The Sunday Times - Sunday, April 7, 1895

NOTES AND COMMENTS.
THE OSCAR WILDE CASE.

One of the darlings of London society, Oscar Wilde, the erstwhile apostle of culture and æstheticism, would seem to have come to grief badly over the prosecution for libel initiated by him against the Marquis of Queensbury. Not only have the jury acquitted the Marquis, but added that the charges made by him were for the public benefit, and when the nature of those charges are considered, what a horrible significance attaches thereto. Practices are hinted at which are revolting to humanity, and which we can only charitably assume to be the products of a depraved kind of insanity, but which is about the last thing expected to be charged against one who has posed as an exponent of ultra-refinement under the name of æstheticism. For the sake not only of the accused himself, but of his followers and disciples, it may be hoped that the matter will be thoroughly investigated, so that Wilde may be either cleared of a stigma which would disgrace the vilest and most degraded gaol-bird, or sentenced to that condign punishment which the heinousness of the offence undoubtedly demands.