Holmes recommended that Watson spend some quality time with William Winwood Reade’s The Martyrdom of Man. Long fascinated with the natural sciences and an enthusiastic explorer who made three trips to Africa, Reade applied Darwin’s theories of natural evolution to that of human society. Published three years before Reade’s death at 36, The Martyrdom of Man drew both praise and intense criticism for its challenges to religious orthodoxy and for its view that science could prove the salvation of mankind. Word has it that it’s very difficult to wade through.**
*A classic, I assure you.
**You can try it for yourself, here: archive.org/details/martyrdomofman72read
The Well-Read Sherlockian 