“So, Watson,” said he, suddenly, “you do not propose to invest in South African securities?”

I gave a start of astonishment. Accustomed as I was to Holmes’ curious faculties, this sudden intrusion into my most intimate thoughts was utterly inexplicable.

“How on earth do you know that?” I asked.

…

“You see, my dear Watson” - he propped his test-tube in the rack, and began to lecture with the air of a professor addressing his class - “it is not really difficult to construct a series of inferences, each dependent upon its predecessor and each simple in itself. If, after doing so, one simply knocks out all the central inferences and presents one’s audience with the starting-point and the conclusion, one may produce a startling, though possibly a meretricious, effect. Now, it was not really difficult, by an inspection of the groove between your left forefinger and thumb, to feel sure that you did not propose to invest your small capital in the goldfields.”

“I see no connection.”

“Very likely not; but I can quickly show you a close connection. Here are the missing links of the very simple chain: 1. You had chalk between your left finger and thumb when you returned from the club last night. 2. You put chalk there when you play billiards to steady the cue. 3. You never play billiards except with Thurston. 4. You told me, four weeks ago, that Thurston had an option on some South African property which would expire in a month, and which he desired you to share with him. 5. Your cheque-book is locked in my drawer, and you have not asked for the key. 6. You do not propose to invest you money in this manner.”

“How absurdly simple!” I cried.

“Quite so!” said he, a little nettled. Every problem becomes very childish when once it is explained to you.

-taken in part from The Adventure of the Dancing Men

Originally published in Collier’s Weekly, December 1903, and in The Strand Magazine, December 1903, The Adventure of the Dancing Men was part of a larger collection of thirteen stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle entitled The Return of Sherlock Holmes.

For my purposes, Dancing Men is a fabulous rendering of logic, exceptional writing abilities and, if I may be so bold to extend Holmes’ ability to a more general state, knowing your clients and anticipating their end needs. What is so fantastic about Holmes is that he is able to simplify his logic abilities into everyday use. He does limit his deductive reasoning solely to anticipating the needs of his ‘criminal’ clients. Rather, he broadens his scope and is able to assist a wider range of clientele.

Complimentary to Holmes’ logical abilities are Doyle’s writing skills. Naturally these should go hand in hand because they are fruit of the same vine. Doyle’s writing deserves his own note, despite the somewhat outdated editing style. His attention to detail, careful word choice and exceptional sentence structure give a truly unique perspective into the lives of Homes and Dr. Watson. And despite the differing editing style from today’s standards, Doyle maintains an elevated status and somewhat timeless quality, regardless of any hinted dates or era ideals, people or places within each story he writes.

a wedding poem for my husband

Oh! That I may be your Mary, shy and chaste
          You my Joseph, fearful and strong
Betrothed to you I sing your praises
          Wedded to you I know your peace
I am your meek gift, small and weak
          I am nothing, but you prize me so!
My defense and honor rest in your hands, my love
          Your powerful soul careful to touch
Be gentle I ask, though I know I need not
          My Lord has provided me your warmth and protection
Your conviction has brought me to His passion
          I love deeply His life, His cross
His purity is found in you, my Joseph; His life is in your heart
          Be not afraid of His cross, though it is heavy
Our Lord has brought me to your side
          I am your help; I will bear the cross with you
Man and woman - servant to one another
          Servant to Christ!
My Lord, my God, my Father
          You have favored such a man for me
Thank you, Father, for your gifts
          Your protection and goodness found in man
May our marriage be eternal and good
          Let us be in Your image; may Your model ring true
Bless us, Lord, with love for one another and strength to serve You
          Give Joseph his Mary; and Mary her guardian

Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and the holidays keep on coming. Oh! What about all the baptisms, first Holy Communions, confirmations, weddings and so forth? So many days, so many gifts, so little time to shop!

Here is an idea: Why not celebrate the year by giving pro-life gifts? My husband and I did this one Mother’s Day, and it was a wonderful holiday for everyone. You have to understand that my family, while accepting of our dedication to the pro-life mission, are not Catholic or pro-life. So, we decided it was time to do some educating.

We pulled out our catalogues and ordered some beautiful Precious Feet® jewelry for the ladies. We wrapped them in shiny boxes, tucked a pamphlet of information neatly inside each and held our breath as we said a Hail Mary. Low and behold, everyone loved the little feet!

My family started asking questions about what we do and about when life begins. Not everyone has completely accepted the science we gave them, but one holiday with one gift planted one seed from the Lord, and sometimes that is all we are asked to do.

There are several online stores where you can shop for everyone in your life with just a click of the mouse. In some cases you can get bargain prices for exquisite jewelry items or clothing. Heritage House ‘76 has the largest selection of pro-life jewelry and pins to suite just about any taste, but there are also many other stores with a variety of other items.

If you have someone on your list who is absolutely against jewelry, well don’t panic! Many of these stores have tasteful pins to suit their needs. Better yet, try purchasing ones of the many pro-life t-shirts or hoodies available online.

What about the men in your life? Not a problem. Heritage House ‘76 has enough tie bars, tie tacks, men’s bracelets and men’s rings to fit a king.

From the modern styles of today to the more delicate styles of yester-years, pro-life gifts are the way to go. You can find something perfect for everyone on your list. And your gifts will be the talk of the town; they have the most meaningful message attached to them and will be remembered for years to come!