The Gazette - Wednesday, October 2, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
THE TALK OF LONDON
OSCAR WILDE’S CONDITION.
Various rumors come from the Wardsworth prison, whore Oscar Wilde is serving out his sentence. The
published report that his mind is failing was denied recently by the police official who inspects the prison, but absolute reticence about Wilde is now
maintained in the face of an allegation in the Chronicle that he has "lost twenty-two pounds in weight and his condition presents one among many
illustrations of the way in which our prison system destroys the mind and enfeebles the body of its victims." In view of the absolute proof of Wilde's
guilt, of the inexpressibly disgusting character of his nameless offences, of his heartless treatment of his wife and children while lavishing thousands
of pounds on young stable grooms and street boys, it is inexplicable to decent minds that there is growing up a quite general sympathy for him,
particularly in literary and artistic circles. The fact that it does exist seems to give ground for the horrible gossip long rife in London as to the
extent of certain unmentionable vices.