The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-06-14
CHAPTER III.
The Science of Deduction.

VT
and inspected the rooms at No. LID
Baker street, of which he had spoken
at our meeting They consisted OF a
single. large airy sitting-rOoms and
single large, airy sitting and Il
fully furnished and Illuminated by two
broad windows. SO desirable in every
way were the departments, and so mod
crate did the terms seem when divided
between us, that the bargain was con"
cludpd upon the spot, and we at once
entered into possession. That very even
ing | moved my things round from the
hotel and on the following morning
Sherlock Holmes followed me with sew
pral boxes and pOrtmanteauS. For
day or two we were busily employed
in umpacking and laying out our proo-
erty to the best advantage. That done,
we gradually began to settle down ana
to accommodate ourselves to our new
surroundings.
Holmes was certainly not difficult
man to live with He was quiet in ms
ways, and his habits We're regular. IL
was rare for him to be up after 1O at
night. and he had invaribly breaktasted
and gone out before l rose in the morn
ing. Sometimes he spent his day at
the chemical laboratory, sometimes III
the dissecting-rooms, and occasionally
In long walks, which appeared to take
him into the lower portions OF the clty.
Nothing could exceed his energy when
the working fit was upon him; but now
and again a reaction would seize MIN,
and for days on end he would lie upon
the sofa in the sittihg-rOOm, hardly W
tcring a word or moving muscle from
morning to night. On these occasions
| have noticed such a dreamy, vacant
expression in his eyes that I might
have suspected him of being addicted
tU the use of some narcotic, had not tne
temperance and cleanliness on ms
whole life forbidden such notion.
As the weeks went by, my interest in
him, aud my curiosity as to his aims
in life, gradually deePeAed and IN
creased. His very person and appear
ance were such as to strike the atten'
ton of the most casual observer. In
height he was rather over six feet, and
and so excessively lean that he seemed
to be considered taller. His eyes were
sharp and piercing, save during those
intervals of torpor to which l have al
uded: and his thin, hawk-like nose
gave his whole expression an air OF
9lprtnpss and decision. His chin, too
had the prominence and squareneSs
which mark the man of determination
His hands were invariably blOtted with
ink and stained with chemicals, yet
he was possessed of extraordinary de-
Iicacv of touch, as l frequently had Oc
casiOn to observe when / watched MIN
manipulating his fragile philosophical
instruments. J.; A = >
HisrignOrance was as remarkable q:
his, knowledge. OF contemporary lit
erat11re. philosophy and politics he ap
nnared to know nothing. Upon M!
nuOting Thomas Carlyle, he ihquired II
fhep. .haiyest way who he might be anC
what he had done My surprise reach
ed A climax however, when found In
eidtntally that hR was ignorant OF TIN
Copernican Theory and of the oompo
sition of the solar system. That an,
civilized imam being in the nineteenth
century should not be aware that th
earth travelled round the sun appeared
TO be to me such an extraordinary fac
that could hardly realize 1t.
You appear to be astopished," hI
said smiling at my expression of sur
nrise. Now that do know It, ! shal
do my best to forget II"
ITO forget it,"
You see" he explained, Il COnside
that a mans brain originally is ike
little empty attic, and you nave I
stock it with such furniture as 20
choose. A fool takes in all the lumbe
of every sort that he comes across,
that the knowledge which might be use
full to him gets crowded out, or, at bes
Is iumbled up with lot of other thing
SO that he has difficulty in laying nj
hanGs upon il. Now the sktllful work
/ ti,4a ia ~ wi q
he takes into his brain-attic. He wi
have nothing but the tools which ma
help him in doing his work, but OF thes
he has a large assortment, and all
the most perfect order. 1t is mistak
to.think that that little room;has ella:
10 wallis and can distend to any exten
K3epgAY4 upon it, 'there' comes tim
JIhph'f for every addition 'of knowledg
Ydu forget something that .yoUT knew b.
fore. It is Of the highest fmportannc
therefore not to have lseless fdGts
bowing out thR useful ones"
What TT the DEUCE is It to 'mer' !
interrupted impatieRtlF; 'y9u say tA'
we 60 POUND the SUN. If we WcI
round the moon it would not make
peDnyw0rth Of difference to me or
my work"
1 was on the point Of asking hi
wsAt that work might be, but som
thing In his manner showed me that II
question might be an unWelcOme en-
pondered over our short conversation
however, and endeavored to draw N
deductions from it. He said that
would acquire no knc wledge whit
cid rot bear upon this subject. Their
tors. .JaH the knowledge which he po
Eaas' sa{fh4' y !, you'd \ E'oIugll4 Be useful