Discussing Race in a Racist Society

Abstract

characterized by Professor Thomas A. Sebeok as the nineteenth century's consulting semiotician. I refer of course to Mr Sherlock Holmes1, and those who know 56 Queen Anne Street, W. 1 (which the RAI now leaves, after leasing premises for ten years from the Royal Asiatic Society), will not be surprised to hear that during these last ten years I have often seen him in the building, especially when the fog swirls in from the street. His friend Dr Watson, who is of course an old hand from India and Afghanistan, is often to be seen at the Royal Asiatic Society tea-meetings; and frequently Mrs Hudson the housekeeper drops by in a state of agitation from nearby Baker Street to say that one of the pair is urgently needed by a client or patient. I suspect that Mr Holmes comes not only to replenish his memory on thuggee or Chinese tattooing, but also to check out the basement, because it is likely that the traces of the most dastardly crimes would remain undiscovered there for many months. Now the Institute moves down the road to 50 Fitzroy Street, and must accumulate its own ghosts. Jonathan Benthall 1. See Wisteria Lodge and The Cardboard Box.