Plain Talks by a Plain Man
Plain Talks by a Plain Man is an article published in The Yonkers Herald on 13 november 1894.
Report of the lecture "Readings and Reminiscences" given by Arthur Conan Doyle on 12 november 1894 evening at John Kendrick Bangs' home (Yonkers, USA).
Report
His Creator Lectured Last Evening at the Yonkers Lawn Tennis Club.
READINGS AND REMINISCENCES
Dr. A. Conan Doyle Relates Early Recollections, Tells of His First book and Reads an Extract from one of his Last Stories.
The commodious yet cosy home of the Yonkers Lawn Tennis club has been the scene of many brilliant events, social and otherwise, but it probably never was filled with such an ultra-fashionable audience as gathered in its handsome hall last evening to listen to the Readings and Reminiscences of the distinguished English author, Dr. A. Conan Doyle.
The platform was tastefully arranged with palms and ferns and a ripple of applause ran through the room as Mr. John Kendrick Bangs, the president of the club, stepped before the audience closely followed by Dr. Doyle.
The first thing the audience did, of course, was to contrast the English man of letters, with the American, Mr. Bangs seemed quite slender and Sherlock Holmes like, beside Dr. Doyle's bulky frame and, in fact, it would be difficult to imagine a greater literary contrast than the two men presented, one with sharply defined features, and nervous build ; the other with his full, florid, thoroughly English face, and peculiar weather beaten appearance.
Dr. Doyle is built in athletic mould, and has a rugged and strong personality. that would hardly seem in keeping with the nervous timbre of some of his stories. Strength seems to be his prominent characteristic.
Mr. Bangs introduced Dr. Doyle in a neat little speech in which he told of having once been invited by a friend to a dinner of canvas back ducks. Four courses had been served and no ducks having made their appearance he cried "I'm tired! Bring on the ducks." Mr. Bangs said he thought the story had a moral for presiding officers and so he would not allow the audience to tire and would therefore "Bring on the ducks."
Dr. Doyle who is as easy upon the platform as an old glove upon the hand, began as follows:—
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN—
It is a reversal of the usual order of things to find a large number of people not only willing but anxious to hear a man talk about himself and his own work, for never until a man attempts to talk about himself and his work before an audience does he realize how insignificant both are. But the demand of my friends both English and American seems to be to hear something of them, because perhaps I have written stories that have created a bond of sympathy between us.
The lecturer gave reminiscences of his childhood, his remembrances of his father, the predecessor of John Leech and George Du Maurier, also of Thackeray, and other literary notabilities which want of space alone prevents us from reporting in full.
Much of the lecture was devoted to an interesting resume of the vicissitudes of a young author ; and many will agree with the doctor that the actual harpooning of a whale or shooting of a bear in the Arctic Ocean or among the Rockies, is not nearly so exciting as those we have slain within the playgrounds of our country or town homes. Dr. Doyle has no reason. to complain of the success that has greeted his efforts as an author, though he seemed to imagine it had been hardly earned. Many men have been glad to achieve such a position when their hair has turned gray in the service of literature ; but Dr. Doyle hit on a vein that suited the public to a T — and consequently is one of the most successful authors of the day.
His lecture was flavored with a rare modesty that added to the breezy candor of its delivery ; and his readings of various extracts from the adventures of Sherlock Holmes added zest to the performance ; but the hit of the evening in that respect was the recital of the thrilling episode in the Chateau Noir where the German captain is alternately tortured and delivered by the French Count in revenge and gratitude for the contumely and kindness bestowed on his only son when taken prisoner by the Germans.
It is a powerfully weird story and proves that Dr. Doyle is capable of greater things than he has yet attempted. His forte is evidently historical romance and though thousands upon thousands of readers bewail the untimely fate of Sherlock Holmes, and as the Doctor says have unmercifully blackguarded him for what they term his murder, the public may depend that under his experienced guidance there are hours of pleasure in store for them in those historic fields where he delights to linger and the nooks and crannies of which he is so well able to explore.
At the conclusion of the lecture a reception was held at the foot of the stairs and many of the audience were presented to the Doctor who chatted pleasantly with those around him.
Among those in the audience we noticed Rev. Alex. B. Carver, Rev. James T. Bixby, Rev. E. Ernest Magill, Dr. and Mrs. Trotter, Dr. and Mrs. Callan, Mr. Theodore Silkman, Mr. and Mrs. J. Foster Jenkins, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Butler jr. Miss Butler, Mrs. W. D. Baldwin, Miss Upham, Mr. W. F. Cochran, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Ewing jr. Mr. and Mrs. Lasher, Mr. and Mrs. Skitt, Dr. and Mrs. Benedict, Mr. W. H. Doty, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. P. Holden, Commander and Mrs. Bronson, and Mr. Richard L. Condon.
