Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-18
CONAN DOYLE, THE MAN
Some LITTLE. known Facts About the
Career Of the Great Novelist.
Comes Of a Race Of Artists.
A Writer at Fourteen.
Why knishted7
BY GEORGE NOX Mccain

L Arthur Conan Doyle that are not gen
orally known. now that he looms 70 large
in the public eye Of Philadelphia.
Contrariwisc there are a large number
concerning his life that arc encyclopedia.
Among them are these:
lie will be sixty three years Of nge the
2Ith Of next month.
Educated at Stonyhurst College. he grndu-
atcd as an NJ. d. at Edinburgh University
lie was. originally. general medical
practitioner who became an eye specialist
lie had established himself as physician
in Southsea. England. when in 1887 he pub.
lished "A Study In Scarlet his first great
story.
His most popular character. Sherlock
Holmes. first gained lasting distinction in
the Strand Magazine. although Sherlock
made his first appearance in "A Study In
Scarlet
DR.. Doyle was knighted in 1902.
A MONG the least known and interesting
"A facts of his career are:
lie comes Of n family Of artists Of distinc-
tion for two generations.
His grandfather. John Doyle. was a cele.
brated political caricaturst who signed his
productions simply with the initials "H. II. ~
For over thirty years his cartoons were
famous in Great Britain and. oddly enough.
without the secret of his identity being
known to the public.
After his death number of these oriEi
nails were purchased by the British Govern
mcnt for a sum in excess Of $4,000.
ONE of John Doyle's sons. Richard
~ "Dickey' Doyle as he was hailed by his
intimates and acquaintances-was also
noted artist who designed the cover OF the
magazine Punch.
His signature ID" with little bird on
A.
On the study wall Of Sir Arthur's home
in England is remarkably interesting
sketch by his grandfather, John Doyle.
1t represents the late Queen Victoria at
the age of six driving in Hyde Park, Lon
don
According to the legend connected with it =,
il is that the little Princess caught sight of
the artist trying to make n husty sketch Of
her as she drove slowly past.
She instantly commanded her coachman
to stop the chase and then patiently waited
until Mr.. Doyle had completed his work
nR. CONAN DOYLE, as he is we'll
II mcmbcrcd in Southsea after eight years
of practice there. began his literary career
at n very early age.
At Stonyhurst College. in Lancashire.
where he went when he was nine years old,
they had n school magazine.
fIc edited it for several years and also
wrote the poetry that adorned it's pages.
This was. of course. when he was in his
teens. for he remained there seven years.
His first serious attempt at story writing
was after he went to Edinburgh and began
to study medicine.
lie was then seventeen, large, sturdy and
athletic for his age.
His effort was entitled THE Mystery Of
nal. which was its fortunate recipient, paid
him SO for the contribution.
After he settled in Southsea he began to
give more and more attention to literature.
In his spare time during that period and
before his name became really known, he
wrote between fifty and sixty stories for
magazines.
Some of these have since been gathered
together and published in book form. one
particularly popular collection being under
the title The Captain of the Pole Star
TT WAS to be expected that Conan Doyle
i would have the universal experience of
young writers. having his most important
manuscripts refused.
"A Study in Scarlet passed through this
crucbc. 1t was ultimately sold outright for
$l4j.
Sir Arthur's determination to take up
literature seriously as II profession was not
reached until he hnd given medicine n fair
trial and had decided that his lifework was
literature and not physic.
He left SOuthSea with the purpose Of
goin: to London to establish himself as an
eye specialist. n branch of the profession
toward which he had u special leaning.
Before doing so. however. he went to
Vienna, where he lived for n year in order
While there. with his literary trend still
uuprrmost. he wrote The Doings Of Rattle
Haws.
On his return to London he took rooms in
Wimpole street, had Il brass plate put on
no ,lppr and Stnrtpu a. n nbyS
AT the expiration Of three months he
abandoned medicine altogether and for good
Orders for magazine stories and larger
efforts began to come in so rapidly that he
was compelled to make n tnul decision.
Literature had the call. Conan Doyle
answered il.
THE story Of Conan Doyle's creation Of
l. Sherlock Holmes is old but always new.
Dr. Doyle frankly confesses his indebted .
ness to Dir. Joseph Bell, who was an cmi-
n"nt practitioner in Edinburgh.
He was also professor at Edinburgh
University. where young Doyle was an as
sistant in his ward.
1t was the lattcr's duty to note down all
the pat tents who were to be seen and mus =
ter them together. Then they would be sub =
jcctcd to inspection by the famous spc +.
cialist.
DR., Bells intu,ivc powers were remark
able. Thus
Cnse No. ! would step up trying all the
time to present a brave appearance.
II soc" said DR.. Bell "You are suf
! fering from drink. You even carry flask
, in the inside breast pocket Of your coat
Case No. = would come forward. "You re-
| robblrr | Scc.'' he would say.
Then he would point out to tho assembled
students that the inside Of the knee Of rho
| paticnt's trousers was worn. II was where
he had rested the lapstone---a pcculiarit,
| found only in cobblcrs.
| All this had marked impression upor
| Young Doyle and il was this remarkabl,
| penetration and insight that subsequent,
| found expression in his master character.
| While discussing great detectives som,
| time ago the famous author said
II really know nothing about dctectiv,
work. but theoretically it has always hat
| a great charm for me.
''The best detective in fiction is Edgar A
| Poc's Mons y; then Mons. LeCoq, Ga,
borau's hero.