The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-01-11
Oscar Wilde. the Esth0te.
MS THEORIES, WRITINGS, AND persona
APPEARANCE.

ms THEORIES, WRITINGS, AND Personal
APPEARANCE.
As already announced, Oscar Wilde, the
poet, apostle, and high-priest Of estheti-
cism, has arrived in New York from Eng
land, and the world of fashion and letters,
which INDUCES i'm the strange sport Of lion
hunting. has since had ample opportunity
to crafty its weakness. Those who had
only known Mr.. Wilde through DR.. Maui
rier's caricature Of Maudle, or Gilberts
character Of Bunthorne, were no doubt
disappointed at not seeing him walk down
Broadway pressing lily to his breast, but
this was compensated for by meeting a
young man with Alterations and peculiari-
ties, and yet at the same time with fresh
and vivid ideas on art, keen perceptions.
and brilliant social qualities
Mr.. Wilde was born in Dublin, and Is
twenty-six years old. His father was Sir
William Wilde, a celebrated physician, and
his mother woman OF much poetical talent.
After securing high honors at Trinity Col
lege, Dublin, young Wilde went to Mag
dslcn College, oxford, and graduated there
from in 1878. The acquaintance which he
formed there with John Ruskin mdoubt-
edly gave color to his after life and
thought, and q subsequent visit TO Italy
and Greece served to deepen his impress
sions on art and beauty. Since that time
he has published a number OF sonnets and
TRANSACTIONS from Greek tragedies. The
idea running through all his poems seems to
be that beauty Is above materialism; that
flowers are better than factories, and that
the hum OF the bee and the murmur OF the
brook are sweeter than the clang OF the
hammer and the whirl OF the spindle. H.
was a bold thought to try and infuse such
an idea into the brain Of this practical age,
and when the young enthusiasts deyotees
in attempting to follow him never rose
above the level OF craze for blue china
and cracked teacups Of the reign OF Queen
Anne, or rhapsody over lily or sun
flower, there was little wonder that q
grotesque side OF the subject was at once
seized upon, and that he and his
theories were everywhere burlesqued.
Mr.. Wilde himself admits that he and
his companions at first went 10 the
widest extremes III dress and expressions.
lie argues that the groundwork Of estheti-
cism Is that knowledge Of the beautiful
cannot be taught, but must be personal,
and can only be acquired by ones own eyes
and ears. The real strength OF the esthetic
movement, he thinks, lies in the great
strength OF beautiful designs among handi-
craftsmen OF the various cities, and he is Of
opinion that among women especially
there is distinct tendency towards the
most radical change, both in the form of
the dress and in the introduction of
novel and beautiful colors. He con-
siders that at present velvet Is the most
beautiful dress for man, and AS q rule
wears gray or brown velvet himself. He
Is over six feet in height, with full white
neck, massive face, prominent chin, rather
seusuous lips, and blue eyes, the beardless
countenance being framed in long brown |
BAR, parted In the middle and tossed back
ward over bis shoulders. Baltimore Sun. |
HIS FIRST LECTURE m AMERICA.
Oscar Wilde lectured Monday night 10 |
large and fashionable audience at CHECKER
ing Hall. lie was dressed in a black dress |
coat, white vest, an extremely low-cut |
shirt, with flowing white silk crayat, black
knee-brceches, brown stockings and slip
pers. He chose as his subject "The
English Renaissance" which, he said,
was the essence OF art, and all teachings
would amount TO nothing il the workmen
we're not surrounded by beautiful things,