Ask Dr. John H. Watson

My name is Dr. John H. Watson, and I am a retired army surgeon residing at 221B Baker Street. These days, I primarily assist with and chronicle the cases of my roommate and friend, Sherlock Holmes, and since our dining table is, quite frankly, flooded with unanswered telegrams (my apologies for that), I have decided to establish a different, albeit admittedly unfamiliar means of communication.

I would be honored to answer any questions you may have for me, and I hope you have a splendid day!

you've inspired me to write some of my own stuff! Also Mr. Holmes inspired me to learn a lot more about handwriting, and I think that's coming along rather nicely too!

I just wanted to thank you for turning into such a huge portion of my life!

Good evening! Or night, rather. I have indeed dragged Holmes away to the country, but the railway system was not on our side today, and we have only managed to arrive at our destination two hours ago.

Regardless, I thank you kindly for your message. I'm thrilled to hear that my writings have inspired you to try your hand at the craft! I have no doubts that you will excel at it in no time. At the very least, I hope it shall fulfill you and make you happy.

And I will pass on the remark about the handwriting to Holmes. He will be honored to have been the cause of someone paying more attention to details such as handwriting.

You are very welcome. I must admit, sometimes, I still do not know how to respond properly to the sudden publicity I have achieved, but do know that I am extremely flattered.

It has been abnormally warm these past few days, and our flat is incredibly stuffy. Holmes has even ceased smoking to avoid further worsening the quality of our air, and maybe I could convince him to travel to the country to escape the city, but I have a feeling that this particular endavour is wishful thinking...

Thank you once more for all the messages I have had the honor of receiving and replying to. I look forward to many more weeks!

I would like to request Mr Holmes' (and your!) assistance on an international case.

France has found a letter indicative of spying within its ranks. They have decided it was written by Alfred Dreyfus, one of the only (if not the only) Jews at that level in the French Army. Almost no evidence has been proffered for his guilt; to take a representative sample, his handwriting not matching the handwriting of the letter is proof of his guilt -- you see, as a Sneaky Jew or somesuch nonsense, he must have disguised his handwriting; truly, the leaps of logic they make!

While I am aware that you and Mr Holmes are busy, I believe that, if the great detective gets involved, the case may turn in the man's favour, particularly if Mr Holmes could find the true spy; the involvement of such a celebrity would certainly do good. And even if the Detective declines to take the case, you writing about it would likely do good; at the moment, it seems almost every Frenchman is convinced of Dreyfus' guilt on the simple fact that the man is Jewish.

Thank you very much,

Miriam

Post-script: I don't suppose there would be any way to get Mycroft involved? He works in the British government, yes? Perhaps there is some way he could help?

Good day, Miriam!

I will gladly forward your inquiry to Holmes. He could use a case at the moment, and I am sure he will help the poor man. You are right, it is unacceptable to cast suspicion on him solely because he is Jewish, and I can guarantee you that Holmes will share this view.

As for the older Mr Holmes, we will do what we can. If Holmes asks his brother a favor, I doubt he will have much reason to decline.

International cases are always a different kind of sensational, so rest assured I will be writing a report about this matter. The masses are surprisingly easy to convince, and this injustice cannot be buried under ignorance.

I thank you for your request!

I thank you for your congratulations on my engagement, you are very kind. Though, I confess—and it is only due to the disguise of anonymity that I dare say so—that it is a marriage meant to benefit the families rather than one born of love.

I admit to a rather unbecoming envy I have for you and your Mr. Holmes. It sounds simply dream-like to be lulled to sleep by the music of a loved one! My fiancé would think me quite a foolish girl should I try to do such a thing for him, I imagine. I am sure Mr. Holmes appreciates your audience just as much as you enjoy his playing. It is such a joy to perform for those who truly listen.

I have always been rather curious on one matter regarding your writing—rather, how you came to writing in the first place. I do not imagine a doctor's practice—or, indeed, the position of army surgeon—allows for much time spent honing such a talent. Yet, what talent you have! Did you do a good deal of writing in school, then? Or, is it that Mr. Holmes simply so remarkable that he inspires such creativity in the unpracticed? Given the praises you have oft sung for him, I do not believe this would surprise me.

All the best to you and yours,

Miss Violet, of Durham

Good evening, Miss Violet!

I am thrilled to hear from you once more; your kind messages to me never fail to lift my spirits. And while I have often heard of such marriages - you have been following Holmes' cases, no doubt, and he deals with plently of loveless marriages - , I certainly hope you shall be happy regardless.

If our Baker Street rooms had a piano, I would invite you to come play for us. Holmes enjoys performing duets from time to time, and has often expressed his dismay at my lack of knowlegde when it comes to playing musical instruments. I realise, however, that it would mean for you to cease being anonymous, and I could not ask that of you. Regardless, I wish you all the luck in finding an appreciative audience. I believe every aspiring musician is deserving of one.

Your guess regarding my interest in writing is quite astute, I must confess. I was never much of a writer at school, preferring to read or play sports instead. I believe I must have mentioned that I am partial to rugby in one of my stories. It was indeed Holmes and his magnificent deductions that drove me to pick up a pen - I simply felt that such talent should not go unpreserved. He has chastised me for excess romanticism more times than I can count, but after having been working on my writings for so long by now, I do say I believe I have found a suitable narrative format to show the world the wonder that is Sherlock Holmes. He is truly a marvel indeed, would you not say? The way his eyes light up when a fresh mystery lands on our doorstep is a sight I will never tire of.

Oh, but I fear I am getting carried away. Thank you once again for your message!

Good day to you!

I have always believed that it is not my business what other people do in their free time, and it is even less my business whom they take into their bedrooms. Any act of love cannot, in my eyes, possibly be a sin, regardless of what society has aspired to tell us.

I must admit, would you have asked me this question a few years earlier, I would have needed a little more time to formulate a reply, but I pride myself on having become more accepting. The world will get nowhere if humans continue to feel entitled to judge one another and spread hatred.

Good morning!

Well, I...I suppose I have been to Switzerland, yes.

It quite saddens me to connect this marvelous country to such grim memories. Maybe in a few years' time, I shall be able to visit it once more without focusing on the events that transpired at Reichenbach Falls. There is so much left unexplored.

Thank you for your question.

I thank you kindly for your sage advice. So thrilled was I to receive your message that I at once leapt to my feet and dashed to the staircase. I had been supping with my family, and this most dreadful show of rudeness nearly made my soon-to-be mother-in-law tip her soup. I am pleased to report that there are eleven steps to the upper storey, and two to the landing where the bedrooms are. I dare say I feel more observant already, and I believe you do yourself quite wrong in suggesting that your own powers have not developed quite keenly!

Nevertheless, as I was wandering my fiancé's estate rather aimlessly this morning, I came to wondering about music. He has this rather ostentatiously decorated piano, you see. The legs are made of thick, gilded lions and they are so terribly hideous it is difficult to ignore. You have written, of course, of Mr. Sherlock Holmes' affinity for the violin, and of the myriad songs he plays for you so kindly. I wonder if you have any musical inclinations?

I, myself, was practiced in piano, just as any other young lady. I am told, however, that I have such dreadfully clumsy fingers, I make even the sweetest of melodies sound like an army's march.

All the best to you and yours,

Miss Violet, of Durham

(And, yes, any address you wish is quite alright. You are a perfect gentleman for asking!)

Good evening, Miss Violet!

Allow me to congratulate you on your engagement! I hope that you and your fiancé will lead a happy life together.

I am pleased to hear my advice worked for you! It is fascinating, is it not - how many little, seemingly insignificant things we miss while going about our daily lives, and of how much importance they prove to be at a later point in time. I may want to focus on my own powers of deduction, too, instead of only writing about Holmes', as your reports of your success have, I believe, given me a nudge to improve.

As for the topic of music, I fear I must disappoint you. I have never learned an instrument in boyhood, and with my medical education and time in the army, I did not have the chance to do so as an adult. Occasionally, I might be inclined to hum a melody or two, but as I must admit that I consider myself rather timid when it comes to my voice, I have not sung a full song in years unless I was intoxicated after one glass of wine too many. You are right about Holmes' talents on the violin, however - every time his long, thin fingers pick at the instrument's strings, a wonderful piece has more often than not soothed me to sleep after a restless day.

Do not despair regarding the piano. I am certain that if you truly wish to improve, you will be able to accomplish your goal with enough time and practice. Not to mention that an army's march is a most respectable piece of composition itself!

Rest assured that I was delighted to receive your message as much as you were delighted to receive mine. I am growing quite comfortable with this queer platform.

I digress, but I do declare that I had intended to lead somewhere with this nonsense. Here is my question to you, Dr. Watson, if only to see if there is any hope for myself: do you believe you have grown more apt in the art of deduction since your cohabitation with the enigmatic Mr. Sherlock Holmes? Have you any advice for an amateur sleuth?

As you often disguise the names of the poor ladies in your stories to preserve their dignity, and I seek to do the same for myself, I shall adopt that name of which you seem so fond.

All the best to you and yours,

Violet, of Durham.

Good evening, Violet! (I do hope it is all right for me to address you as such, albeit I usually resort to more formal greetings.)

First of all, I wholeheartedly appreciate that you are one of my readers. Sometimes, I myself fail to grasp just how widespread my reports of Holmes' cases are, but it is always wonderful to hear that there are enthusiasts such as yourself who are waiting for another adventure. You have my words that I am working on it!

Sadly, as you likely are aware, I myself am not exactly an expert in the science of deduction. Like you, I enjoy accompanying Holmes because watching him solve any mystery with such precision and logic leaves me awed, and while I do engage in guessing potential culprits or outcomes, I am very much a devoted follower much as you are a follower of my retellings.

That being said, it would be remiss to leave a lady without an answer to her inquiry, and I am pleased to say that I indeed can offer some advice. It may sound simple, but I believe that I have sharpened my skills some by applying it: Attempt to observe more. I understood the importance of these insctructions when I'd began counting steps after Holmes had cornered me by asking how many steps lead up to our Baker Street rooms and I had failed to provide an answer, but by now, I seem to do so subconsciously. I admit it is a challenging habit to obtain, but once you start with something as ordinary as counting steps, you will eventually notice more and form extraordinary, but correct, conclusions!

I wish you the best of luck, and I sincerely hope you are more successful in your attempts at deduction than I am.

Good evening!

Oh, me? I'm not sure whether I'm in a position to decide that, but I'm admittedly not thrilled about Holmes' suggestion that I am a hedgehog because - and I quote - "You appear friendly on the outside, Watson, but your writing is as sharp as those spikes!". In my opinion, he's being a little ridiculous considering the fact that I'm singing his praises in every story of mine, but alas.

An animal I'd see myself as is a dog. A golden retreiver, perhaps. I am rather adapt at following others, and, in hopes of not sounding arrogant, loyalty appears to be one of my stronger suits.

Thank you for your question!

Greetings!

Now, I do not know how you look like, but if I were to decide, I believe I would assign an axolotl to you. Holmes says I'm basing it too much on the colour scheme of your...it is called a "blog", is it not? Well, regardless, I still believe it fits. He's never the one to approach with questions about literature, after all.

Have a wonderful day!

Hello there!

That is, I admit, a rather difficult question. Since a favorite is more challenging to pick, I shall start by naming the ones I dislike the most.

Now, it needs to be clarified that I never truly dislike a case itself, really. I'm thrilled whenever Holmes decides to allow me to accompany him, and while some affairs might be less intriguing than others, going on cases with him has always been my greatest privilege. But if I had to pick one would rather not think about again, those would be the one I have labeled "The Final Problem". I doubt it-

Well, I doubt it requires much of an explanation, does it? I would rather not go on tangents here, but whenever I remember standing at that abyss and looking into the rushing water, I feel a chill run down my spine.

As for a favorite, I admittedly enjoyed the business with the hound in Dartmoor! It was certainly nice to feel as if I were playing a major part in the investigation, and the material made for a fantastic story, I dare say.

I thank you sincerely for your inquiry!