Today I Learned …

Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, sometimes inspired his fans to feats of their own deduction. Shortly after arriving in Boston to present a lecture, he was approached by a cab driver, who greeted him by name. Conan Doyle was surprised, and asked the man how he knew who he was.

“If you’ll excuse my saying so,” the cab driver replied, “the lapels of your coat look as if they had been grabbed by New York reporters, your hair looks as if it had been cut in Philadelphia, your hat looks as if you had to stand your ground in Chicago, and your right shoe has evident Buffalo mud in the instep, and — and –“

“And what?” the author asked.

“Well, I saw ‘Conan Doyle’ in big white letters on your trunk.”