The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-01-23
Wilde and Whitman.
Exchange OF Compliments by Fool and
q Crank.

Oscar Wilde was in Philadelphia the other
day and visited Walt Whitman. The two
men talked over each other two hours. A re-
porter of the Press of that city, who stumbled
on Whitman shortly after the adjournment of
the mutual admiration society, gives the fol-
lowing account of the interview: "Yes, Mr..
Wilde came to see me early this afternoon"
said Walt, "and 1 took him up to my den'
where we had jolly good time. think he
was glad to get away from lecturing, and FASH
ionable society, and spend time with an old
rough We had very happy time together.
] think him genuine, honest and manly. 1
was glad to have him with me, for his youth
full health, enthusiasm and buoyancy are re-
freshing. He was in his best mood, and i'm
agine that he laid aside any affectation he is
said to have, and that saw behind the scenes.
He talked freely about the London literati
and gave me many inside glimpses into the
life and doings of Swinburne, Dante Gabriel
Rossetti, Morris, Tennyson and Browning"
Thus talking, Walt Whitman led the way to
his "den," as he calls it, on the third floor.
wilde and drank bottle of wine down
stairs" he continued. "and when we came up
here. where we could be on thee and thou
terms, one of the first things said was that
should call him Oscar Il like that so much
he answered, laying his hand on my knee.
He seemed to me like a great big, splendid
boy," said Whitman, stroking his silvery
beard "He is so frank and outspokeR and
manly. / don't see why such mocking things
are written of him. He has the English socie-
ty drawl, but his enunciation is better than L
ever heard In young Englishmau or Irishman
before. We talked here for two hours. / said
TO him, Oscar, you must be thirsty. I'll make
YOU some punch YES am thirsty he ac-
knowledged, and l did make him big glass
of milk punch, and he tossed it of, and away
he went"
During this communion the representative
of the aesthetics expounded freely the theories
and the intentions of his school, occasionally
asking the old gray poets opinions and views.
The old man, however, evaded these inquiries
with smile. He said: "I wish well to you,
Oscar, and to the aesthetics, can only say that
YOU are young and ardent, and the field Is
wide, and If you want my advice, say go
ahead" Mr.. Wilde made friendly inquiries
about Whitmau's own theories, and the mode
and origin OF his peculiar work. While an
swering freely, Walt wound up this part OF
the conversation by saying that those were
problems he himself was always seeking to
solve. Wilde described himself as having alb
sorbed the Whitmanesque poetry from boy
hood. He said that Lady Wilde bought one
of the earliest copies of the poems some six
teen years ago, and was accustomed to read
passages from it to him. He also spoke OF the
Oxford boys taking the book with them and
reading it in their rambles. Thus he declared
to whitman: 81 have come to you as to ono
with whom have been acquainted almost
from the cradle"
Wilde was very frank in his criticisms of
British Philistinism, saying in substance: "One
can hardly conceive how doubly and treoly
bound literature and art and manners yet re-
main, even in the best society, in Great Brit
goes beyond beaten ruts and lines is pretty
sure of a hard time. And yet there is q most
determined class of the best people IN England,
not only among the young, but OF all ages
both men and women, who are ready ana lea. ga.
will break up the stagnation. He makes
great mistake who supposes that old England
Is abandoned entirely to conservatism. Young