The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-01-10
TIE INTENSE.
Exposition Of the Rsihstis school By Ita
Apostle, mr., oscar WILDE Cultivation
Ofa Love offhe BeantlfuI. .

ExposltIOn Of the Rsihstis school By II
Apostle, mr., oscar NFlide-CultiVati0
ora Love offhe Beaatiful.
NEw YoRx, January s.-The World has {
long interview with Oscar Wilde, in which
he explains his peculiar theory. He says
my theory Is that you can't teach anybody
what Is really beautiful. The true spirit o.
painting or u poem can't be taught-ii
must be gradually revealed. The only way
in which anybody can come TO a know.
ledge Of the beautiful Is by being thrown
among beautiful surroundings. think u
you desire cultured society you must put
the youth Of the land into beautiful poems
and let them gradually come TO feel q
necessity for such surroundings. A young
man reared among such surrounding
has got to make distinct effort TO appre.
ciate the beautiful. In 1877 went to Ok
ford and entered Magdalene College. II
was at this time that this theory Of the
effect OF the beautiful associations began to
manifest itself TO my mind, This town
was by far the most beautiful one that l
had ever been in, anu experienced Its
effect upon myself. Ruskin was there, and
became disciple Of his, and his teach.
ing to this thought. Very many Of my
theories are RusGin's theories developed.
He was giving course OF lectures upon
FIorentine art, and had all the youths OF
tho college after him. After We had listened
70 lecture We would so out with him on
the road. They were the most charming
nmbles imaginable. In 1875 visited
Italy, and went through all the churches,
drinking in everything Of the beauti.
Jul in art, and its whole splendor was
revealed to me by associations rs II never
could have been from any nero desrrip.
tion. ! wont back 10 Oxford more con.
ilrmed that ever in the correctness OF my
theories, and it was then that / began to
write my poetry and gradually gathered
around me group Of young men-an
aesthetic clique, II you within beautiful
house By the river side, which fitted up
in consOnance with my peculiar ideas. We
were very enthusiastic young men, and in
sensibly, as it were, became extravagant in
our expressions us compared with the COM
mon manner OF conversation. In 1878
had fully developed in my own mind what
may call my social ideas OF heart; that is,
that in pastimcs the artist was isolated 10 a
wonderful degree, was cut Of from his fell
low-workers in all branches, and also cut
Off from immediate contact with the pub.
lie, the only medium OF communication
with whom being their books, their paint
ings, or their sculptures. My idea was to
sweep away these barriers and bring them
more in unison, as fur us possible, and cs-
tablish what may properly be called CO.
relation OF art, so that the artists in differ
ent lines should receive distinct assistance
from each other. They are all striving to
express essentially the same thing, only in
different ways. So in the case OF society,
my idea was the same, 10 sweep away all
the barriers and bring the artist in direct
communication with his patrons"
Mr.. Wilde described the rapid spread Of
his movement, and adds: "Throug d all the
upper circles its object was very general
and marked, and no English gentleman
would not think Of building or furnishing
his house without taking into consideration
the ideas that have been developed during
the progress of the aesthetic movement"