Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-01-08
WILDE, THE ESTHET
The APOSTLE OF the New Idea-Wilde.
the Young Irish Poet, the Best Car
featured Man Of the Day.
The Personal Appearance OF the Original
Of Maudle and BunthOrne-His
Commercial Value.
New York Star.

New York Star.
Ia one of the parlors OF the Brunswick
yesterday afternoon Oscar Wilde who has
figured 50 prominently in the public prints
in connection with the aesthetic movement
in England, greeted the Star reporter warmly,
Contrary TO the common opinion Mr.. Wilde
was found to be something of hale fellow
and not by any means a "lah-de-da" sort Of
man. He is tall, standing six feet one
inch in his stocking feet, and not al all stout
nor strikingly thin. His face is a long oval
with low jaw denoting strength; his eyes
are somewhat sloping; his hair is dark
| brown, parted IN the middle and worn long,
| falling gst below his coat collar. He has
dark gray eyes, and a somewhat effeminate
| mouth, and the upper lip slightly arched.
The upper part OF the face, however, does
not correspond with the lower, the former
being what in common psrlance is known IS
4 "a woman's face"
| AN EsTHETIC MORNING COSTUME.
The youthful poet wore dark brown vel
vet surtout of a shade identical with that
worn by Bunthorne in Patience. low-cut
Byronic collar encircled his well-shaped
| neck and was drawn together by dark green
necktie. From the coat pocket protruded a
| handkerchief of the same shade as the
necktie.
"What..do you think of New York;" asked
the reporter.
"Really," he replied, in a quiet. subdued
tone, II have not had time TO form an opin-
! ion. / have promised to have my lecture
/ read, for the printer this afternoon, and /
| have been engaged upon II ever SINCE came
| from tn steamer"
"WiIIst lu inform me what is the purpose
Of this aesthetic movement asked the re-
porter.
Mr.. Wilde ssniled as he replied: "Well,
that is a subject which needs some elabora-
| ton, and / prefer 70 wait until / appear on
the lecture platform. L think can do JUS
tice to the subject then. Now 1t would .e
premature"
what is your position on the subject%
"My position has been we'll defined already.
Ny address will be confined to an exposition
of the origin and progress of the new move
ment for the cultivation OF the beautiful as
it has manifested itself in the best circles of
English society. purpose TO give the true
history"
"Do you believe that this peculiar theory
Of which you are an exponent will be devel-
oped in this country"
Decidedly, yes; l fully believe that it
will, sooner or later, manifest itself among
the cultivated classes here"
NOT AFRAID OF RIDIcULE.
"Are you not afraid of being ridiculed?"
"No, for it has been the fate of far greater
poets than your humble servant. This striv
ing for simple and unadorned poetic express
sion was marked feature of the older poets,
and the poets encountered ridicule. But
these very writer's left strong impress on
poetic diction, and a man would be bold,
indeed, who would at the present time attack
them"
"Your object in coming to America was for
the purpose of lecturing on estheticismW
queried the reporter.
"Not altogether. Indeed, may say that
II
to see America; that is one reason. Then i
HAD many letters from friends on this side,
who were anxious to have me come; and /
also wished to have an original play pro-
duced.7
"Have you made any definite arrange
ments with any manager for its production"
"Not yet. The play j speak of / have
named Pega. 1t treats of the present Mill
list movement in Russia. 1t was to have been
produced in London, but my coming to
America caused me to withdraw it"
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
"Will you make tour of the country with
your lecturer" inquired the reporter.
''That is to be decided in the future.
received offers while in London to come here
in November, but l declined. Later L re-
ceived other offers, backed by kindly invita-
lions from friends, and i consented to visit
America, although l did not consider lee
ture tour as my principal reason"
"WilI you not lecture in other cities?"
Eyes. / will have the honor of reading
my address in Philadelphia, as some gentle |
men from that city were here to-day and i |
gave them a promise. L expect also to visit |
Boston and Washington. Further than that |
sm not prepared to say; it rests entirely |
with my manager"
care you not about to publish new vol
ume of poems?"
THAT is my principal object IN coming. |
have made arrangements with Philadel-
phia house to publish the first volume of a
SERIES"
"And you do not care to speak at length
on, or define the subject of astheticism?'
"Only to say that 1t is an attempt TO make
beauty stand out from the commonplace.
As L have already told you, the subject is an
exhaustive one and i have not, Just at pres
ent, sufficient time to spare to fully explain"
In conversation Mr.. Wilde speaks with
musical voice and in an earnest manner, his
gestures being very graceful. He shook
hands heartily with the reporter on parting
and said, 81 think, despite the ridicule of
the paperz, that shall like America and
the Americans"