The Chicago Tribune - Sunday, April 7, 1895

London, April 6. - With the Wilde-Queensberry and Russell vs. Russell cases in the courts here, the burning to death of a woman in Ireland under extraordinary circumstances by her husband and other relatives on the ground that she was bewitched, the shooting of a girl by her lover in the streets of London and the man's subsequent suicide, one would have thought that the English press had enough to do in correcting its own morals this week. But these events have not disturbed the usual self-sufficient tendency to lecture the United States. The Daily News and other newspapers attribute the result of the Chicago election entirely to the work of Messrs. Stead and Burns.

Naturally the Wilde disclosures continue to be the absorbing topic of conversation at the clubs, etc. The stand taken by the St. James’ Gazette in refusing to print the details of the case is attracting much attention and the paper has been deluged with letters of approval. The action of the Gazette is likely to prove a good stroke of business for the proprietors. Thursday, the second day of the trial, in place of the usual news placards which all newsboys display the placard of the St. James’ Gazette read:

"The only paper in London with no details of the Wilde case."

Edward M. Carson, Q. C., M. P., who so ably and relentlessly conducted the case for the Marquis of Queensberry, was a classmate of Oscar Wilde at Trinity College, Dublin. The presiding Judge, Justice Collins, is also an Irishman.

Wilde has been making immense sums of money lately out of his plays and books. His plays are now running at two London theaters, and many companies are playing them in the provinces. Of course, in the future no one will accept his plays. George Alexander, proprietor and manager of the St. James’ Theater, said last night that if it were not for the fact that the withdrawal of Wilde's play, "The Importance of Being in Earnest," would throw 120 persons out of employment he would stop it at once. Therefore, unless the theater-going public manifests its displeasure of the author by refusing to witness his works, the play at the St. James will be continued as usual. Another of Wilde’s plays, which is now running at the Haymarket Theater, will, after this week, be transferred to the Criterion Theater. The author’s name, in both cases, will be omitted from the bills and advertisements in future.

The Evening Journal - Monday, April 8, 1895

New York. April 7.- The Sun's London special cable says: Most observers of English character would have declared it impossible t oarouse the phlegmatic conscience and emotions of the nation to such a pitch of intensity as is to-day manifesting itself in all classes. The horror, the loathing, the anger which the revelations in connection with the Wilde-Queensberry case have caused can be compared only with one of those whirlwinds of passion which once in a few decades sweep suddenly ever a nation and by their very violence restore confidnence in human nature.

The Doom of the Cult.

The newspapers are unanimous, for instance, in pronouncing the doom of aestheticism and everything connected with that cult.

Wilde had been making immense sums of money lately out of his plays and books. His plays are now running at two London theatres and many companies are playing them in the provinces. Of course, in the future, no one will accept his plays. They are doomed, and there is a strong reaction towards a healthier treatment of stage representations, while the current decadent literature will also get a set-back. Wilde is not only a prisoner, but financially ruined.

Rev. A. Douglas Speaks.

London, April 6.- Rev. A. E. Douglas, brother of the Marquis of Queensberry, has written a letter repudiating the statement made in an interview by Lord Douglas, of Hawick, eldest living son of the Marquis, that no member of the family, except his father believes the charges against Wilde. In refutation, the writer of the letter says: "My mother, my sister and myself believe the allegations against Oscar Wilde."

The Lord Douglas of Warwick referred to above recently returned from Australia became a fast friend and constant associate of Wilde. He is said to have an unsmirched reputation. In an interview this afternoon he said everyone in his family except his father refused to believe the accusations against Wilde. He himself was willing at any time to go upon the witness stand in Wilde's behalf and he was vehement in his denounciation of Wilde's counsel for having withdrawn the suit.

Edward Carson, Q. C., M. P., who so ably and relentlessly conducted the case for the Marquis of Queensberry, was a class-mate of Oscar Wilde at Trinity College, Dublin. The presiding judge, Justice Collins, is also an Irishman.

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