tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post4776322719701013444..comments2024-03-29T15:04:20.549+11:00Comments on ART and ARCHITECTURE, mainly: Sir Arthur Conan DoyleHelshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-44146327501176510792009-12-08T03:39:18.131+11:002009-12-08T03:39:18.131+11:00Holmes was also a friend of Harry Houdini, who, so...Holmes was also a friend of Harry Houdini, who, some people argue, used his crusade to "debunk" phony spiritualists as a cover for his own belief in the possibility of communicating with those beyond the grave.<br />Incidentally, the quotes I used in Armchair Travel came from 'Conan Doyle's Wallet' by Patrick McNamara.<br />Doyle says so many people have envisioned Sherlock Holmes that he often runs into him over there in the great beyond.<br />It's great to find fellow fans of ACD.Stephen Hartshornehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04725850418236166100noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-28432562504301313732009-04-04T22:53:00.000+11:002009-04-04T22:53:00.000+11:00Thanks Viola, I love that picture under the Jacara...Thanks Viola, I love that picture under the Jacaranda tree on your blog. I try to keep an open mind, but I am more concerned that we try to assess historical figures on their own terms, not ours.Hermeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00968366076064269729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-17785153580629656072009-04-04T20:27:00.000+11:002009-04-04T20:27:00.000+11:00I agree, Hermes. After all, 'there are more things...I agree, Hermes. After all, 'there are more things on heaven and earth...'<BR/><BR/>Those Cottingley Fairies girls certainly fooled everyone, however! I still like to believe in the idea of fairies...<BR/><BR/>I had a quick look at your beautiful blogs and I'm very glad to have found you.Violahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046603677301666579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-42312405842249712172009-04-04T16:26:00.000+11:002009-04-04T16:26:00.000+11:00You are excluding the possibility that it might be...You are excluding the possibility that it might be true of course! I have read his book and he certainly did and endured a lot of ribbing over his involvement with the Cottingley fairies but he stuck to his beliefs and lectured widely on both subjects. It was a widely held belief at the time with scientists such as Oliver Lodge actively investigating it.Hermeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00968366076064269729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-17848235934316446662009-04-02T15:01:00.000+11:002009-04-02T15:01:00.000+11:00I agree. Machine gunning 18 year old boys as they ...I agree. Machine gunning 18 year old boys as they run over the top of their trenches, by their thousands, is an obscenity that we can hardly grasp. <BR/><BR/>And you are correct about not being able to mourn properly. That certainly led to the creation of public war memorials in every city and town in Britain, Australia and every other country that lost its best young men.<BR/><BR/>But Doyle was already showing signs of stress and spiritualism in the early-middle 1890s. <BR/><BR/>My guess is that he was clinically depressed and handled it as best he could. He had given up his core career; he had risked his financial stability in a new career; he was married to a very very sick woman whom he was cool about; and he could rarely see the woman he was passionate about. Then his dad died and he was responsible for his mother.<BR/><BR/>I would have been searching around for answers too :(Helshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02849907428208235392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3067098918914268503.post-42387384197307001142009-04-01T05:45:00.000+11:002009-04-01T05:45:00.000+11:00Many people took up spiritualism after the First W...Many people took up spiritualism after the First World War, which is hardly surprising as many not only lost family, but couldn't mourn properly as many of the dead were never recovered.<BR/><BR/>Criticism of Doyle and his gullability as far as Spiritualism is concerned, always seemed harsh to me. Not many could have any idea as to what Doyle was going through at the time, and if he seemed to gain comfort from Spiritualism, despite the charlatans, who are we to criticise?<BR/><BR/>The brutal facts of life are not always acceptable.John Hopperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13495250254811460833noreply@blogger.com