Sherlock Holmes' Godfather
Sherlock Holmes' Godfather is an article written by L. V. published in the Weekly Dispatch on 2 october 1921.
Sherlock Holmes' Godfather
Where Sir A. Conan Doyle found Names.
"I don't know where 'Holmes" came from, but 'Sherlock' was an M.C.C. bowler against whom I made thirty runs when playing once for the United Services,"
said Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of the famous detective, at a film dinner during the week. "I found names for several other characters of my stories in this way. Even my villains have a taint of cricket.
"I have often suffered from a confusion between Holmes and myself in the minds of the public. During my recent visit to the United States a New York paper wrote: 'As the author advanced to deliver his lecture a thrill of disappointment ran through the audience.' Presumably they had expected to see a thin, cadaverous individual pricked all over with hypodermic needle marks.
" What I consider the greatest compliment Holmes ever won was paid by a party of French schoolboys visiting London. Asked what place of historical interest they would like to see first, they promptly chose 'Baker-street'!"
L. V.
