New Zealand Mail - Friday, June 7, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
TOPICS OF THE DAY.
THE LONDON SCANDAL.
From Our Special Correspondent.
London, April 19.
The Master of Baliol was one day conversing on ethics. His friend propounded what he believed to be a difficult question. "Do you think," said he, "that a good man could ever look happy on the rack?" "Well, replied Jowett, with a judicial air, "I think, on the whole, he might—that is if he were a very good man and it were a very bad rack."
The Master of Baliol was one day conversing on ethics. His friend propounded what he believed to be a difficult question. "Do you think," said he, "that a good man could ever look happy on the rack ?" "Well," replied Jowett, with a judicial air, "I think, on the whole, he might—that is if he were a very good man and it were a very bad rack."
I have quoted the foregoing because it seems singularly apropos to the attitude of the press towards Oscar Wilde just now. Not content with complaining that Mr Wilde looks miserable on the rack at the police court, they invite us to infer his guilt from the fact. How they would have him look I can't imagine. Even the most blameless of beings might be excused for displaying considerable emotion whilst listening to such infamous allegations as those of the self-confessed blackmailers, Parker and Atkins. One wouldn't hang a dog on the word of these unutterable vermin, and if the case rested on their depositions alone Wilde would soon be free. But there are many other witnesses, hotel-keepers, chamber-maids, landladies, and fellow-lodgers of Taylor's protégés, who are welding together a chain of circumstantial evidence which Sir Edward Clarke (who will conduct the defence) may find it impossible to destroy.
I have quoted the foregoing because it seems singularly apropos to the attitude of the press towards Oscar Wilde just now. Not content with complaining that Mr Wilde looks miserable on the rack at the police court, they invite us to infer his guilt from the fact. How they would have him look I can't imagine. Even the most blameless of beings might be excused for displaying considerable emotion whilst listening to such infamous allegations as those of the self-confessed blackmailers, Parker and Atkins. One wouldn't hang a dog on the word of these unutterable vermin, and if the case rested on their depositions alone Wilde would soon be free. But there are many other witnesses, hotel-keepers, chamber-maids, landladies and fellow-lodgers of Taylor's protégés, who are welding together a chain of circumstantial evidence which Sir Edward Clarke (who will conduct the defence) may find it impossible to destroy.
The Master of Balliol was one day conversing on ethics. His friend propounded what he believed to be a difficult question. 'Do you think,' said he, 'that a good man could ever look happy on the rack?' 'Well,' replied Jowitt, with a judicial air, 'I think on the whole he might–that is if he were a very good man and it were a very bad rack.' I have quoted the foregoing because it seems singularly apropos to the attitude of the press towards Oscar Wilde just now. Not content with complaining that Mr Wilde looks miserable on the rack at the Police Court, they invite us to infer his guilt from the fact. How they would have him look I can't imagine. Even the most blameless of beings might be excused for displaying considerable emotion whilst listening to such infamous allegations as those of the blackmailers Parker and Atkins. If the case rested on their depositions alone, Wilde would soon be free. But there are many other witnesses, hotel-keepers, chambermaids, landladies and fellow lodgers of Taylor's protegés who are welding together a chain of circumstantial evidence, which Sir Edward Clarke (who will conduct the defence), may find it impossible to destroy.
Unless forced to do so by circumstances it is not the intention of the Government to drag Lord Alfred Douglas into this unpleasant business, though the evidence shows him to have been present at most of Oscar's peculiar symposiums.
Unless forced to do so by circumstances it is not the intention of the Government to drag Lord Alfred Douglas into this unpleasant business, though the evidence shows him to have been present at most of Oscar's peculiar symposiums.
The smart London tradesmen and hotel-keepers are even sadder than the æsthetes over the fall of the apostle of culture. He owed money everywhere, though earning a big income nowadays from his plays. But only a millionaire's resources would have stood such extravagance as his. A dinner at the Savoy seldom cost him less than £40, and I am told his small party's bill at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel for the three days concluding the Queensberry trial amounted to £150 odd. Three writs were found on him when he was arrested.
The smart London tradesmen and hotelkeepers are even sadder than the aesthetes over the fall of the apostle of culture. He owed money everywhere, though earning a big income nowadays from his plays. But only a millionaire's resources would have stood such extravagance as his. A dinner at the Savoy seldom cost him less than £40, and I am told his small party's bill at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel for the three days concluding the Queensberry trial amounted to £150 odd. Three writs were found on him when he was arrested.
The smart London tradesmen and hotel-keepers are even sadder than the æsthetes over the fall of the apostle of culture. He owed money everywhere, though earning a big income nowadays from his plays. But only a millionaire's resources would have stood such extravagance as his. A dinner at the Savoy seldom cost him less than £40, and I am told his small party's bill at the Holborn Viaduct Hotel for the three days concluding the Queensberry trial amounted to £l50 odd. Three writs wore found on him when he was arrested.
A PHILOSOPHIC MORAL
There is a philosophic moral to the Wilde case which some of us may do well not to overlook. Oscar was not always the combination of artist and brute he is today. Walter Pater was his evil genius. It was that accomplished stylist's gospel of epicureanism (carried to excess) which has landed him in the dock. Wilde's case is the natural and regular physiological result of a literary and æsthetic effort. It demonstrates the influence which the deviation of certain literary faculties in the direction of a refined sensualism can exercise over the intelligence and over the morals of men undoubtedly gifted. Fatal degeneration will ensue when intellectual effort is made the result and not the principle of sensations.
There is a philosophic moral to the Wilde case which some of us may do well not to overlook. Oscar was not always the combination of artist and brute he is to-day. Walter Pater was his evil genius. It was that accomplished stylist's gospel of epicureanism (carried to excess) which has landed him in the dock. Wilde's ease is the natural and regular physiological result of a literary and æsthetic effort. It demonstrates the influence which the deviation of certain literary faculties in the direction of a refined sensualism can exercise over the intelligence and over the morals of men undoubtedly gifted. Fatal degeneration will ensue when intellectual effort is made the result and not the principle of sensations.
There is a philosophic moral to the Wilde case which some of us would do well not to overlook. Oscar was not always the combination of artist and brute he is to-day. Walter Pater was his evil genius. It was that accomplished stylist's gospel of epicureanism (carried to excess) which has landed him in the dock. Wilde's case is the natural and regular physiological result of a literary and æsthetic effort. It demonstrates the influence which the deviation of certain literary faculties in the direction of a refined sensualism can exercise over the intelligence and over the morals of men undoubtedly gifted. Fatal degeneration will ensue when intellectual effort is made the result, and not the principle, of sensations.
There is a philosophic moral to the Wilde case which some of us would do well not to overlook. Oscar was not always the combination of artist and brute he is to-day. Walter Pater was his evil genius. IT was that accomplished stylist's gospel of epicureanism (carried to excess) which has landed him in the dock. Wilde's case is the natural and regular physiological result of a literary and æsthetic effort. It demonstrates the influence which the deviation of certain literary faculties in the direction of a refined sensualism can exercise over the intelligence and over the morals of men undoubtedly gifted. Fatal degeneration will ensue when intellectual effort is made the result, and not the principle, of sensations.
There is a philosophic moral to the Wilde case which some of us would do well not to overlook. Oscar was not always the combination of artist and brute he is to-day. Walter Pater was his evil genius. It was that accomplished stylist's gospel of epicureanism (carried to excess), which has landed him in the dock. Wilde's case is the natural and regular physiological result of a literary and aesthetic effort. It demonstrates the influence which the deviation of certain literary faculties in the direction of a refined sensualism can exercise over the intelligence and over the morals of men undoubtedly gifted. Fatal degeneracy will ensue when intellectual effort is made the result and not the principle of sensations.
FINALLY
Finally, for Heaven's sake don't let us be humbugs about this Wilde trial. Mr Jerome points out in his own pleasant fashion that while everybody has been loudly eulogising the St. James's Gazette for not reporting the Wilde case, nobody has been observed reading that rigidly virtuous journal. It was just the same at the time of the "Maiden Tribute." We howled with horror at Stead's filthy narrative and eagerly bought every fresh issue of the Pall Mall Gazette containing it. Moreover society will do well to remember that there may be such a thing as over-reticence. In our desire not to touch pitch and get defiled, we decent people have speechlessly conspired together not to see the facts which have led at last to this esclandre. In doing so we absolutely protected the gang. What society now demands is the absolute extinction of the Oscarian cult. This can only be achieved by putting deadly fear into the hearts of two or three hundred well-known characters, and to manage the work efficiently a certain amount of publicity is imperatively necessary.
Finally, for Heaven's sake don't let us be humbugs about this Wilde trial. Mr Jerome points out in his own pleasant fashion that while everybody has been loudly eulogising the St. James's Gazette for not reporting the Wilde case, nobody has been observed reading that rigidly virtuous journal. It was just the same at the time of the "Maiden Tribute." We howled with horror at Stead's filthy narrative and eagerly bought every fresh issue of the Pall Mall Gazette containing it. Moreover society will do well to remember that there may be such a thing as over-reticence. In our desire not to touch pitch and get defiled, we decent people have speechlessly conspired together not to see the facts which have led at last to this esclandre. In doing so we absolutely protected the gang. What society now demands is the absolute extinction of the Oscarian cult. This can only be achieved by putting deadly fear into the hearts of two or three hundred well-known characters, and to manage the work efficiently a certain amount of publicity is imperatively necessary.
Finally, for Heaven's sake, don't let us be humbugs about this Wilde trial. Mr Jerome points out in his own pleasant fashion that whilst everybody has been loudly eulogising the 'St. James's Gazette' for not reporting the Wilde case, nobody has been observed reading that rigidly virtuous journal. It was just the same at the time of the 'Maiden Tribute.' We howled with horror at Stead's filthy narrative–and eagerly bought every fresh issue of the 'Pall Mall Gazette' containing it. Moreover, society will do well to remember that there may be such a thing as over-reticence. In our desire not to touch pitch and get defiled, we decent people have speechlessly conspired together not to see the facts which have led at last to this escalandre. In doing so we absolutely protected the gang. What society now demands is the absolute extinction of the Oscarian cult. This can only be achieved by putting deadly fear into the hearts of two or three hundred well-known characters, and, to manage the work efficiently, a certain amount of publicity is imperatively necessary.
Finally, for Heaven's sake, don't let us be humbugs about this Wilde trial. Mr Jerome points out in his own pleasant fashion that, whilst everybody has been loudly eulogising the 'St. James's Gazette' for not reporting the Wilde case, nobody has been observed reading that rigidly virtuous journal. It was just the same at the time of the 'Maiden Tribute.' We howled with horror at Mr Stead's filthy narrative, and eagerly bought every fresh issue of the 'Pall Mall Gazette' containing it. Moreover, Society will do well to remember that there may be such a thing as over-reticence. In our desire not to touch pitch and get defiled we decent people have speechlessly conspired together not to see the facts which have led at least to this escalandre. In doing so we absolutely protected the gang. What Society now demands is the absolute extinction of the Oscarian cult. This can only be achieved by putting deadly fear into the hearts of two or three hundred well-known characters, and to manage the work efficiently a certain amount of publicity is imperatively necessary.
Finally, for Heaven's sake, don't let us be humbugs about this Wilde trial. Mr Jerome points out in his own pleasant fashion that, whilst everybody has been loudly eulogising the 'St. James's Gazette' for not reporting the Wilde case, nobody has been observed reading that rigidly virtuous journal. It was just the same at the time of the 'Maiden Tribute.' We howled with horror at Mr Stead's filthy narrative, and eagerly bought every fresh issue of the 'Pall Mall Gazette' containing it. Moreover, Society will do well to remember that there may be such a thing as over-reticence. In our desire not to touch pitch and get defiled we decent people have speechlessly conspired together not to see the facts which have led at least to this esclandre. In doing so we absolutely protected the gang. What Society now demands it eh absolute extinction of the Oscarian cult. This can only be achieved by putting deadly fear into the hearts of two or three hundred well-known characters, and to manage the work efficiently a certain amount of publicity is imperatively necessary.
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