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-- OR -- Miss Grace Dunbar, philanthropist and suffragette, can also be seen in these previous issues of Electro-Graphic Monthly courtesy of her literary agent Sandy Kozinn: February 2004 . . . upon beggars
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A
Letter From Sherlock Holmes My dear members of the Dark Lantern League, It is my pleasure to introduce to you as a prospective member of the Dark Lantern League the lady properly known as Mrs. Neil Gibson, but perhaps better known to you all as Miss Grace Dunbar. As you are aware, Miss Dunbar served as governess to the children of Mr. Gibson. While her duties were the education of the children, she was also involved to some degree in the moral reeducation of Mr. Gibson, an activity not unobserved by the then-current Mrs. Gibson, who misinterpreted the relationship, at least on Miss Dunbar's part. That lady, consumed by a jealousy fed by the knowledge that her husband held overly-warm feelings for Miss Dunbar, conceived a clever plot whereby she would end her own life in such a way as to throw suspicion of murder upon the governess. It was then that Sherlock Holmes and I first met Miss Dunbar, Mr. Gibson having presented himself as a client -- or more properly, having demanded that Holmes take him on as one. We found her to be intelligent, as befits a governess, as well as pleasant to look upon. Her most outstanding characteristic seemed to be her high moral sense, which was combined with a firm belief in the capabilities of Women as a group. It was with much pleasure that Holmes was able to ascertain the facts of the case and free Miss Dunbar from her incarceration and of all suspicion. You might be interested to learn that although Miss Dunbar never reciprocated Mr. Gibson's personal feelings for her during his first wife's lifetime, she nevertheless remained on as governess after her charges' loss of their mother in order that they retain some sense of stability. She continued her education of Mr. Gibson as well, and after a period of two years did, indeed, marry him. It has been said in many quarters that during their years together he was a man much changed for the better. Now widowed, Miss Dunbar prefers to be called by that name. While her time is much spent in the Rights for Women movement and in administering the trusts for the education of fatherless children set up under the late Mr. Gibson's will, she has never forgotten Sherlock Holmes and the part he played in her life. She has followed his cases with great interest and would greatly enjoy the company of and correspondence with others who also find discussions of his cases far superior to mere trivial gossip. Miss Grace Dunbar would therefore be pleased to be accepted as a member of the Dark Lantern League and submits her name, though me, to the Committee. Very truly
yours, |
