Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1890-07-25

two writers who use the English language,
and very likely the only ones to be found
of any other language who have con-
structed novels the underlying suggestion
OF which is something not to be spoken of,
scarcely to be thought When Mr.. Allen
published his piece of fiction it created no
other comment than that caused by the
belief that he had, with skill and by art
full suggestion, caused tale to turn upon
the abnormal.
Oscar Wilde, in the story which is print
ed in Lippincott's under the title of "The
Picture of Dorian Gray" has overmatched
the skill of Heron-Allen, and has undoubt-
eddy accomplished the purpose which, in
addition to pecuniary consideration, he had
in view when he wrote the story. One of
the epgrams contained in the novel de-
clares that there is only one thing worse
than being talked about, and that is not
being talked about, and Mr. Wilde, whose
maneuvers with the sunfower and knee
breeches have long since ceased to make
him notorious, will be likely to find in this
latest venture of his that he is talked
about, and it is probable that will satisfy
him. although the chatter which his work
creates would be regarded with the utmost
dread by most human beings.
The Picture of Dorian Gray" seems to
have been suggested partly by the myth
which describes youth as having fallen
in love with his own picture, and which as
classic tale of mythology is beautiful
narration, and it is also inspired by Mr..
Stevensons "Dr. Jekyll and Mr.. HYDE"
Dorian Gray, an extremely handsome
young man, falls in love with his portrait,
and it is the desire of his heart that in his
own body he shall ever remain as the pict-
ure represents him to be, while the process
of growing old is transferred from his own
body to the portrait. Into the abnormal
state of mind thus developed Dorian be-
comes infatuated with his own personality,
and also produces an effect upon other
men which causes them to become infatu-
ated with him. The sorrows and the utter
physical degradation, as well as malforma-
ton of intellect and character, which follow
this development form the basis of the
story.
OF course the seeker after the abnormal
and shocking in fiction can find nothing
beyond the possibilities contained in such
conception as this. a step farther than
Mr. Wilde has gone would be sure to cause
the arrest of the author and publisher and
the suppression of the book. 1t is of course
a story of passion, as The Quick and the
Dead was a story of passion, but the lat
ter is natural passion ideali1ed, whereas
the former is the passion which, under the
statutes of many of our states, is if fol-
lowed, punishable with death.
Mr.. Wilde writes entertainingly in the
lighter passages of the book but there is a
sort of forced brilliancy and a suggestion OF
worked over epigrams which, while it
gives the work an air of smartness, will
hardly cause it to be regarded as piece Of
excellent literary workmanship 1t is pos
sibly Mr.. Wilde's purpose to convey
moral in his story which would be of good
effect in certain arstocratic circles in
England, but if that was his purpose he
has no art in executing it. When Balzac
wrote of hideous vices he analysed and
dissected them so that the horror of them
was maintained and the awful power of
the moralists pen was made evident.
There is no such art in Mr.. Wildes novel,
and the suggestion is rather in the direc-
ton of sensatiOnalism than of the highest
art and morality.
1t will probably surprise none of those
upon whom Mr. Wilde bestowed his in
timacy when he was in this country to
know that he has written such a book,
for it is written in the manner in which he
occasionally narrated anecdotes to choice
and private circles. Although Mr.. Wilde
came here as an exponent of estheticism
he was not indisposed to view life in all it's
phases in New York, and of this DISPOSE
ton one public evidence was obtained
through the facility with which he was
steered by bunco sharp into one of these
notorious games. 1t is pretty safe to pre-
dict that if The Picture of Dorian Gray is
ever published in book form it will find its
way into no home, and will be read in
corner by those who buy it, yet il doubt
less will serve the purpose which caused
the writing and publication of it, because
1t will be talked about and thus most
widely advertised Z. j. EDWARDS.