Why, yes, I have been busy lately. I’m more baffled than ever by all these people who Twitter and blog while a mere heavily-researched 16,828 words ruins my week. Of course, I still find time to read. This week, I enjoyed Encyclopedia Brown Solves Them All—originally published in 1968, although my printing is from 1972. The title’s been constantly reprinted since then.

My kid is busy going through a big Berenstain Bears period, which is fortunate. I'll need time to weed out the Leftist messages in these Encyclopedia Brown stories. I shouldn’t be surprised. The Leftists have always been polluting pop culture. The more disturbing thing about the Encyclopedia Brown series is that the boy detective must’ve gotten his nickname by being the only 10-year-old in his neighborhood who could dress himself.

“The Case of Sir Biscuit-Shooter” is a good example of a mystery that could be solved by any vaguely sentient 7-year-old. It’s also a good example of author Donald J. Sobol’s bizarre insertion of politics into an otherwise mundane story. In this one, the circus has come to town, and Encyclopedia Brown has free tickets courtesy of his pal Lionel—whose Uncle Barney is a clown. Originally, though, Barney had another job. Here’s how that’s explained:

Encyclopedia knew about Lionel’s Uncle Barney. He had sold used cars, he had sold houses, and he had gone to prison for two years. Uncle Barney hadn’t cheated people more than most men who sold used cars or houses. But he had been caught.

I’ll probably never be a real-estate agent or used-car salesman. Still, I think I’ll boycott Encyclopedia Brown just out of respect for parents who dare to earn a living by non-creative and pro-capitalist means. No great loss for my kid, anyway. I’m more excited about introducing him to Alfred Hitchcock and the Three Investigators.

 

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