Sydney Evening News - Thursday, May 9, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
SPECIAL EDITION.
LATE CABLES.
(From Evening News Correspondents.)
The Wilde Case.
AN AUTHOR'S
LOFTY OPINION
OF HIS WORKS.
ADELAIDE, May 9. -- London files just received here give some curious particulars relative to the cross-examination of Oscar Wilde during the libel proceedings which he instituted against the Marquis of Queensberry. The cross-examiner was Mr. Carson, Q.C. Wilde is described as cool as a cucumber and as gliding gracefully into the box. One part of the evidence in cross-examination, which can be touched upon without going into unpleasant topics, is where the tendencies of Wilde's novel 'Dorian Grey' were spoken of. Wilde denied the suggestion that 'Dorian Grey' was vicious, and said it could only be so called when misinterpreted by the vulgar and illiterate. Wilde added that he did not write for the ordinary individual, which brought from Mr. Carson the remark that the novelist did not mind the ordinary individual buying his books. 'I have never discouraged him,' replied Wilde loftily.