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We Hope You’ve Been A-Mused

…and enlightened by the papers, puzzles, and verse which appeared in Volume 23 of the Muse. We (co-editors Susan Diamond and Marilynne McKay) present our annual birthday issue to recognize and thank our contributors and our managing editor Evelyn Herzog, who handles our growing list of subscribers and ensures that each issue goes out on time with no typographical embarrassments.

The Jan WHIMSEY (Whimsical Humour Is My Speciality, Enjoy Yourself!) Award

The Jan WHIMSEY Award in memory of Jan Stauber was established and funded by Jan’s husband Al Gregory. It is given to the author writing the most whimsical piece during the Muse volume year (i.e., from the December to September issues). All articles, verse, etc., appearing in the Muse are eligible except for the entries in the Birthday Challenge and pieces written by the judges (the Muse editorial board, Francine Kitts, and Sue Vizoskie) or their spouses.

This year’s winner is Warren Randall. Admittedly Warren upped his odds by appearing in the Muse pages four times with pastiche, toasts, and verse. But his riff on Vincent Starrett’s “221B”—A Visit to 104 Berkeley Square—was our unanimous choice. Warren will receive a handsome certificate and a check for $221, both of which will be presented at the Gillette luncheon during the January birthday weekend.

Our sincere thanks to Al for sponsoring the award and to Warren for providing us with so many amusing contributions.

Adventuress Honors and Accomplishments

At the 2007 BSI dinner, ASH Dayna McCausland received her shilling as Lady Clara St. Simon. Later this year, Ladies, Ladies: The Women in the Life of Sherlock Holmes, co-edited by ASH Patricia Guy and Kate Karlson, appeared in print. The book, which includes many selections by ASH, is available from your favorite on-line bookseller.

And at the December meeting of Mrs. Hudson’s Cliffdwellers, the Muse editorial staff presented Dorothy Belle Pollack with a special certificate commemorating her many years of contributions and declaring her “Poet Laureate” for the Muse. The past year was no exception as each issue included either her witty verse or a challenging puzzle.

“Stand with me here upon the terrace…”

Three Adventuresses crossed the Reichenbach during the year spanned by Volume 23 of the Muse, and one more shortly thereafter. Maureen Green (Mary Sutherland) exemplified the ASH tradition of friendship. Her younger sister, Marjorie Morris, and her dear friend, Marina Stajic, wrote poignantly about Maureen. We then received a double blow with the loss of Anita Janda (Modesty Among the Virtues) and Betty Jane Kraemer (Mary Maberly). Susan Rice honored Anita in our pages, while MaryKate Brennan wrote movingly about Betty Jane.

Our hearts were further saddened by the loss of Francine Morris Swift (Hatty Doran). Francine’s wit and scholarship brightened many Muse issues. Four memorable women have left our society, and we will miss them greatly.

“Ladies and Gentlemen”

The world of ASH will change in 2008 as our ranks will be swelled by the addition of qualified male Sherlockians. The gentlemen will be known simply as ASH, not as Adventuresses, and will have to meet the same criteria for membership as the ladies have. Original Adventuress M.E. Rich presented the blueprint for the future at the 2006 Autumn Dinner, and the Muse “stopped the presses” to share her talk with the entire Sherlockian world.

Repeat Offenders

Well, not quite. But reviewing the past year’s issues, we take pleasure in noting that, in addition to Dorothy Belle Pollack and Warren Randall, many individuals contributed more than once to the Muse’s pages.

Our Principal Unprincipled Adventuress, Evelyn Herzog, toasted the original Adventuress and her explanation of how she accessorizes her ASH investiture (Violet Hunter) inspired subsequent “little monographs on the ASHes.” Robert Bousquet pondered over the mysteries of Dr. Watson and provided a thought-provoking report on domestic violence in the Victorian era.

Muse Graphics Editor Marilynne McKay and her spouse, Ron Hosek, toasted The Master and The Horse (Silver Blaze), and Marilynne gave us a short history of The Great Dermatologist, her ASH investiture.

Sue Vizoskie’s 2007 BSI dinner toast to the Master graced our pages, along with her and husband Ben’s toast to friendship .

Francine Kitts’ history of The Strand traced that remarkable magazine from its inception in 1891 until the last issue in 1950. Readers also enjoyed her Canonical characters quiz.

The Serial Muse

And taking a page from the Strand’s playbook, the Muse entered the world of serials. Laurie Fraser Manifold’s “Pictorial Adventures of Sherlock Holmes” began in the summer issue and will continue until…well, as long as she needs to tell her outrageously horrifying tale.

Ann Margaret Lewis accepted a challenge put forth by the Hounds of the Internet and rewrote “The Mazarin Stone” in the first person. The first installment appeared in the Fall issue. Our thanks also go to the Conan Doyle Estate for granting her and us permission to publish this fresh look at a familiar tale.

Further Muse-ings

Janet Bensley made her first appearance in our pages with a fascinating treatise on the hidden meaning of flowers, while Karen Murdoch wrote about the two of the most unsavory Canonical women: Scylla and Charybdis.

The dependably pawky Joe Fink speculated about the giant rat of Sumatra. In an equally irreverent presentation, Allan Devitt and Susan Diamond identified Holmes’ shortcomings through a series of interviews with some less-than-satisfied clients.

Shirley Purves wrote about her ASH investiture—The Ancient Cornish Language—and introduced us to a remarkable Cornish woman, Dolly Pentreath. Remarkable women (in this case, Lillie Langtry and Lola Montez) were also the basis for Lee Ballinger’s toast to Irene Adler.

Cynthia and Richard Wein wondered in clever verse “what Sir Arthur would think”? Other witty toasts in verse—this time to the Watson family—came from the pens of Sandy Kozinn (the good doctor) and Richard Olken (Watson’s second wife).

Elaine Coppola reported on the 2007 Gaslight Gala. Finally, noted Sherlockian scholar David Hammer expressed his puzzlement over the opposite sex’s interest in The Master.

www.ASH-NYC.com

The ASH website continues to be an active repository for news and links to Sherlockian and Victorian sites all over the Internet. Muse graphics editor and webmistress Marilynne McKay urges each Adventuress to keep her Directory information up-to-date on the Members Page. If you haven’t catalogued all your copies of the Muse (who has?) remember that reports of past events, contests, and even Birthday Issues like this one are always available on the ASH website’s Serpentine Muse page, although you’ll still have to subscribe to get the articles!