"The Adventure of the Yellow Face", one of the 56 short Sherlock Holmes stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is the third tale from The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes. It was first published in Strand Magazine in 1894 with original illustrations by Sidney Paget. An author is the person who creates a written work, such as a book, story, article or the like. ... Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 – July 7, 1930) was a Scottish author most famously known for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, originally published in 1894, by Arthur Conan Doyle. ... 1888 (MDCCCLXXXVIII) is a leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. ... A typical cartoon villain. ... Vasily Livanov was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his portrayal of Sherlock Holmes in the Russian TV series. ... Arthur Conan Doyle Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle (May 22, 1859 – July 7, 1930) was a Scottish author most famously known for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, which are generally considered a major innovation in the field of crime fiction. ... The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes is a collection of Sherlock Holmes stories, originally published in 1894, by Arthur Conan Doyle. ... The Strand Magazine was a monthly fiction magazine founded by George Newnes. ... 1894 (MDCCCXCIV) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... A Paget illustration of Sherlock Holmes (right) and Dr. Watson. ...

One of his few sentimental pieces, two characteristics make this a particularly remarkable story. First, Holmes' deduction was incorrect, but, nevertheless, the truth still comes out. According to Dr. Watson: Dr. John H. Watson is a fictional character, the sidekick of Sherlock Holmes, the fictional 19th century detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle. ...

"...where he failed it happened too often that no one else succeeded... Now and again, however, it chanced that even when he erred the truth was still discovered."

The second remarkable feature was Conan Doyle's sympathetic treatment of interracial marriage at a time when anti-miscegenation laws were in effect in many jurisdictions. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Interethnic marriage. ...

Synopsis

Caption: "He lifted the little child"

Sherlock Holmes, suffering from boredom due to a want of cases, returns home from a walk with Dr. Watson in the early spring of 1888 to find he has missed a visitor, but that the caller has left his pipe behind. From it, Holmes deduces that he was disturbed of mind (because he forgot the pipe); that he valued it highly (because he had repaired, rather than replaced, it when it was broken); that he was muscular, left-handed, had excellent teeth, was careless in his habits and was well-off. This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 50 years. ... This image is in the public domain because its copyright has expired in the United States and those countries with a copyright term of life of the author plus 50 years. ... Youth with pipe, by Hendrick Jansz Terbrugghen A smoking pipe is a device used for smoking combustible substances such as tobacco and cannabis. ...

None of these deductions is particularly germane to the story: they are merely Holmesian logical pyrotechnics. When the visitor, Mr. Grant Munro (whose name Holmes observed from his hatband) returns, Holmes and Watson hear the story of Munro's deception by his wife. She had been previously married in America, but her husband and child had died of yellow fever, whereupon she returned to England and met and married Munro. Their marriage had been blissful — "We have not had a difference, not one, in thought, or word, or deed," says Grant Munro — until she asked for a hundred pounds and begged him not to ask why. Two months later, Effie Munro was caught conducting secret liaisons with the occupants of a cottage near the Munro house in Norbury. Motto: E pluribus unum (1789 to present) (Latin: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York, New York Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government • President  â€¢ Vice President Federal republic...

Grant Munro has seen a mysterious yellow-faced person in this cottage. Overcome with jealousy, he breaks in and finds the place empty. However, in the room where he has seen the mysterious figure, a portrait of his wife stands on the mantelpiece.

Holmes, after sending Munro home with instructions to wire for him if the cottage was reoccupied, confides in Watson his belief that the mysterious figure is Effie Munro's first husband. He postulates that the husband, having been left in America, has come to England to blackmail her. Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st... Blackmail is the crime of threatening to reveal substantially true information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a monetary demand is met. ...

After Munro summons Holmes and Watson, the three enter the cottage, brushing aside the entreaties of Effie Munro. They find the strange yellow-faced character; Holmes peels the mask from its face to reveal a young black girl. Effie Munro's husband — John Hebron, a black man, did indeed die in America; their child, however, did not. Afraid that Grant Munro would repudiate his love for her if he knew she was mother to a black child, she had endeavored to keep the child hidden. Overcome with desire to see her child again, Effie Munro used the hundred pounds to bring the child and her nurse to England and installed them in the cottage near the Munro house.

Both Watson and Holmes are touched by Munro's response. Watson observes:

"...when [Munro's] answer came it was one of which I love to think. He lifted the little child, kissed her, and then, still carrying her, he held his other hand out to his wife and turned towards the door."

Holmes says:

"Watson, if it should ever strike you that I am getting a little overconfident in my powers, or giving less pains to a case than it deserves, kindly whisper 'Norbury' in my ear, and I shall be infinitely obliged to you."

External links

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The Yellow Face

• Full text of "The Adventure of the Yellow Face"
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• Free eBook Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes at Project Gutenberg (including "The Adventure of the Yellow Face")