In the days before computers, newspaper pages were literally built out of metal type, letter by letter, a printing technology used for hundreds of years. The linotype system introduced in the 1890s improved the process by creating a slug of type line by line, but putting together pages still left irregular gaps at the bottom of each column. To fill the spaces, a variety of “filler” were used: ads that promoted the newspaper, humorous observations, comments on the passing scene, or jokes. These examples of filler show how Holmes and his deductive method flowed through the culture.
Sherlock Holmes—Those two men are brothers. They are in mourning for their uncle. I can tell that though I never saw them before.
Friend—Wonderful! But can you tell which one was cut off in the will?
Sherlock Holmes—Yes, the one with the narrow mourning band around his hat.
The New York Times, Nov. 1, 1896
Sherlock Holmes (at burlesque show)—That little man over there in the box is a professor of mathematics.
Dr. Cubebs—He is an acquaintance of yours?
Sherlock Holmes—No; I never saw him before in my life.
Dr. Cubebs—Then how do you know he is a professional mathematician?
Sherlock Holmes—By the interest he takes in the figures on the stage.
The Los Angeles Herald, Oct. 1, 1897
Sherlock Holmes—That man by the door is evidently a bartender.
Dr. Cubebs—How can you tell?
Sherlock Holmes—By his gin phiz.
Sacramento Daily Union, Dec. 19, 1897
The train stopped for a few moments and the passengers looked out.
“Everybody in this town seems to look perky and contented,” remarked Dr. Watson.
“The town evidently has a winning baseball team,” deducted Sherlock Holmes.
Sausalito News, Oct. 4, 1913
Sherlock Holmes—I have not looked around, but a very tall man just came in and sat down in the opera chair behind me.
Miss Marvel—It is true! Say, you do the most wonderful things. Now, tell me how you knew without looking of the tall man’s presence.
Sherlock Holmes—His feet are sticking through under my chair.
Amador Ledger, May 10, 1901
Conan Doyle having tired of Sherlock Holmes, the latter was forced to look for work.
He applied to District Attorney Jerome for a job.
“Why, certainly,” said that gentleman, “I’m in need of a good, smart, willing detective just now. I’ll put you to work on the Dodge-Morse case.”
But, with a muffled shriek, Sherlock Holmes fled out into the cold, cold night.
Los Angeles Herald, Feb. 17, 1905