The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-02-04
Oscar Wilde In Boston.
Harvard Students Appearing as Jealous
Disciples of the Celebrated IEsthete.

clever use of flattery on Tuesday evening
failed to capture Boston for Oscar Wilde.
He was. however, greeted by an immese au-
dience. Some three or four thousand people
were packed into Music Hall. 1t was given
out in advance that the Harvard students in
tended to give the celebrated aesthetic a rous
ing reception, and it is safe to say that three
fourths of the crowd came to see the fun. 1t
was a respectable audience, in which there
were no prominent persons.
At about O. clock there entered process
sion of sixty young Bunthornes. The fresh
men were clad in exaggerated imitation of
Oscars well known costume, including dress
coats, knee breeches, and haring neckties of
striking colors Several wore immense wigs,
and all had lilies in buttonhOles and carried
big sunhowers. They entered as Bunthorne
comes upon the stage in Patience and
took seats in the two front rows. The lectur-
er made his appearance shortly afterward, and
received very much the same reception that
had been given his imitators.
On his coming in sight, the great crowd
broke into loud applause, which was changed
to immoderate laughter.by the time the lee
turer had reached the desk. He had discard
ed the knee breaches, but otherwise his raj
ment was the same as that in which he has ap
peared in otherplaces. Oscar was but slightly
quickly silenced his grinning listeners by eX-
ton, which is, he said the only city in Amer
lea that has given a school of thought and
philosophy to Europe. He was evidently
prepared for the college boys, for he added
that he was also honored at seeing about him
such evidences of art. He had no doubt that
these were young men sincere in their admira-
ton of art, but for the first time in his life he
breathed silent prayer to be delivered from
his disciples. He felt like quoting from
Wordsworth,
"Turn from these bold, bad men,"
The audience applauded heartily. The
young men on the front seats were squelched
into behavior that averaged as good as those
around them but their fellow students sup
piled the deficiency in the way of demonstra-
ton.
Oscar proceeded with his regular lecture
The crowd listened to the dull, effeminate
monotone very patiently for nearly fifteen
minutes, when many began to leave, and the
sunfower fans in the audience began to tiutter
ominously. Presently the lecturer paused to
drink glass of water. After a moment a
rattle of clapping and stamping began, which
continued for some time after the prosecuted
speaker was ready to recOmmence. There
were quite a number of true worshipers in the
audience, and they soon manifested their dis
approval by vigorous kissing. The perform
ance was several times repeated. Wilde bore
it bravely for more than half an hour, even
permitting his tormentors to again interrupt
him after attempting to begin. He was hoarse
and in rather bad voice, having to resort fire.
quently to the glass of water athis side. This
was each time made the signal for sarcastic
applause, and kissing in condemnation of it,
until tho lactura was finished.
The sixty Bunthornes filed ont as they en-
tered, before the audience rose to leave the
hall. They were not the only ones whose en-,
joyment of the evenings entertainment had
not been as complete as they anticipated
Wilde remarked with evident satisfaction, that
''the young men rather lapsed into acquies-
cence,' but his impressions of Boston esthet-
icism are not entirely pleasant.