SIR CONAN DOYLE.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 8 November 1920, Page 4

SIR CONAN DOYLE.

A MANY-SIDED MAN. .Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who comes here before long'to try to convert us all to spiritualism,, is a. many-sided man. He,was a doctor until lie found that writing stories was much more profitable' than writing prescriptions. ( His excursions into literature have > been made as the author of detective stories of world-wide fame, of historical. romantic, and modern novels, of a war history, which, he says, may bo recognised as. the -“interim official history.’’ while the very largo ollicial work is being, written and produced, and. of course, of books dealing with spiritualism. Personally, he prefers “The White Company” and “Sir Nigel” to tint-, of his other writing-, ! with also a leaning towards “Rodney Stone, ’’ - with its admirable boxing episodes. Sir Arthur is something of tl boxer himself, though lie admitted to a-Molbournc iuterviewer that his form was only fair. “It is not generally known,” lie added, “that I was asked to referee the Johnson-J.effries fight in America. I considered the-proposal carefully. but I did not feel inclined to travel thousands of miles, and possibly to have to face a hostile demon.stration from the supporters of the beaten man, whichever it might be. During the war I refereed a large number of army contests, in which the feeling of the onlookers was always port-manlike. ” Apparently lie could have won celebrity in first-class - riikct. for in the only year in which lie gave his mind seriously to the game tie secured a batting average of 3.5, and enjoyed the distinction of taking Dio wicl-ict of “ W.C. ” It would be no - '.uprise to learn that he has also • in..- •• * brie ability, for hi ' gtandi iri- r i•••he- 1 and two uncle-, were all ritt. i .-■■■! ot": of hi.-; uncle . t-;> • the fn'i• o■ • ■ r.’tci.y” Do;.'!- who designed ■he hr tor;-, title page of “Punch. ”