He told Watson that what he wrote was actually very practical, as well as accurate. Watson commented to Holmes about how unlikely and impractical the article seemed. That all united should fail to enlighten the competent enquirer in any case is almost inconceivable.’' Let him, on meeting a fellow-mortal, learn at a glance to distinguish the history of the man, and the trade or profession to which he belongs.īy a man's finger nails, by his coat-sleeve, by his boot, by his trouser knees, by the callosities of his forefinger and thumb, by his expression, by his shirt cuffs - by each of these things a man's calling is plainly revealed.

Like all other arts, the Science of Deduction and Analysis is one which can only be acquired by long and patient study nor is life long enough to allow any mortal to attain the highest possible perfection in it.īefore turning to those moral and mental aspects of the matter which present the greatest difficulties, let the enquirer begin by mastering more elementary problems. So all life is a great chain, the nature of which is known whenever we are shown a single link of it. '’From a drop of water,’ said the writer, ‘a logician could infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara without having seen or heard of one or the other. It claimed that by careful observation and analysis a person might be able to understand people’s thoughts and reach conclusions about what he had observed in a way that would seem like magic to those who did not understand the process of investigation. One morning he read an article that he thought was interesting but hard to believe. Watson was very curious about Holmes’ work, but he hesitated to ask about it. His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals. His eyes were sharp and piercing.and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision. In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His very person and appearance were such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer. “As the weeks went by, my interest in him and my curiosity as to his aims in life, gradually deepened and increased. Who is this talking about? When and where is it happening? Perhaps most important-why? Check your comprehension by asking yourself questions: Then he tells about reading an article which describes Holmes’ methods of observation and deduction.Īs you read, be a detective.

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