The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1882-04-01
Oscar Wilde to Joaquin Miller.
New York World.

New York World.
Our readers will remember that tws,
or three weeks ago the World published
letter written by joaquin Miller to
Mr.. Oscar Wilde, denouncing the
"Phil,istine press" of certain towns for
its abuse of the aesthetic apostle, and
generally extending to him the pSetical
right hand Of fellowship, for 1.-The beauti-
full and the true
We publish with pleasure to-day Mr..
Wilde's response t" this epistle. kindly
forwarded to us by him tor that pur-
pose from st. Louis:
''St. Louis, February :S-Nfy Dear
joaquin Miller: thank YOU for your
chivairOus and courteous letter 10 me
published in the N'orld. Believe NE, |
/ would Us lief Judge OF the strength and
splendor Of sun and SEA. by the dust that
,iances in the beam and the bubble that
breaks on the wave, as take the petty
and profit!e>s vulgarity Of one Or two in
significant towns Is any test or standard
to tue real spirit OF sane, strong and
simple people, or allow it to affect my re-
spect for the many noble men or women
whom it has been my privilege in this
great country to know.
For myself and the cause which ]
ECDIVSCuls 41A\C I1O 1V0I 40 IV20AuS SAaS
future. slavery and folly have their
while a. touching either the few news
papers which have 50 vainly assailed. q:
that ignorant and itinerant libeler Of
New England who, lecturing from vii
wage to village in such open and ostenta-
tious isolation, be sure nave no time to
waste on them. Youth being 80 glOri-
Gus, art 50 gud!ike, and the very world
about us SO full OF beautiful things
worthy If reverence, and things honor
able, how should one stop to listen to the
of a literary gamin, to the
and mounting Of a man whose
praise would teas insOlent rs his SANDER
Is inlpOtent, or to the irresponsible and
irrepressible chatter Of the professionally
lis great advantage, admit, to
have done nothing, but one must not
abuse even that advantage!
wv no, after all, that l should write of
him, is this scriblIling auohynluncie in
grand old Massachusetts, who scrawls
and screams 80 glibly about what he can
not understand: this apostle Of inhOspi-
taiity, who delights to defile, to desecrate
and to deiame the gracious courtcsies he
is unworthy to enjoy: Who are these
'cribes, who passing with purposcless |
llacrity from the P0lice Neu.x to the !
and from crime to criticism, |
way with such serene incapacity the |
'ffice which they SO lately swept: MAR
discusses Of imbccility," what should
hey see in the clear waters of beauty /
md in the well indebted of truth hut !
he shift;ngs and shaslowy image of their
'wn substa ntial stupidity:
''Secure of that oblivion for which
hey toll 50 la5oriously, and, I must &C.
with such success, let them
'eer at ~ through their telescopes and
eport what they like of US. but nv
lear Joaquin, should we put them under
he microscope there would le really
l0tling ~ be seen.
II look forward to passing another
delightful evening with you on my re-
urn to New York, and / need not tell
'Ou that whenever you visit England
gu will le received with that COURTESY
rith which it is our pleasure always to
Welcome all Americans, and that honor
With which it is our privilege to greet all
octs. M'~tsincerely and affectionately
ours. OSCAR WILDE.