The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-07-28
OSCAR WILDE PICKING oAKuM.
he Broke Down on the wheei-Doesn't
lake Kindly u, Rel

attic and other Pacific coast cities. re-
yves interest in the fellow. The Port
land oregonian says:
when the plays OF Oscar Wilde were
noo1ed on every decent stage in the
East. managers protested that they had
invested money in them and could rot
aHord 10 sacrlaee COX receipts The de-
cent public did not argue rha point
IL simply stayed away from the theaters.
AE'er a few performances 10 empty
oehches the managers gave up tne effort
anu the plays were taken of. The OBJ
lection lies less against the PLAYS them
selves than 10 the principle OF fostering
the infamous life OF their author by con-
triouting 20 his royalties. II ought 70 be
understood that every man who buys
seat 70 see Lady windermere's Fan
or any other play OF Oscar Wilde. con
tributes percentage to the maintenance
of the unspeakable orgies for which he
now is doing time"
London letter 10 the New York World
describes the dramatists prison life as
follows: The cell into which they put
him and which will Ne his home for
the next two years is in extreme con-
trast TO his luxurious apartments OF
few weeks ago. 1t Is very small. perfect
~ bare; made even more hideous by
rough coating OF whitewash.' There is a
wretched. hard bed. and table with
no cloth TO cover it's plain board top.
On the table is the only literature per-
mitted him-a copy of the Bible. He must
read this or he may not read at all.
HE rises at a. IN. and before break
fast he must clean his cell. sweep it.
make the bed and IN every way get Il
into condition tor the sharp eyes OF the
Inspector.
Then, at 7:ao a. m, he has breakfast
eight ounces OF whole meal wheaton
bread. a pint of cocoa sweetened with
1To- 49, a~f1 H.
Of Cruel: Scotch oatmeal, salt and water.
AT s:i5 he goes 10 prayers, standing in
the files with several hundred other con-
victs, and compelled 10 an attitude OF
reverence.
AT noon he has his two-course dinner.
which varies regularly with the day OF
the week. On Sunday and Wednesday
it is potatoes and suet pudding. on
Monday and Friday he always has po-
tatoes and boiled beef. On other days
there is a soberer, more ascetic diet Of
potatoes and soup. There is always
eight ounces OF bread. Occasionally. as
a great surprise. instead OF boiled beef.
they give him cold mutton or beans and
bacon. At p. m. he has supper.
daily repetition OF the frugal breakfast.
Between supper and bed he may medi
tate as he sits In his cell. or may be read
the Bible. At $50 .. m, lights must be
out, and every convict, including Con-
Wet Wilde, must be stretched out In bed.
Wilde has not yet reached the point
where sleep straightway comes to shut
out the waking hours that must seem to
him dream,
IAN this is detestable enough 10 the
brutal and ignorant wretches-thoSe
criminal classes about whose knowl-
edge of aesthetics Wilde was speaking
with such contemptuous episram on the
witness stand in the trial of his libel
yriITa raiurarndtai yOlQn-
tuary of deeaying Greece and debauehed
Rome II Is so hideous that he cannot
vet believe that he is not under the
spell OF some srightful dream. There
have been many stories that ne mas
lost his mind. But the truth is that he
is still sane. but in dazed' ;rahce-nke
condition, from which he is seldom
reused.
THE first time ne showed any sign OF
q realization of the depth to which he
has sunk was the second day or his
IMPRISONMENT when he was put upon
the treadmil This awful remnant or
prison discipline in former Years mas
a wheel which the convlcts must cii M,
for six hours a day-three hours IN the
forenoon. three hours in the afternoon.
Tho sneed OF The wheel rs fhirty-tWo
Zoe, a minute and the convict VINO
nans.s while the wheel is IN motion Is
struck and bruised by the cages o.
the Notwithstanding steps, AT the emo
os every fifteen minutes there is rest
Of five minutes
..,,be second day, wilde. dazed and au-
.o-na.ic Was led out and put upon the
wheel Mechanically he trod the steps
for ar..en minutes. took the FIVE minutes
rest and began again In the second NJ
.sen minutes he stopped, threw up ne
arms gave vent TO a horrible scream OF
anrr,ish and fell In a swoon- The prison
s,,rgaon examined him and said his heart
,-as in such a condition Il W ould be dang
a,,o,,v 20 MI, him on the wheel again. 30
Wrse Is allowed TO sit in his cell They
throw in a quantity or oaKum every
morning. but ne need not pick II uhteSs
l,a wishes 20 do 80. OF late no has begun
e. 49, the oakum. Any occupation -
better than sitting idle and thinking,
thinking. thinking.
.eThA second arousing came through the
gan,ie earnest old chaplain, the Rev
" Frederick STOCKTON. II ~ the duty
as well az the pleasure. OF MI. stockton
10 labor spiritually with the convlcts 10
tring them to repentance and the con
eolafsons OF religion He was eager 20
hArin ,ipon Wilde whom he regarded "a
the most hardened and desperate peTve-t
from Christianity that had ever come
under his spiritual care
go Wilde had not been IN Pentonville
many days before the old clergyman
pushed timidiy into his cell Wilde
sea ted at the table With his face buried
in his hands. glanced az the old man.
saw his occupation in the cut OF his
cloth and flushed angrtiy.
what do you mean by intr sding
yourself upon me- he demanded.
.~The old man looked sympathetlcally AZ
the fallen pagan and said. In his gen
test voice:
e. 7 wish 10 offer YOU tn. cancellations
Of raIig57n and TO help YOU 10 reflect upon
your condition
q 4 DO not need the consolation OF 70
liglon. and I am still capable OF conduct
ing my own reflections said Oscar smear
i gly .,.
old clergyman next ventured.
Wilde bumped 70 his feet in a rage
" fImpenftent' he said angrily. What %
YOU mean? How dare you insult me in
this fashion. am innocent Of the crimes
OF which I am accused. You wiz kindly
leave me alone
Mr. stockton insisted no further. He -
waiting now for Wilde 20 get 20 work at
,he bible. he feels that sooner or later
he must read &. and. reading, soften 20 a
more receptive frame OF mind. He hopes
also that Wilde VIII send for him For
he "a allowed 20 see no one 80 from the
outside world but the chaplain or some
other minister Of revealed religion AMI
under the prison rules, which .lre Strictly
enforced. even the clergyman may not tell
rim arv news. bring him any messages or
talg 20 him on any subject not directly
bearing upon the salvation Of his SOua-
ssytlaa SIN has friends who believe FIRM
+. su his innocence, among them SeFeFa al
women well known a. writers one ~
.bes4 women wishing 70 send him . mes
save OF t~sls. and hope. hstGoug1t her ina.
a CLERGYMAN could get ln 20 see I'm But
& rcd 81 A