The Adventures of Another Watson

Let us suppose that on a crucial day in or near 1881, shortly before lunchtime, John Watson stood at the Langham Bar, or the Cock And Bull Pub, or anywhere . . . anywhere but the Criterion Bar, which Stamford at that moment was patronizing. How might the course of Watson's life have gone without Holmes? No one, not even Watson himself, could say for sure, but we can speculate.

Would he have remained in London once his nine-month recuperative period ended? In STUD, Watson calls London a "cesspool" and a "wilderness." Yet he preferred to stay there, even though it might have meant a drastic change in his style of living, rather than to "rusticate somewhere in the country." Clearly, Watson found that particular "wilderness" to his liking.

Marriage? Had he not known Holmes, it would be most unlikely that Watson would ever have met Mary Morstan. Undoubtedly, however, there would have been women in his life, if his reputation is not unfounded. And it seems likely that sooner or later Watson would have become a married man, for, as he told Stamford, "I should prefer having a partner to being alone." Perhaps, too, Watson would have become a father if things had gone differently. Certainly he exhibited some of the qualifications for that role in his long association with Holmes, who by turns inspired Watson's devotion and his exasperation.

As for the career this hypothetical Watson would have pursued, the answer may seem obvious. With or without Holmes, Watson was a medical man, and well suited to his calling. As it actually turned out, of course, being companion and biographer to Holmes was in effect a second career for Watson. Lacking that, would marriage and a comfortable practice in the city have been enough for him, or would there be some nagging dissatisfaction?

It is possible that had he never known the thrill of accompanying Holmes on the chase, Watson would have been content to lead a quieter life. It is easy to picture him as somewhat of a homebody, spending long winter evenings reading sea-stories by the fire. Indeed, Watson says straight out in STUD that he h ad enough noise and excitement in Afghanistan "to last me for he remainder of my natural existence." But surely that sentient was only a temporary reaction to the horrors he had witessed at Maiwand, else he would have soon ended his association ith Holmes.

We may suppose, then, that Watson would have desired to take up a hobby, or perhaps even a second career. Writing suggests itelf as a possible avocation. Yet as far as is known, Watson never ook up his pen except to write of his adventures with Holmes. ad that stimulus been lacking, Watson's considerable literary alent might have lain forever dormant.

We shall dismiss at once the possibility that boredom might ave driven Watson to an excess of drink, for he felt too deeply he pain of his brother's fate. His war wound(s) precluded a return to the sports of his youth. To what, then, might Watson have turned?

We can take a guess by comparing the life of a man whose character bears a strong resemblance to that of Watson -- his literary agent, Conan Doyle. Perhaps Watson, like Doyle, would have put is honesty and integrity to good use as a champion of humanitarian causes. Of course, Watson would have had to operate on a maller and less visible scale than Doyle did, being a man of limted means and, sans Holmes, not a public figure.

One thing is certain. Had Holmes and Watson never met, the world would be lacking more than the knowledge of the world's first consulting detective. It would in all probability be lacking knowledge of Dr. John H. Watson -- a no less grievous loss.

(Printed in Plugs & Dottles, June 1984)