New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-27
WILDE PARADOXES.
4 HIGHLY ARTISTIC INTERVIEW"

| Gilbert Burgess In The London Sketch.
on the morning following the production OF An
| Ideal Husband" | met Mr.. Oscar Wilde as he came
down the steps Of a cluD at the top Of St. James,
St. and took advantage OF the occasion to ask him
what he thought OF the attitude OF the critics tow
| ard his play "Weil,' he replied. as he walked
slowly down the street. "for man TO be dramatic
| critic Is foolish and inartstIc as 1t would be
for be a critic Of eplcs or pastoral critic.
critic or lyrics. AL modes OF art are one and
| the modes OF the art tina; employs words as It's
| medium are quite indvisIble. The result OF the
| vulgar specialization OF criticism is an elaborate
| scientific knowledge OF the stage-almost as elab-
crate as that OF the stagc-carpenter. and quite on
par with that OF the boy-com5insd with an
entire incapaciiy 10 realize that play Is a work
! OF art. u receive any artistic Impressions at
! all"
You are rather severe upon dramatic criticism,
| Mr. Wilde"
English dramatic criticism OF our day has
| never had single success, In spite 81 the tac'
| that II goes all the first nights.
| But" suggested 1T is influential"
Certainly: that is why 1t is so bad
| Il don't think quite
! The moment criticism exercises any influence
IT ceases TO be criticism The aim OF the true Grille
| IS to try and chronicle his own moods not to try
and correct the masterpieces OF others"
! Real critics would be charming in your eyes.
| then"
Real critics. Al how perfectly charming they
would be- I am always waiting for their arrival.
An lnaudlbe school would be nice. Why do you
not found IT,
vas momentarily dazed ut the broad vista that
had been opened tor me. but retained my pres
| cnce OF mind. and asked
Are there absolutely no real critics in London"
| There arc just two
| who are they" / asked eagerly.
Mr. Wilde with the elaborate courtesy for which
| he has always been famous. replied II think
| had better not mention their names: " might make
/ the others 30 jealous
what do the literary clIques think OF your
play" .,.... .,,,,,o.. ,r,,o - Mons.
| mvsoN BESIDES | have always had grave sus-
melons that the basis ~ all literary cliques Is
| morbid .ove 81 neat-teas That makes them sadly
| unclviizcd"
"stn II your critics offend you. why don't you
reply TO them
! Il hayo far too much time But think some
| day vll Give n general answer In the form 81
lecture I'm n public hall which shall call Straight
| Talks to old Men.
what Is your feeling toward your audiences
| toward the public"
| Which public There many publics rs
| there are personalities"
| Are you nervous on the night mat you are pro
| ducing new play
"Oh no. | exqusitcly Indifferent. MY
| nervousness ends At tho last dress rehearsal
| know then what effect my play as presented upon
the stage has produced upon me. My interest In
| the play ends there aud feel curiously envious
| OF the public-they have such "onderiui iresh
| emotions in store for them.
| laughed. but Mr. Wilde rcbukcd me with look
| o, surprise
1T Is the public. not the play. that desire to
make success" he said
But I'm afraid don't quite undersiand'- -
The public makes q success when 1t realizes that
| a play is a work OF art. on the three first nights
| | have had IN London the public has been most
| successful. and had the dimensions OF the stage
! admitted OF II would have called them before
| the curtain. Most managers. believe can mem
behind. 49,, III, ~.
II Imagine then. that you don't hold with the
| opinion that the public Is the patron OF the
dramatist?"
The artist is always the munhcent patron OF the
pubic. am very fond OF the public anu per-
sonally always patronlzc the public very much.
| What are your Views upon the much VcNed
question OF subject matter In art?
| Everything matters In art. except the SUBJECT
When | recovered said Several plays have
been written lately that deal with the monstrous
| Injustice OF the social code OF morality AT the
present time"
All" answered Mr. wilde. with an air OF earnest
| conviction at ls indeed a burning shame that
| there should be one law for men and another Ia"
| for women. I thnk'he hesitated. and a smile as
| swift as Sterne's hectic or moment nit'eo
across his FACET think that there should be no
| law for anybody"
I'm writing. do you think that real IRE or real
| people should ever give one inspirations?
THE color OF n flower may suggest 10 one inc
| plot OF tragedy: a passage In music may give
| one the sestett OF sonnet but whatever act"a"y
| occurs gives the artist suggestion. Every ro-
| nance that one has in ones life is a romance lost
TO ones art To Introduce real people into mover
| or n play Is n sign OF unimnginative mind, a
| coarse untutored observation and an entire alb
| sence OF sty.e."
| I'm afraid can't agree with you. Mr. Wilde.
| | frequently types and people who suggest
| ideas to me-"
Everything is OF to the artist except an
| idea"
| After this I was silent. until Mr.. Wilde pointed
| to the bottom OF the street and drew my attention
TO the ''aprcot- colored palace which we were APP
| preaching SO I continued my questioning.
The enemy has said that your plays lack
| Yes: English critics always confuse the action
OF a play with the Incidents OF me.odrama. l
wrote the first act OF A Woman OF NO Importance
In answer TO the critics who said that Lady WIN
dermeres Fan lacked action. In the act In ques-
ton there was absolutely no action at all. 1t was
a perfect act"
what do you think is the chief point the critics
have missed In your new play
Its entire psychology--he difference In the way
In which a man loves woman from that In which
! n woman loves man. the passion that women
have for making Ideals (Which Is their weakness)
and the weakness OF a who dare not show
his Impcriections to the thing he loves. The end
OF Act L. the end OF Act H.. and the scene In the
last act, when Lord Goring points out the higher
Importance 81 mans life over woman's-to
take three prominent misunderstood to have been
quite missed by most OF the critics They failed
TO see their meaning: they really thought 1t was
a play about a bracelet. We must educate our
crltics-we must really educate Them, said Mr.
wilde half to himself.