Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-01
OSCAR WILDE AT HOME.

The 17SstItete'sEOpiniom That the Average
american IS NGfTOec-Minded and I9nOr-
Gnt--His ideas of Art Very Crmde--An
E1otist and Without YenerGtiOn--A
Foundation for School of Literature.
London cor. Philadelphia Timesl
The troubadour of aestheticism has re-
turned from American shores, and to-day
made his first appearance in streets and
clubs. He is sad and depressed. The
English people, having been instructed by
their American cousins how to ''guy"
public character such as Mr.. Wilde, have
begun already, and ''skits" are being
made in the public prints, and club sar-
casm is rife in every direction. AS a con-
sequence, Oscar Wilde has already an
nounced his intention to leave England for
the south of France to spend the summer,
and Willie Wilde, his brother, proposes to
go with him, as he, too, has been the OBJ
ject of a railleryrather malicious than good
natured. Oscar did not care to talk about
his experiences in the United States, but
said, with some bitterness, that he had
been treated so badly by many people and
part of the newspaper press that he
could not refrain from saying that he was
much disappointed. He was not angry,
but disappointed
'When l first came to America 1 was re-
ceived with a warmth of welcome that be-
spoke no end of future pleasure. was
led to be too enthusiastic and hopeful.
The better class of people were pleasant,
and found some society the equal of our
best society here, but not much. The av-
erage American is narrow-minded and ig-
norant. He is self-assertive. He is more
opinionated than his English cousin,
whom he resembles in all the
bad points and is equal to in
none of the good. The average American I
found to be without respect or veneration,
consequently he has no desire to acquaint
himself with the canons of art. He is the
most splendid egotist, and frequently dem
onstrates qualities as the most magnificent
liar the world produces. He regards the
size of his country as personal compi-
ment of nature to himself. Having no re-
spect nor veneration and being accustomed
to exaggeration, he sneer5 at what he does
not understand and scorns to learn that
which does not Immediately return a re-
ward"
''Mr. Wilde, you appear to have some
special cause of complaint"
"Not so. have no cause OF complaint.
and only speak as every gentleman must
who visits the States and spends, as I
have done, considerable time there. Let
me continue. You have no idea, on the
other hand, what intellects are to be found
there, what wit, elegance, taste, and female
beauty in the first grade of society. They
have artists in painting and sculpture;
they have number of splendidly gifted
writers; they have good social life, which
has nothing of the republican about it,
but yet quiet American dignity at once
charming and BETTING. There are picture
galleries and churches which are
very fair. There is some good architect
ure in the cities, but as rule it is crude
and new. The city of New York is cos
mopolitan in its population, and its dwell
ings and public places reflect that mix
ture of national1ties in which, as a rule,
the elements were not originally the best"
you came away rather unexpectedly,
did you not?"
"Yes-no-Iwas preparing to go when
an unexpected call from England acceler-
ated my preparations"
'The cable brought word that you had
met 'bunko' man and that you were
his"
sab, that is very absurd story, which
has such little bit of foundation that 1
won't deny it or explain it. I may say,
however, that I did meet Mr.. Drexel's son.
as clever Americans had done before me.
If that industrious young man had accom-
plished all the knavery with which be is so
literally credited, his wealth will soon ex-
coed that of his putative father
''Was your lecturing tour financial
success?''
''Yes, quite SO, It was very successful.
l was somewhat startled by the attitude of
the newspapers towards me, and they ran