Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-07


much for financial gain as to make a
reputation for himself that would en-
able him to attract more attention
when he turned seriously to spiritualiSm
as his subject. He got both the money
and the attention, and, being hearty.
af1able Soul-a typical British uncle"
in appearance-he won not only wealth
and admiration, but the love of many
in both hemispheres.
From Famous Family.
Coming from q family of famous
artists, Arthur Conan Doyle was born
at Edinburgh May %, 1859. He was
the son OF Charles Doyle, grandson of
John Doyle, best known as H. B." and
a nephew of Punchs celebrated Richard
Doyle. All three were well known as
artists and caricaturists. When his
studies at Stonyhurst College and Edin-
burgh University came to an end,
Arthur, as was the fashion of the time.
went to Germany to continue his book
learning. Receiving his degree in medi-
cine, he returned home and set I'D prac-
tice at SouthSea. During his eight years
in his first chosen profeSsion-1S82 to
1890-he wrote fiction in his consider
able spare time and success came to
him so abundantly that he gave I'D be-
ing a physician and became a full
f1edged figure in the realm of literature.
He introduced Sherlock Holmes" in
1887 in his book, "A Study in Scarlet"
The year after his medical kit began
collecting dust Sir Arthur's stories
reached the zenith of their popularity
with the publication Of THE Adventures
of Sherlock Holmes" He returned to
his popular hero in 1.-THE Memoirs of
Sherlock Holmes" The Hound of the
Baskervilles" and The Return Of Sher-
lock Holmes"
Explaining how the detective got his
name, Sir Arthur said he wanted to get
away from Dickens custom of calling
every detective Sharpe, or such like
applications.
Holmes was homely," he said, "and
as for Sherlock-well, years ago made
80 runs against bowler by the name
OF Sherlock and always had kindly
feeling for that name"
Along with his detective yarns DOYLE
published q series of stories on the
Napoleonic wars, entitled THE Exploits
OF Brig. Gerard" and one of his early
plays was THE Story Of Waterloo" in
which Sir Henry Irving took the lead
ing role. He also dramatized others of
his literary works.
put away the pen and took up his
medicine case again, going to South
Africa as chief physician of the Lang
man Field Hospital. He wrote two
books in defense of the British Army
that fought the Beers; one, 1.-THE Great
Boer war" was q moderate success;
the other, THE War in South Africa:
It's Causes and Conduct" so impressed
the authorities that they had it printed
in IL languages and distributed ZOO. 900
copies gratis among the peoples of Eu-
rope.
Study Of Spiritualism.
Between this war and the great one
that was to follow in 1914, Sir Arthur.
as he had become, studied spiritualism,
but 1t was during the emotional years
took to it with all the intensity of his
nature. In 1919 he and his wife an
nounced their faith in the spirit life.
Sir Arthur said he possessed papers
which he claimed proved "the survival
OF and communion with the dead be-
yond the shadow of doubt" Some time
after he said he had communicated with
his son, William Hope of Crew. a cabi-
netmaker, claiming special mediumistic
OF the dead youth, which Sir Arthur de-
Scribed as "a psycograph of my boy"
The more a person looks into the
question Of spirit photography the more
he will find it deserves worthy study
and not unworthy sneers." Sir Arthur
said. Later, lecturing in Carnegie Hall,
New York, he showed pictures he claim
ed were spirit photographs, some taken
by friends, others by himself. They
were made possible, he said, by ecto-
plasrl, which, he explained, was "the
raw material of psychic phenomena"
why does not science analyze the
material? he inquired. THE answer
Is that science knows nothing of it.
It has been analysed, however, and has
been found to consist Of materials which
are in the human body, and of some
thing else, which is possibly the ether,
as well as a material not know nto
exist in any org, organic substance It
wrote that he had seen and handled
ectoplasm, so that for me, at least,
all doubts as to its existence have been
absurd"
A letter Sir Arthur wrote to the
Scientific American was regarded by
that publication as challenge to make
first-hand investigation of psychic
phenomena. In reply it announced two
offers Of $4,000 each-one to the first
person who would produce q psychic
photograph and the other to the FIRST
person would would produce q visible
psychic manifestation Of other char
acter-both to be under certain test
conditions named by the Scientific
American and to the full satisfaction
Of a jury to be selected by it.
Twice during his life. in 1900 and
again in 1906, Sir Arthur contested
success. His recreations were golf,
cycling and billiards. He was regarded
as one Of the best amateur billiard shots
in England. He was married twice,
first to Louise Hawkins of Minister
worth. in 1885. She died In 1905, and
the next year. Sir Arthur married Jean
Leckie daughter Of James Blyth Leckie
Of Glebe House. Blackheath.
After announcing his faith in spirit
ualism, Sir Arthur wrote several vol
them being aThe Wanderings Of q
SpiritualiSt," 1.-THE Coming of the
Fairies" and "Our American Adven-
ture," the last an account Of the tour
he and Lady Doyle had made in the
happy hunting ground Of British lee
turers-the United States. Early In
1924 he announced his abandonment
OF writing as source Of income to de-
vote the remainder Of his days Ito
serious work.
Presented Tragic Figure.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle during the
latter part of his life, presented an
heroic and at the same time somewhat
tragic figure. For the past few years,
he had devoted virtually all his time
to the propagation of spiritualism, and
was recognized as one of the great
leaders of the world in this belief.
Because Of his association with this
crusade, which he himself characterized
as an unpopular one, he gradually lost
some of his old-time literary friends
who saw no virtue in spiritualism and
who were inclined to look upon him MS
eccentric