The Blanched Soldier.
The case begins Wednesday, January 21, 1903.
Why?
STATEMENT OF THE MONTH AND YEAR:
"I find from my notebook that it was in January, 1903, just after the conclusion of the Boer War ... The good Watson had at that time deserted me for a wife, the only selfish action which I can recall in our association. I was alone."
"I find from my notebook that it was in January, 1903, just after the conclusion of the Boer War ... The good Watson had at that time deserted me for a wife, the only selfish action which I can recall in our association. I was alone."
CONFIRMATION OF MONTH AND YEAR:
"When I joined up in January, 1901—just two years ago . . ."
"When I joined up in January, 1901—just two years ago . . ."
DODD’S VISIT TO TUXBURY OLD PARK:
"That was what took me down on Monday."
"That was what took me down on Monday."
DELAY OF GAME AND OTHER CASES:
"It happened that at the moment I was clearing up the case which my friend Watson has described as that of the Abbey School, in which the Duke of Greyminster was so deeply involved. I had also a commission from the Sultan of Turkey which called for immediate action, as political consequences of the gravest kind might arise from its neglect. Therefore it was not until the beginning of the next week, as my diary records, that I was able to start forth on my mission . . ."
"It happened that at the moment I was clearing up the case which my friend Watson has described as that of the Abbey School, in which the Duke of Greyminster was so deeply involved. I had also a commission from the Sultan of Turkey which called for immediate action, as political consequences of the gravest kind might arise from its neglect. Therefore it was not until the beginning of the next week, as my diary records, that I was able to start forth on my mission . . ."
WHAT THE BARING-GOULD ANNOTATED SAYS:
January 7, 1903.
January 7, 1903.
WHAT ZEISLER, THE KING OF CHRONOLOGY, SAYS:
January 7, 1903.
January 7, 1903.
THE BIRLSTONE RAILWAY TIMETABLE:
January 1903, the month and year of this case, come from our most unimpeachable source — Holmes himself — and are backed up by the historical details of the Boer War and its end in May of 1902. The day it begins is easily determined by adding Dodd’s two nights at Tuxbury Old Place to his arrival there on a Monday: thus Holmes begins the case on a Wednesday. But which Wednesday in January of 1903?
January 1903, the month and year of this case, come from our most unimpeachable source — Holmes himself — and are backed up by the historical details of the Boer War and its end in May of 1902. The day it begins is easily determined by adding Dodd’s two nights at Tuxbury Old Place to his arrival there on a Monday: thus Holmes begins the case on a Wednesday. But which Wednesday in January of 1903?
Other chronologists have gone for the first Wednesday of that month, Zeisler doing his usual detailed lunar calculations based on a comment from Dodd about a half-moon. The thing I find hard to accept about an early January date for this case, however, is Holmes’s involvement in the Abbey School case. As the spring term of the Abbey School may not have even begun by January seventh, the lads there would have had hardly any time to get into trouble that required Holmes to clear up. Thus, I would think the second half-moon of the month, which appeared later in the evening on the twentieth according to Zeisler, would be the more likely candidate (even if it means a late supper for the residents of Tuxbury Old Park).
Thus, I’m going to place this case as beginning on Wednesday, January 21, 1903.
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