Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-03-27

how much ne fave fallen away from ths
ideal On the sta. e we should see all we ca
of rich color. beautiful drapery and erJuI
: ing. and ell things that viii cultivate a tast
among the people for beautiful and chast
things. When thev this sse how beautitu
things can be made by their surroundings
they will look to their own, aud discover pos
{ sibiities before unknown to them.
GOOD FOR AMERICA.
"Ia your first address ia America so
spoke of the hope of perfection In you
movement that you felt there was in America
because we are young Do you mean by
, that that the absence of the Influence of tht
architecture, the art schools and culture o.
Europe, ETC., is no drawback to our people
IN art advancement
Mr.. Wilde-No art is better than bad
art. I'd sooner the people studied no ART
than some of the bad art of Europe-they
would be more receptive of the true
} when it does come to them. Why, sir,
architecture in England is deterioratinng.
The han6icratts are falling into dis.
repute. Against this it is to be said
that England has had great examples AID
eminent exemplars; but they have isolated
ones, Ike Turner. They were surrounded
by masses that did not appreciate them.
They had admirers, votaIies, supporters, but
not in the masses. Against this noa-ap-
preciative spirit we are fighting. So L say
that new people, not under the dead weight
of crowded Europe, give hope for quicker
appreciation of the true and the beautiful.
AS l have said, 'the very absence of tradi-
ton with you is the source of your freedom
and strength"
MAKING FUN OF HIM.
"You have been much caricatured. and
your theories much sltarized. How has that
affected your judgment of the American peo-
ple?"
Mr.. Wilde-I rarely think of If; when I
do, think nothing of it. It does not in the
slightest degree represent to me the strength
| or the sanity OF great modern nation. One
must always remember that wisdom does not
always shrill and very loud, but it passes
away OF one thing [ am convinced, and
| that is, the fool has no influence he may for
the moment-that is all.
i" Harper's Monthly criticises you in
little dash this month, and dislikes your ex-
travagance and eccentricities."
Mr.. Wilde-Do you call that a little dash
l call it as cruel as it is unjust. Suppose it
is true-admitting il for argument sake only
that people come TO hear me out of curios
ity? Well, l get a hearing, and still hope to
do scms good in my day. But it isn't true.
I've found in America truly sppreciative
! audiences. True, caric2ture and msrepre
sentation have excited curiosity. Why in
Chicago 1 had an audience of :. coo people,
and spoke for an hour and twenty minutes,
and only one man left the room before the
close, and he came to apologize for the neces-
sity requiring il. That speaks of apprecia-
ton. at least for respectful hearing. l think
the West ia very fair to those who address it
SO you do not fear ridicule:'
| Mr.. Wilde-lndeed, no. | want what L
have to advance to stand on its merit. l ask
no quarter. | have not the ramotest doubt
as to which side will win. l think the school
/ am in will win, because it represents great
principles, and they are working for Us, no
matter what [ may do.
g CLUSTERING THE PRESS"
"But has the press given you fair show ?"
Mr.. Wilde-0h, the papers They run in
grooves good deal. They might just as well
take the other side. The praise of the man
who can't understand me is quite as Injurious
as the abuse of any enemy can be. There is
no limit TO the nonsense some men will write
if it raises the ejaculation of the paper from
one to two.
AN OPINION.
"What do you think of this country so
far as you have had opportunity te observe !?
Does it come up to or fall below your pre-
conceived idess ?"
Mr.. Wilde with merry twinkle OF the
eye)-My dear sir, I was sensible enough
| (pardon me) not to have any preconceived
| ideas about it. | came to see and learn,
| Well, thus far fad far more independence
of thought here than in Europe.
THE COMMERCIAL SPIRIT.
"You are reported as saying that the COM
mercial spirit in England is killing nobility
and purify. Coupling this with your express
| sion of hope for art culture in America, are
| T. ,pfa hal ipl- of
traders less sordid than your people?"
Mr.. Wilde-I mean the spirit Of commerce
as misunderstood. Some of the most beau
tiful cities have been built by commercial
men, as Genoa, Florence, Venice. But 10
England men have been made machines,
quite as soulless and ignoble as the whirling
wheels of machinery. l don't speak now Of
the food of bad patterns and ugly designs as
resulting but | speak of the injury to the
workmen themselves, so deep that they can
not realize the nobility of life. In America l
don't think it goes to that extent. l don't
think the American workman will submit to
such position.
ART EXPRESSION.
81 have read in Emerson's essay on The
Poet these words: The beautiful rests on
the foundations of the necessary Do you
agree with that sentiment Mr.. Wilde ~
The Esthete-The moment art becomes
luxury it loses, for it must arise out of neces-
siCy. All art is the expression of the noble
and joyous in life. Luxury gives us the
gaudy, the vulgar, the transient. It may
| help but it never creates art. For instance,
luxury gives great prices for French land
scapes of the modern school, Now, while l
admire French landscapes the indulgence by
luxury in them does not dignity American
handic1aft at all, or help home effort.
| AN APT orrrsrJoN
"But, Mr.. Wilde. if surroundings have 60
great an influence, does not the architecture,
the great models. the atmosphere of art in
Europe, account for the preference"
MIR. Wilde-Familiarity with the beautiful
in architecture docs not belittle it with him
who appreciates it. 1t grows on you. Italy
is the loveliest country of Europe, but Italy
gives You no landscapes from ner studios
You speak of the broad field for the study of
the lofty and the beautiful and awe-insp;ring
in California. Well, it ia not necessary to
have great natural wonders at home to de.
velop art. 1t is in the eye and the heart of
the artist that we find the secret of success.
| The landscapes of Italy are all-satisfy ing,
and so the Italian artist does not reproduce
them. You must go to the cloudy. the misty
lands for great landscape painters-the blue
and the golden light of Italy is unapproach-
able.
! All AmSiiCdH WOtuhuY w iiucy HAS
written Of beauty in lines with which you
will accord, presume: Mrs. Sarah J. Hale.
Never heard the lines? They are:
Beauty was lent TO nature as the type
| OF Heavens unspeakable and holy JOY,
Where all perfection makes the sum OF bliss.
Mr.. Wiide-Yss, certainly.
COPYRIGHT.
"By the way, MIR. Wilde, what do you in
| England think Of the international copyright
/ question? p
The Poet-That a country gets small good
| from literature it steals.
but you are retaliating now"
Mr.. Wilde-Very little. It don't change
the principle. Why, in AL your cars 1 find
newsmen selling my poems-stolen | never
can resist the Impulse to read out lesson on
the Nervousness of the offense.
Bat there is a genuine American edi-
ton ,"
Mr.. Wilde-Oh, yes by Boston house.
II heard you were getting out a work in
America"
Mr.. Wilde-That is volume Of poems by
friend, Rennell Rodd. an English officer.
1t will appear in Philadelphia.
why not issue it in your own country -
Mr.. Wilde-I desire to introduce the author
to the American public. L think it will ap-
| nreciate him II will have an introduction