An Introduction to Mr. Barker (from The Sherlock Holmes Adventure of the Retired Colourman) RETI, or Eight Things About Mr. Barker YOU WON'T BELIEVE NUMBER 6!!!
"That was a surprise, but an even greater one was to find that he was not alone in the sitting-room of our client. A stern-looking, impassive man sat beside him, a dark man with grey-tinted glasses and a large Masonic pin projecting from his tie."
"This is my friend Mr. Barker," said Holmes. "He has been interesting himself also in your business, Mr. Josiah Amberley, though we have been working independently. But we both have the same question to ask you!"
"I have a cab at the door," said our taciturn companion.
"The old colourman had the strength of a lion in that great trunk of his, but he was helpless in the hands of the two experienced man-handlers."
As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2022, The Adventure of the Retired Colourman [RETI] entered the world of Public Domain. Soon thereafter, Twitter was blowing up at the newly found free-usage of Watson's in-canon hotness... "With your natural advantages, Watson, every lady is your helper and accomplice. What about the girl at the post-office, or the wife of the greengrocer? I can picture you whispering soft nothings with the young lady at the Blue Anchor, and receiving hard somethings in exchange. All this you have left undone." It continues to strike me odd, how everyone is always grasping at the sexualizing of these famed characters.
Me? I was being re-introduced to the character of Barker via a re-reading of the tale. But we'll get to that later. For now, let's dwell where all the others did. You see, instead of leading with his own beautiful face, Watson returned to Holmes with a strangely precise and ornate description of a wall. Thus leading into the most excellent rebuttal of "Cut out the poetry, Watson," said Holmes severely. "I note that it was a high brick wall." Our poor, poor, beset upon hunk of a beefcake. The story itself is not the topic here but I will say that I deviate from many, in that I really do appreciate the later ACD Sherlock Holmes installments. It's well-worthy of a read and, as I say, READ MORE.
Nevertheless, below I have pulled the instances which regard our man Barker. Note he appears just once in canon (making him tied 1-1 with the famed Irene Adler) here within the RETI pages. After each instance is pulled, I'll supply you with my two-cents in the hopes of fleshing out his character. Unfortunately due to the on-going coin shortage, I cannot in good conscience accept your kind offer of change in return.
Why this exercise?
Because I'm much more interested in another private investigator living in the Holmes Universe, and the (somewhat maybe) pastiche adventures that might be told of him (perhaps even by myself if I can ever find time) than in the studliness of Dr. Watson. Call me weird, fine. I've been called worse. But do also understand that somewhere along the way, sticks and stones began breaking bones. & with that, we commence.
::: 1 :::
"No doubt! No doubt!" said Holmes. "A tall, dark, heavily moustached man, you say, with grey-tinted sun-glasses?" ... "And a Masonic tie-pin?"
Here, Watson is detailing his laying eyes on our man to Holmes. There was no interaction between the two, to be clear. So what to extrapolate from this? Well, let's see: 'swarthy' fellow, a big one, and what says testosterone as much as a heavy mustache? Nothing, in answer to my own question. I am not sexualizing, mind you, in noting his high T-Levels, I am just adding here 'muscular' (or at the least solid) to "tall."
It is not said taller than Holmes, who is known to be six-feet even. The average height of a man then was about five-foot-five. So I'd put Barker at around 5'11 and carrying it taller. Just a gut-feeling.
The sunglasses say much. They say that although a swarthy-leaning fellow, he had pale light eyes, as they are most sensitive to sunlight (thus securing his English descent beyond his surname, which we will come to). They also might speak to his want of a certain amount of anonymity, which could stem from his either dabbling in or having had dabbled in, transversely darker realms.
I mention the past-tense partly because of the name Barker itself. It is of English descent, dating back to the 1200s. It's an occupational surname referring to those who stripped and prepared bark as part of the leather tanning process. Leather tanning is a rather gross bit of business. One so singularly stinky that its practitioners were often confined to the outskirts of town.
So, we can say his ancestry is of the lower working class. This in turn makes much of the Masonic tie pin he proudly displayed. Why proudly? Because he took strides to conceal his eyes but then prominently show his brotherhood. How better than a fraternal organization with which to create contacts and attain knowledge not born into and/or readily gotten in your hand-dealt given circles?
Suffice to say, his Masonic connection and its display quite-well might show he is the first of his family to climb the social ladder unto this particular rung. If he was a 2nd-generation member would he be so proud or would it simply be the norm to have gained inclusion? So, a brawny detective of a lower class than Holmes. A real bootstrap puller-upper, he. (I'll not get into Holmes's lineage here, but you can on your own dime.)
::: 2 :::
Wearing shades in-doors. Sketchy af!
Mainly though, this bit simply rehashes the previous in most ways insofar as Barker's visual characteristics. Beyond that, it does show the two, Holmes and Barker, kept company, and most likely not for the first time as we'll soon see. Ah, the stern outward appearance of a self-made man. "Impassive." Emotionless. I don't believe him to be a soldier but I'd hazard he has a code. Dark. Again, we read dark. We do not read black, and ACD would have written that (most likely more profanely).
I could be biased but wouldn't a touch of Semitic blood work here? Sephardic peoples were in place, and are typically taller and darker than their Ashkenazi brethren. Perhaps that places his ancestry more in-town however (banking LOL). "Gypsies" are an oft-mentioned lot in canon, and often out-on town's edges or other less desirable locales. Although I'd stab that a man of Jewish lineage would have more luck becoming a Mason, and Jews relegated to the outskirts of towns is not new news. I mean the two have mixed elsewhere, see: Klezmer, and me. Plus, he could be a mere mutt, of a bit this, a bit that.
::: 3 :::
Friend. Another pointed finger toward them being previously familiar. How Barker comes into play is that whilst one party sought the aid of Holmes, the other tapped Barker. Of perhaps some interest here is that the man who hired Holmes is actually GUILTY; having the hope that hiring the great Sherlock Holmes would, of itself, clear his bad name. BECAUSE WHO WOULD BE THAT FUCKING DUMB?
From that, as if there were any doubt, we can calculate Holmes as being a good stretch more famous than Barker. However, the simple act of Holmes conferring with Barker here shows the latter in a decent and legitimate light. I do not see the two being direct rivals (although we'll hear canonically differently in a mere tick of time),
::: 4 :::
From this bit of canonical evidence, it is clear Barker has a cab at the door. Although he is reserved about it. Add 'reserved' to the stoic stillness of his growing character traits list--but I feel that this is all more of a deviation from his normal ways--which would be indicated by his overplaying the soft speaking, big stick carrying in the presence of a man he wants to impress most & presently (Holmes). He is at his Sunday best, I feel, so much that t continued to catch Watson's eye.
::: 5 :::
Our Barker is an experienced man-handler then. Interesting. Much of grappling is learned quite young and often passed-down at least in its impetus. Not to brag, but I recently became quite winded rolling on the living room floor with my 11-year-old son. But because of our scrappings, he does know some holds and some escapes.
Forgive me if I take some license by positing that perhaps Barker might, this in mind, come from grapplers--man-handlers. Interesting. Perhaps, even from the way-back Thief-takers, who begat Bow Street Runners, who would become the modern police force. Thief-takers of the ~1700s were hired privately to capture criminals. (The BSRs were a cleaned-up version of the oft-dirty that, and again--led to Bobbies.)
(Parenthetical redundancy.)
But granted that's far-fetched. More than likely, Barker was, however, a different sort than Holmes. He operates in Surrey. Now posh to my meager understandings, it was then quite rustic and somewhat underpopulated as compared to Holmes's London. We do recall how Holmes felt about the country-side, don't we? ...
"But look at these lonely houses, each in its own fields, filled for the most part with poor ignorant folk who know little of the law. Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser. Had this lady who appeals to us for help gone to live in Winchester, I should never have had a fear for her. It is the five miles of country which makes the danger." - The Adventure of the Copper Beeches
Simply, and taking nothing away from Holmes and his self-defense (swordsman, boxer, single-stick, and of course Baritsu) skills, Barker was operating alone on an island for much of the time. Of note here is that he appears unarmed. I'm guessing he spoke quite well in certain situations prior to employing his large swarthy frame. (Swarthy) This is not to say he'd be at all averse to a bit of pew-pew. I simply have him pegged as a blunter instrument than Holmes in every way.
::: 6 :::
"I've left Barker to look after the formalities," said Holmes. "You had not met Barker, Watson. He is my hated rival upon the Surrey shore. When you said a tall dark man it was not difficult for me to complete the picture. He has several good cases to his credit, has he not, Inspector?" "He has certainly interfered several times," the inspector answered with reserve. "His methods are irregular, no doubt, like my own. The irregulars are useful sometimes, you know. You, for example, with your compulsory warning about whatever he said being used against him, could never have bluffed this rascal into what is virtually a confession."
To be considered a rival! An endorsement of good cases! Praise from Caeser! "He has certainly interfered several times" speaks to a more ham-fisted assist. When Holmes likens his methods to his own here, it's just insofar as they are both not official police. Not that Barker shares his modus operandi. Quite the contrary from the picture drawn on the scant lines given. We see a man of lesser thought and greater action. Blunter. A burly fellow swinging his dick, Excusez mon français. A bit of a wild west bounty hunter, I daresay.
A man who wants credit.
Hated rival, I am certain is tongue-in-cheek and for the amusement of the official police inspector in their midst. Of note, I feel as though Holmes is really feeling his naughty anti-hero self here--perhaps a contact high from rubbing shoulders with Barker? Although Holmes is 'irregular' he is by now quite the regular insider. Barker just ain't.
::: 7 :::
"and as to Barker, he has done nothing save what I told him."
Here, we see Holmes easing Inspector MacKinnon's nerves about who exactly gets the case-cracking credit. Yes, Sherlock Holmes is very much in the lead, as it should be. Hmmm... I wonder if Barker has ever worked under Holmes's employ? I bet he has. Especially as the great detective inched closer and closer toward his own bee-keeper retirement in Sussex Downs. Hey, is that only about 40 miles from Surrey? I'm bad with maps.
::: 8 :::
"Now, you rascal, what are you doing in there?" [Our man Barker to Holmes himself whenst the two met whilst Holmes was half in-half out a pantry window.] "When I could twist my head round I looked into the tinted spectacles of my friend and rival, Mr. Barker. It was a curious foregathering and set us both smiling."
WOW. I did so save the best for last. Let's dissect, shall we? Of course, we shall.
"Now, you rascal, what are you doing in there?" RASCAL? He did not know it was Holmes yet, but that's mighty big talk for a man I see as substantially younger than the other. That alone connotes all sorts of personality traits. Or perhaps he did recognize him and not let on as a rib? "when I could" ... meaning he could not immediately upon being nabbed. Remember: man-handler. Remember: Holmes as no slouch. Then the noted familiarity and finally--"smiling."
These are ::: very ::: deep waters.
::: etc :::
While the information listed above is all we know of Mr. Barker in canon, we can see a bit more of him--literally see--as the character appeared on May 1, 1965, in the BBC Sherlock Holmes series. Naturally in "The Retired Colourman" (Season 1 Episode 11). There, he was portrayed by Peter Henchie. His attire is that of a more rough and ready look, somewhat of a disheveled longshoreman vibing, perhaps due to him seemingly wearing a sort of pea coat. [I posted a photo of him on my Instagram.]
Full disclosure: I have that one noted image of him, and have not watched the episode. Maybe later, I will.
::: reference material :::
IMDb
Wikipedia
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I'd like to take a moment to remind you kind Gentlepersons that I write these thoughts under the assumption of you having read these adventures. They are readily available everywhere, including for free at Project Gutenberg as well as Wikisource, where you can listen to it read, as well. (Most likely.)
Also, please check out my series of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes reviews/thoughts. Simply use the Search Kaplowitz Media. function to the right of your screen and plug in either particular adventures contained within that collection, or The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes to view them in their entirety.
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::: very :::