Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1895-07-08

10. Plays the violin Well.
II. Is an expert single-stick player,
boxer and swordsman.
- Has a good practical knowledge
of British law.
When I had got so far in my list /
threw it into the fire in despair. IF
I can only find what the fellow is driy-
ing at by reconciling all these accom-
plishments, and discovering a calling
which needs them ALL" said to my
self, II may as well give up the at
tempt at once"
/ see that [ have alluded above to
his powers upon the violin. These are
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,' and other fayorites. When
left to himself, however, he would sell
dom produce any music or attempt any
recognized air. Leaning back in his
III chair of an evening, ne would close
his eyes and scrape carelessly at the
fiddk. which was thrown .Icross mis-
knee. Sometimes the chords were son
orous and melancholy Occasi olally
they were fantastic and cheerful
\ lIley E0uCCiCI l1ic
which possessed him, bit VIII :thcr the
music aided those thoughts, OF Wheth-
Ell the playing was simply the result Of
q Whiln or fancy was more than /
could determine. | might haze reballad
against these eXasperating solos had
it not been that he usually termir ated
them by playing in quick succession a
whole series of my favorite airs as a
,I;, 70 ,ioJ
my patience.
During the first week or so we had 10
callers, and I had begun to think that
my companion was as friendless a man
as [ was myself. Presently, however,
[ found that he had many acquaint
anceS, and those in the most different
classes of society. There was one lit
tie, sallow, rat-faced, dark-eyed fellow
who was in reduced to me as Mr.. Lee
strade, and who came three or four
times in Il single week. One morning
a young girl called, fashionably dress
ed, and stayed for half an hour or
more. The same afternoon brought a
gray-headed, seedy visitor, looking like
a jew peddler, who appeared to me to
BIZ much excited, and who was Gle sely
followed by slip-shod elderly woman.
On another occasion an old white-hair-
ed gentleman had an interview with
my companion, and on another a rail
way porter in his velveteen uniform.
When any of these nOndeScript individ-
uals put in an appearance Sherlock
Holmes used to beg for the use of the
sitting-room, and would retire to my
bedroom. He always apologized to me
for putting me to this Inconvenience.
II have to use this room as place OF
business" he said, land these people
are my clients" Again / had an op-
portunity Of asking him point blank
question, and again my delicacy pre-
vented me from forcing another man
to cOnfide in me. / imagined at the
time that he had some strong reason
for not abiding to it, but he soon dis
PEELED the idea by coming round to
the subject of his own accord.
1t was upon the fourth of March,
as / have good reason to remember,
that rose somewhat earlier than usu-
al, and found that Sherlock Holmes
had not yet finished his breakfast. The
landlady had become so accustomed to
my late habits that my place had not
been laid nor my coffee prepared. With
the unreasonable petulance Of mankind
I rang the bell an gave a curt int. ma
ton that I was ready. Then | picked
UP II magazine from tho table and at
tempted to while away the time While
my companion munched silently at his
toast. One of the articles had Il pen