Unicorn (Unicorn@Indenial.com)
Thu, 16 Sep 1999 09:24:58 -0400
"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle" (A LadyHawke's Favorite)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of the
world-famous detective, Sherlock Holmes,
was not above telling tales about himself in
which he was the laughing-stock. Here is
one of those stories. As he tells it, he was
waiting at a taxi- stand outside the railway
station in Paris. When a taxi pulled up, he
put his suitcase in it and got in himself. As
he was about to tell the taxi-driver where
he wanted to go, the driver asked him:
"Where can I take you, Mr. Doyle?"
Doyle was flabbergasted. He asked the d
river whether he knew him by sight. The
driver said: "No Sir, I have never seen you
before." The puzzled Doyle asked him what
made him think that he was Conan Doyle.
The driver replied: "This morning's paper
had a story about you being on vacation in
Marseilles. This is the taxi-stand where
people who return from Marseilles always
come to. Your skin color tells me you have
been on vacation. The ink-spot on your
right index finger suggests to me that you
are a writer. Your clothing is very English,
and not French. Adding up all those pieces
of information, I deduce that you are Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle."
Doyle said: "This is truly amazing. You
are a real-life counter-part to my fictional
creation, Sherlock Holmes."
"There is one other thing," the driver said.
"What is that?"
"Your name is on the front of your suitcase."
************************************************************
"What Does That Tell You?"
Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson went
on a camping trip. After a good meal
and a bottle of wine they lay down for
the night, and went to sleep. Some hours
later, Holmes awoke and nudged his
faithful friend. "Watson, look up at the
sky and tell me what you see."
Watson replied, "I see millions and millions
of stars."
"What does that tell you?," enquired Holmes.
Watson pondered for a minute.
"Astronomically, it tells me that there are
millions of galaxies and potentially billions
of planets. Astrologically, I observe that
Saturn is in Leo. Horologically, I deduce
that the time is approximately a quarter
past three. Theologically, I can see that
G-d is all powerful and that we are small
and insignificant. Meteorologically, I
suspect that we will have a beautiful day
tomorrow. What does it tell you?"
Holmes was silent for a minute, then
spoke. "Watson, you idiot! Someone
has stolen our tent!"
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