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Original paragraph in
Auckland Star - Thursday, May 23, 1895
Auckland Star - Thursday, May 23, 1895
Most similar paragraph from
Taranaki Herald - Wednesday, May 29, 1895
Taranaki Herald - Wednesday, May 29, 1895
Difference
Mrs Oscar Wilde is of Irish extraction. Her maiden name was Constance Lloyd. Her father had a lucrative practice as a barrister, and at
his death she inherited a large sum of money. She has been described as exceedingly pretty, of dainty features and graceful figure. They were married some
fifteen years ago, and until the present storm burst upon her husband's head, she appeared to believe in him implicitly, and to be deeply devoted to him.
Their union, in fact, was regarded by many as an unusually fortunate and happy one. She continually looked up to the self-constituted autocrat of
æstheticism and scrupulously adopted his ideas as to dress. Even after he had returned to the conventional styles of men's attire, she persisted in
wearing the so called æsthetic costumes, and these were frequently described with enthusiasm in ladies fashion journals.
The manners of Mrs Wilde are simplicity itself. It is related of her that she even shrinks from the telling of "a society fib." In
Tite-street, Chelsea, her home was fitted up in admirable taste, and adorned with desirable pictures and statuary. Her receptions were at once time
frequented by some of the noted men in literature, journalism and art. Mrs Wilde has two children, boys, Cyril, born in 1885, and Vivian, born in 1886.
LABOUCHERE ON WILDE.
Mr Labouchere, editor of "London Truth," who has known Oscar Wilde for years, says he has always regarded him as somewhat wrong in the
head. "So strange and wondrous is his mind," remarks the observant editor, "when in an abnormal condition that it would not surprise me if he were
deriving keen enjoyment from a position which most people, whether innocent or guilty, would prefer to die rather than occupy. He must have known in what
a glass home he lived when he challenged investigation in a court of justice. After he had done this, he went abroad. Why did he not stay abroad? The
possibilities of prison may not be pleasing to him, but I believe the notoriety that has overtaken him has such a charm for him that it outweighs
everything else. . . I remember in the early days of the cult of æstheticism hearing some one ask him how a man of his undoubted character could make such
a fool of himself. He gave this explanation: He had written, he said, a book of poems. In vain he went from publisher to publisher, asking them to bring
them out. Not one would even read them, for he was unknown. In order to find a publisher, he felt that he must do something to become a personality. So he
hit upon æstheticism. It succeeded. People talked about him and invited him to their houses as a sort of lion. He then took his poems to a publisher who,
still without reading them, gladly accepted the MS."
Mr Labouchere, editor of the London Truth, who has known Oscar Wilde for years, says he has always regarded him as somewhat wrong in the
head. "So strange and wondrous is his mind," remarks the observant editor, "when in an abnormal condition, that it would not surprise me if he were
deriving keen enjoyment from a position which most people, whether innocent or guilty, would prefer to die rather than occupy. He must have known in what
a glass house he lived when he challenged investigation in a court of justice. After he had done this he went abroad. Why did he not stay abroad? The
possibilities of prison may not be pleasant to him, but I believe that the notoriety that has overtaken him has such a charm for him that it outweighs
everything else. I remember in the early days of the cult of æstheticism, hearing St. George ask him how a man of his undoubted capability could make such
a fool of himself. He gave this explanation. He had written, he said, a book of poems in vain. He went from publisher to publisher asking them to bring
them out. Not one would even read them, for he was unknown. In order to find a publisher he felt that he must do something to become a personality, so he
hit upon æstheticism and succeeded. People talked about him and invited him to their houses as a sort of lion. He then took his poems to a publisher, who,
still without reading them, gladly accepted the MS."