New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-01-10
THE ENGLISH RENAISSANCE.
OSCAR WILDE AND Ills HEARERS


A GREAT CROWD ~ CuiCKrE1SG HALL u hN't
THE POETS THEORIES OF RT-HoW ut L"oALp
AND HOW THE PEOPLE ENDURED II.
The audience of men, women and n theic per
sons which assembled in GmcN.riHg Hall last
night to hear Mr Wilde was large one. Car
RACES began 20 arrive up 10 the fuDi-aNe'
entrance shortly after ocIocN. ann
they did not stop coming Tor an ho"''
There were only Few u>hcrs IN Attendance ana II
took tbo people long time 10 get thciT places
When this was finally accomplished every Sei' l.,
the house was taken, while leaning IN nedi"Nai
attitudes against the wall back ot the palq'l'llo
were many aesthetic and palhd yonn@ In'h III ur''N
suits and banged hair No man. now
ever. carried q lily or a surilo"eF. rs lar ~
conId he observed Ncvcr-or at least not very
oftcu-has there been an audience better of'S-'' :"
having more utterly Distinguished air, in CHECKER
ing Hall Most Of tie men, even thos" who ilad
seats. wore evening dress, while the women were
oftircd handsomely and richly 1h'rc
were very few Gain,borough hats to De
seen. 70 the great surprise and relief of all. 1t
was not noticed that the S1shes were tied very hlgh
or in very large bows. Many of the lanes wore
handsome flowers mostly roses but an occasional
distressed white lily could be seen Here and there
was n woman whose garments, of cobwel-giay
or cray-brown color, showed aesthetic ana ethHf''l
aspirations The hall itself was rs bare OF decora-
ton as if some common person was going 10 t1iN 10
commonplace people. on commonplace subjects
II was ha!f-pa.t when there was a craclIe OF
electricity and the ras blazcd up. moment after
ward the door on the stag opened and W. +. Morse,
DOyy Cartc's manager. hurst uP n the
view of the audience, followed by Inc
poe.. There WIS ripple OF decorous
laughter. Mr. Morse went forward to
col wall IN
and took seat in the rear. The modern apust e
walked with stopping shoulders taking long strides
and, as one young woman remarked to her mother
ne seemed 70 "toe in A hundred opera glasses
were lcvcllc1 aq he poet seated himself and when
they were fairly foruscd him another ripple oil
subducd Ian 1htcr went over tho gaZcrs.
The stage furniture had apparently been arranged
by some wing aesthetic disciple. Mr. Wilde sat III
a chair with a daik brown morocco back and cuail-
ION Directly III the rear furnishing the h3,N-
ground was II large screen of brown, ot liRhtGIr
shade Next 10 the speakers stand was n shalI
Table for a carafr. Both the stand and the Table
were eysentia " commonplace, but the carate was
OF fine cut glass with a achcai"ly tapcl1hE tcch,
There WAS a SnlI rug with properly ugN pattern
fer the poet to est his feet upon ,
Nh Morse said tlat he was glad 10 have the honor
70 introduce to an American Eu1encc O1car e
Mr. Wilde then came forV ard and, placing MS man
uscrIpt on the stand, seized 1t with both hands
and began reading at once ne aet FL tb ane '
the first opportunity for good look nv me oDyFI
of its curiosity. A. lac stool, his io1g hair
fcIl on his shoulders, just showing TIE
iobeS of two handsome ears. lie wore
n dress coat q white six waiStcoat IN which was
thrISt u white silk handkerchief. \ large stud or
namented his shirt bosom. His collar was Byionlc
tional in the extreme. From a., ms waist
coat hung a handsome Vatch-lob. lis neither
garments did not cNtend to ms ant, anhIcS
his knees In fact he wore hrrcChrS. They were
wavy and loose. aud md not fit Ike III"
glove, as fashion now requires. lie wore pumps
and hS black silk stockings extended 70
his knees. Showing q handsome and wrll-!om"i
calf Hi- hands were covered by vhEc Hi gloves
the stitching ou the back Of which was very per-
jir W.Idc's manner in aiding wa, simple. lie
stood IN 81 Of lie tmc holding hi' Inanuscrpl VITA
both hands, TIE to.ion oi !r I.-, D., i!"Prnly
times in the evening he pu' his uGHl
hand 10 his side, crooing lis elbow
hi, man script win his LIFT hand once
apparently in moment Of th Ugh1l 's>uc,s,
he put his lpf hpnd tchiud hun. He r"ai
IN rather q siug--oug wa,. letting his voice 1a!l
hard 10 hear him ia jhr back uart Of the room,
af r &c had u'1d ten OF fifteen minutes. re
and this. with his imperfect delivery
IN idc It oiIicui; to follow him In fatf for tins
reason his lecture became to many pleasure
which %a- all but pa I AS tm ,,io WAS
link thai Iii, faults were 30 more
than wer. 10 lc prctel and are such u can easily
d, overcome. The early part at the por'7 lecture
received IN rTn .i!'Icr' hui ihr Latter P'T was
frequently interim. Ted by appiHus" Iir Eas %
pleasant smile wnchmadr tli" audience kindly dis-
ro.ra toward him, and ne uttered ih reference, %
himself mode {, qaIct way. About 100 persons
left ho hall bcfor a. hul beg.
When Mg. WIdt had ended reading lis mann
s.ript he bowel AMI p'c,ing ID mp walked toward
the door. Tie audience appm2drd cufIHIS Js.l'aI
auj hc turned aud bowed AZ in. ne people also
apriaudrd vigorously after a. had ri tn' stage, but
lir Wil.e GiI not appear AGAIN. The crowd WIS
40 great that II took s"ne mmn1.s or - to get out
o. the hail. " How dld yoI nk" ir :! ask "a lazy
u! her a."sli.c?. =" didn't understand q worl Of
H. VA, tl.r RESPONSE of the tuih,"l young woman.
A,aons those who attended TIE lecture .HerrJu lEe
ana Ms. Brady. the R.V. Robert toiycr, Jouu
TAYLOR Johnston Archibald torpe., Ni,- Lou ~.
Aicoi,. Mss Kate Nannoro, MISS kHtc tlrid,
Air. Peter Marie, Mrs. Camille Marie, Mr. and S1s.
Wakefield. OF BHsiuu, Hugh }. Je"ett the Kisses
Icy,c, !. iiooacr iiau,r>.cy. Ms. Thomas +.
N.-aJcr Mr. ana Mrs lrhn blgrio". fou rey
Bi.ciov. Mrs TGn1., i.c,l-, Hr. Lester NJlark,
C.r-:iaa .ca.r, 'chi.al. llcr.er li"nr .H,rga,
DAVID U1JI,y T.id, Bishop t.ar!-"u. General
Wilmau +. smith James Burton hey. H. {.
Banner.