The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-04-13

that little room has elastic walls and
can distend to any extent. Depend
upon it, there comes time when for
every addition of knowledge you for
get something that you knew before.
1t is of the highest Importance, there
fore, not to have useless facts elbowing
out the useful ones"
"But the solar svstem!" / protested.
"What the deuce is it to me?" he in
terrupted impatiently; you say that
we go round the sun. Ii we went
round the moon it would not make
pennyworth of difference to me or to
my work"
l was on the point of asking him
what that work might be, but some
thing in his manner showed me that
the question would be an unwelcome
one. / pondered over our short con-
versation, however, and endeavored to
draw nv deductions from it. He said
that he would acquire no knowledge
which did not bear upon his object.
Therefore all the knowledge which he
possessed was such as would be useful
to him. | enumerated in my own mind
all the various points upon which he
had shown me that he was exception
ally well informed. | even took
pencil and iotted them down. l could
not help smiling at the document when
l had completed it. tran in this way:
SHERLOCK HoLMEs-his limits
l. knowledge OF Literature-NiL
. knowledge OF PHILOSOPHICAL
8 knowledge of Astronomy.-NiL
4. knowledge OF Politics-Feeble.
s. knowledge of Botany.-Variable. Well up
in belladonna, opium and poisons generally.
Knows nothing of practical gardening.
g knowledge Of Geology - Practical, but
limited Tells at a glance different soils from
each other. After walks has shown me splashes
upon his trousers, and told me by their color
and consisteuce in what par. OF London he had
received them
Z knowledge OF Chemistry.
g. knowledge OF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. but I'M
systematic.
9 knowledge of Sensational Literature.
Immense He appears to know every detail of
every horror perpetrated in the century.
10 Plays the violin we'll
H. Is an expert single-stick player, boxer and
swordsman.
II Has a good practical knowledge of British
law.
When l had got so far in my list
threw it into the fire in despair. ''lf l
can only find what the fellow is driv-
ing at by reconcilipg all these accom-
plishments, and discovering calling
which needs them ALL" said to my
self, 81 may as well give up the at
tempt at once"
l see that have alluded above to his
powers on the violin. These were very
remarkable, but as eccentric as all
his other accomplishments. That he
could play pieces. and difficult pieces.
knew well, because at my request he
has played me some of Mendelssohn's
Lieder ard other favorites. When left
to himself. however. he would seldom
produce any music or attempt any rec
ognized air. Leaning back in his arm
chair of an evening he would close his
eyes and scrape carelessly at the fiddle
which was thrown across his knee.
Sometimes the chords We're sonor-
Gus and melancholy. Occasionally they
were fantastic and cheerful. d learly
they reflected the thoughts which
possessed him. but whether the music
aided those thoughts, or whether the
PLAYING was simply the result of a
within or fancy was more than | could
determine. | might have rebelled
against these eXasperating solos had 1t
not been that he usually terminated
them by playing in quick succession
whole series of my favorite airs as
slight compensation for the trial upon
my patience.
During the first week or so we had no
callers, and l had begun to think that
my companion was as friendless man
as was myself. Presently, however,
l found that he had many acquaint
ances, and those in most different
classes of society. There was one lit
tie, sallow, rat-faced, dark-eyed fellow
who was introduced to me as Mr.. Les
trade, and who came three or four
times in single week. One morning
young girl called, fashionably
dressed, and stayed for half an hour or
more. The same afternoon brought
gray-headed, seedy visitor, looking like
jew peddler, who appeared to me to be
much excited, and who was closely fol-
lowed by a slip-shod elderly woman.
On another occasion an old white
haired gentleman had an interview
with my companion; and on another
railway porter in his velveteen uni
form. When any of these nondescript
individuals put in an appearance, Sher-
lock Holmes used to beg for the use of
the sitting-room. and | would retire to
nv bedroom. He always apologized
to me for putting me to this inconven-
fence. Il have to use this room as q
MEinLLILtLl. Il