December 12: "Holmes discovers a new invention and is delighted" (from Domina Temporis)
A silly little one for today. Tootsie Rolls were invented in 1907!
It was four years into Sherlock Holmes' retirement, and I was on my way to one of my too-rare visits to Sussex. Time seemed to flow too quickly for me; between my patients and my friends in London, it was as though I would blink and months had passed without seeing him. My friend was not one for long letters, so I knew little enough of his doings when it had been nearly eight months since I had last seen him.
Holmes had never had much of a sweet tooth, and so I was surprised to find him snacking on some little chocolate toffees he had been sent from an old client from America. Apparently, the man had gone on to successful business ventures in the intervening years, and had invented these sweets.