The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-05
OScnr Wilde.


20. but it is not every day that an apostle
dhwaite) OF aStheticism comes 10 the shores
Of America II was for this reason that
the Herdid reporter met Mr.. Oscar
Wilde at the first available place
namely. Quarantine. Mr.. Wilde appeared
like a good-natured, tall, wel-dressed,
somewhat enthusiastic young man, who
was not at all ayerse TO the American pro-
cess Of interviewing. He emerged from
the captains Office when notified that the
reporter had arrived, and leaned against
the railing Of the companionway in a
loungng attitude that suggested the ncgli-
gcnce Of one who had greater things TO at
tend TO. once placed in the proper posi-
tion. Mr.. wilde talked. Indeed, he talked
TO that extent that the Herald reporter was
unable TO follow the full meaning Of his
words.
"Your mission in America said the
reDorter, " "is--"
81 am going TO lecture soon in CHECKER
ing Hall on the Renaissance"
."The Renaissance, meaning-?" sug-
gcsted the reporter.
Meaning the revival of the intimate
study OF the correlation of all arts" re-
piled Mr.. Wilde, speaking with the earnest
emphasis Of Il man who had, so TO speak
'.caught on" TO the correlation.
"But," said the reporter, there Is or
ought to be a practical side to the study OF
the correllatiOns. In what manner do you
propose 10 address the American publicI"
81 shall lecture" said Mr.. Wilde, little
reScryedly. Gin Chickering Hall on the
Renaissance My future movements will
depend entirely upon the results OF my lee
turc in q business sense. | have come here
with the intention OF producing upon an
American stage a play which have WRIT
ten, and which ! have not, for reasons,
been able to produce in London. 1T is eX-
ceedinglv desirable that il should be pro-
duccd with cast of actors who shall be
thoroughly able TO represent the piece with
all the force of its original inception"
"But." said the reporter, " do you not
intend TO produce volume OF poems while
YOU are i'm American"
"NO. | shall nOt-ccrtainly for some time
to come-publish another volume; but |
hardly care to say what the future may de-
yelop."
Mr.. wILDE's SCHOOL OF PHILOSOPHY.
'.You will certainly lecture, however :"
said the reporter.
81 certainly shall: but | do not know
whether shall lecture i'm other cities be-
sides New York. twill depend entirely
upon what encouragement / find in the ac
ceptance Of my school Of philosophy"
''DO YOU. then, call 'astheticism' 4 phi
| losophyf" asked the reporter.
"NIOst certainly il is a philosophy. 1t is
/ the study of what may be found in art. II
is the pursuit of the secret OF life. What
ever there is in all art that represents the
eternal truth is an expression Of the great
underlying truth. So far aStheticism may
be held to be the study Of truth in art"
"Fstheticism," said the reporter, - has
been understood i'm America to be a blind
cropping after something which is entirely
intangible. Can you, Ar the exponent Of
Rstheticism, give an Interpretation which
shall serve TO give more respectable stand
ing TO the word!"
~ do not know" said Mr.. Wilde, "that
/ can give a much better definition than |
have already given. But whatever there
has been in poetry since the time Of Keats;
whatever there has been i'm art that has
served TO develop the underlying princ-
pies OF truth; whatever there has been in
science that has served to show 10 the indl-
yidual the meaning OF truth as expressed
to humanity-that has been an exponent OF
@stheticism."
THE .FSTHETE's APPEARANCE.
Mr.. Wilde is man not more than twcn-
ty-SiX years old, apparently. He is three on
four inches over six feet in height, and
from his patent-leather shoes TO his round
fur cap his dress was unlike that OF other
men. His fur-lined Oycrcoat was heavier
than ordinary men would wear in Arctic
winters. He puiied Russian cigarette
H.. Ill L. n II.
unconcern regarding what was written.
Ills tone was ailable, his manner en-
tirely polite. His face, devoid of CO.
lor, did not flush nor blanch at any word
he spoke, but all he said was said with
an English accent, aceentuated with due
regard TO rhythm. His face is long and
oval but exaggerated, his features not un-
pleasing, but accentuatcd far beyond the
face OF ordinary men. His ewes are blue.
his necktie bluer than his eyes. His shoes
are pstent-leather, and his coat OF fashion
far surprising aught that un4sthetic men
can reach. There is no beard upon the
face of Oscar Wilde, but shOm and shaven
he faces criticism. a low-necked shirt dis
plays his throat that stands a column fit to /
find place i'm Songs of Solomon.
The passengers who crossed with Mr.. /
Wilde speak highly OF him. ole said" /
said one, "when we were hall way over. !
. the sea seems tame TO me. The roaring /
ocean does not roar. The Atlantic is not 4
what | thought it was. | wish that /
could see storm arise and sweep the /
bridge from off the ship. care not for /
this tame, monotOnous trip. | would that /
| could see IA storm arise The captain /
said" continued the sardonlc passenger, /
'"l would | had that man lashed to the /
bowsprit on the windward side We
wished it too" Then the Unesthelic pas
senger INDUCED in a most unasthetic
grin.-Nelo York Herald.