Up Coming Events
July Meeting: July 19 at Atlanta Bread Company
Eat @ 12 noon Meeting to start around 1 pm
Story is The Adventure of The Mazarin Stone

Continuation of Women Mystery Writers reading and Discussion Series at Lipscomb University:
July 21 PD James and July 28 Amanda Cross

From Gillette to Brett:
SH on Stage, Screen, and Radio.
Indianapolis, Nov 7-9, 2003

Rasher's Table: 7 a.m. Fridays
The Rasher's meet every Friday at 7 a.m. at assorted Nashville eateries. Everyone is invited to come join us. For information about the Rasher's meetings, contact Davice.

The Case of Matilda Briggs
Just who or what was Matilda Briggs? The well-educated Sherlockian is apt to reply "not the name of young woman… but a ship". And surely this is true for Richard Clarke has found records of a ship named Matilda Briggs being owned by the Oriental Trading Company of Shanghai (circa 1870). But is this really the M.B. Holmes alludes to in The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire? If one delves a little further, she learns of another Matilda Briggs - this M.B. being the name of two-year old child. Edgar Smith relates a story of the Mary Celeste, another ship that was found abandoned at sea in 1872. The commander of the Mary Celeste was a Captain Benjamin Briggs; on board with him on the voyage were his wife Sara Elizabeth, and daughter Sophia Matilda. What happened on the voyage remains a "mystery"; all anyone knows is the Mary Celeste was found completely empty floating in the open sea. We are now back to the beginning - trying to decide if M.B. was a "what" or "who". It is true that Holmes himself says M.B. was a ship; but let us not forget Holmes was talking through Watson who sometimes fell a little short of expectation as historian. Baring-Gould said that Watson: "seldom…checked proof against the original manuscript…memory often faulty…Victorian discreetness and his own native shrewdness made it necessary for him to veil a name, place, date, the exact nature of event". Faced with these ideas, can we really believe that Watson so blatantly labeled "that giant Rat which the world was not yet prepared to meet" with easily traceable shipping records? Watson surely felt within himself the responsibility to protect us until the time Holmes deemed appropriate until this manuscript is found. It is a little too presumptuous on any one's part to make assumptions. After all, the facts are all not in.
By Matilda Briggs, a person not a ship

3PP Scholars Gather for Picnic
by Scribe Kay Blocker

Nashville Scholars met June 21 for their annual picnic. In attendance were Bill Baker, Kay Blocker, Anita and Tom Feller, Jerome Boynton, Peg Duthie, Mary Margarette Jordan, and our hosts Davice and Matt Sharpe.

The weather cooperated by providing us a cool but sunny and breezy day (and in you've been in Tennessee, you know how rare that's been lately). There was plenty of food and good conversation. Bill brought his usual gift of books. Davice told us about a new book she acquired concerning Queen Mary's dollhouse. Everything in the house is on a 1:12 scale including works by the era's prominent authors including ACD. Our auctioneer, Billy Fields, was unable to attend and the auction had to be postponed. Of course that means there is still time for people to come up with donations.

Story of the day was The Three Gables. Quizmasters Anita and Tom Fellers presented the quiz and led the discussion. A copy of the quiz follows-try it if you dare.

We will be testing a new meeting location at the July 19 meeting: the Atlanta Bread Company (1720 West End, phone 329-9100). The Rashers have met there several times and enjoy it. Menu is sandwiches, soups, salads, breads and sweets. It is located at upper West End between 17th and 18th streets. Park in front on the street until 8 AM, or in the back. The story will be The Adventure of The Mazarin Stone. Quizmaster to be announced.

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1. What classic American novel has a similar title to this story and who was the author?