Poem to Eugene Field

From The Arthur Conan Doyle Encyclopedia

During Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's visit to Chicago in 1894, columnist Eugene Field had violently criticized the crude appearance of pirated Sherlock Holmes editions. Yet, he did not hesitate to present The Sign of the Four (United States Book Co.) to Arthur Conan Doyle for an inscription. No doubt galled by the sight of the book, Conan Doyle obliged with the following poem :


Poem

This bloody pirate stole my sloop
And holds her in his wicked ward.
Lord send that walking on my poop
I see him kick at my main-yard.


Original poem and book