The Evening critic., 1882-01-20
HE IS HERE.
suNFLowERs AND cALLA LILIES.
of the Great Oscar
Wilde interviewed by s.The Critic
Reportcr-Grcat Excitement nt tho
ArIfnpfnr,


"Hcs such an aesthetic young man,
He'll rope in asnob when he can,
With hisweakness piratlcal,
And manners theatrical,
This very aesthetic young man."
The 8 o'clock Itrain from Philadelphia
that arrived hero yesterday after
noon brought Oscar Wilde, the expounder
of @stheticism, who proceeded at once to
the Arlington Hotel and created ilutter
among the clerks and Others there by
turning up so suddenly. He registered
'~Oscar Wilde in ragged, icrky sort of
style, asked for room where he could re-
main quiet, and issued peremptory order
that he was not TO be disturbed.
The Appearance of the Poet
Esthcte
is in direct opposition to his doctrines He
is about five feet, eleven inches tall, broad
sbouldered andotherwise well-proportioned,
and wears his brown hair long and parted
carclessly in the centre. His features are
full and broad, his brow very expansive,
and pair of frank, honest blue eyes light
up his countenance, creating pleasant inn
preston upon each ono with whom he Is
thrown in contact. When he arrived yes
terday he wore heavy fur-trimmed over
coat and scalskin cap, and his first action,
after registering, was to light a cigarette
and smoke it.
Proceeding to his room he closed the door,
which was almost instantly surrounded by
anxious women and efeminate snobs, who
vainly essayed to get q peep at Oscar
through the key-hole. A representative
Of The CRITIC found such u group about
the visitors door, when he called at the
hotel last night. A very decided opposite
to the aesthetic stood guard at the door, in
the form Of broad featured Irishmau with
o glowing squint in his left eye.
He forbade the entrance of all callers
with the warning, "Whist, there, go aisy
wild yer CAB.
NEusther woilde
wants tn take q schnooze an, begorra it's
meseP as wuld say that he gifts et."
"Oh, yes, girls, do come away" exclaimed
a beautiful young miss in mauve silk to a
group of companions who blocked the re-
porter's way, adding, "The dear creature in
there is seeking that repose that tired
nature demands. Come away and let him
dream"
Eyes, but Just wait moment; want to
ask Pat a question" said a matter-of fact
young miss, approaching the Celtic senti-
mel, and remarking 81 say Pat, what does
that thing in there jerking her thumb
toward Oscars door, "looS like?
Does Et Eat?''
"Wull, Miss, Pat replied, looking
cautiously around, +" ther stuard was sum-
| wat puzzled us to ther kind er grub ter git
| up fur un, an be gorra they tort un wud
hev stued wiolets an sunflower tay, but un
| settled it by sindin out fur bafesteak an
inguns, wild bit o. French bred an sum
| coffee. "
"Umph!" calculated the iuquisitive
| miss, that's not very aesthetic, anyhow;
come ON girls, I'm satisfied, Z" and the bevy
of beauties hurried up the broad staircase
| singing
"He's such an aesthetic young man,
He'll rope in snob when he can,
| With his weakness piratical
and manners theatrical,
| This very aesthetic young man."
The highly edited reporter watched the
young ladies disappear, and finally, by dip
lomacy and a corresponding application o.
cheek, succeeded in inducing the sentinel
TO take card TO Mr.. Wilde. Almost in
stantly the door was thrown open, and
obcying Pats walk in, sor," The CRITIC
entered the presence of
The Lion of the Esthefic World,
but was disappointed in not finding thing
"too utterly too too" as he had been led t,
expect from unreliable statements in The
|
icism was two lighted wax candles which
had temporarily usurped the gas, one o
which stood on centre table, the other OF
the mantel. Mr.. Wilde reclined on n sofa
Immediately opposite the door, smoking
cigarette. He wore short, close-ftting
smoking jacket Of French gray cashmere
with
Collar and CUFFS of Claret Satin.
He wore black knee-breeches and sill
stockings to match, and patent-leathe
pumps, with silk ties. Rising languidly
as THE CRITIC entered, he shook himsel
together, much after the fashion of barn
yard rooster after siesta in the sum- and il
a full, rounded voice, exclaimed "How d
you do?" shaking hands with the reporter
The latter, who was not in the least inocu
lated by the handshaking, said:
81 beg pardon, Mr.. Wilde, for this in
trusion, but a telegram from Baltimore tc
night states that q sensation has bee
created over there because you failed to az
pear in conjunction with Archibald Forbs
tonight in the latteR's lecture in that city
In fact, am led to believe by this telcgra,
, that there has been trouble between YOU
self and Mr.. Forbes, and that you brok
, your engagement in consequence"
! "Well, dear me-" replied the estheti
apostle "this is most extraordinary. NJ
Forbes and myself are on terms of til
| greatest intimacy, and 1 cannot lmagin
| the cause for any such rumor. Beside
4, why should / stop in Baltimore, as my el
gagement to lecture in Washington is priC
5 TO my Baltimore engagement? Lecturin
C here on Monday evening next, shall go
@ Baltimore ON the following Tuesday mori
+ ing. So left Philadelphia at noon to-da
0 and came through to Washington, arrivir
: here at o'clock, and came right to N
Q room, where / purpose spending a quie
s uninterrupted evening, which win be Il
r first since my visit to your wonderf
country"
"Iregret having disturbed your quiet
remarked The CRITIC.
y Not at all I'm only too happy
v have had an opportunity to positive
+. deny that any unfriendliness exists /
tween Mr.. Forbes and myself, which "
!. will do me the kindness to state ei
phatically."
"You will, no doubt, see much to int
Il est you in Washington"
. "Yes | have many letters of introducti
. to distinguished people in this city, aud
y have great desire to see the politicians
= your wonderful country, whom l shall
y doubt find assembled here now and
= regret that my limited stay win preye
:. my making that earnest, careful study
er your leading men that / earnestly desire
l.. N Al