The Boston Daily Advertiser - Wednesday, April 10, 1895

Breakfast Hour.
ART AND AESTHETICISM.
A Boston Painter's Vigorous Protest Against A Plea for O.-Wilde.

In the trial of the case of the Marquis of Queensberry and Oscar Wilde, this remarkable plea was made in his behalf: "that before condemning him, the artistic circle in which he moved must be considered." Remonstrance must be made against the use of the word "artistic" in this sense and against the classing of artists with the self-styled decadent writers, illustrators and purveyors or venders as they prefer to call themselves, of vicious and mysterious literature and drawings. Mr. Wilde has generally been looked upon by honest men as a clever charlatan without principle. It was not believed that he could stoop so low as the verdict of an English jury has decided lhe has.

That the cheeky aesthete should be recommended to mercy because of the "artistic" influences of his environment is an insult to every man and woman who follows an artistic career or is engaged in the study of art. If no protest is made by this element of our progress the sooner they and their work is dropped by the community the better. If it is allowed to go unchallenged they must at once sink in the estimation of decent people. However, it is not the true artists who cry out the loudest for "art and for art's sake," and who wish to justify all foulness because it may, in some distant wa3y, be related to art. It is a class of fin-de-siecle creatures who strut before the public, their hair long and curled, or dishevelled, their beards flowing and unkempt, with eccentric dress and manners; writers of vicious literature and erotic poems akin to Wilde's work or dealers in his work, or the work of his co-workers in the crusade against decency and purity.

It may not appear at first sight why the personal eccentricities and peculiarlties of these men are a sure index of their natures. A little study, however, will show that all these poses and singularities of speech and manner are the outcome of the rankest egotism, the complete centering of all thought on self. For with this will be found extravagant fancies about food and clothes, a cult for the strange and grotesque and unhealthy in art and literature-in fact "utterness." Besides, there will be a pandering to the sensations-vicious refinements of the passions-and withal a contempt for decent people and simple pleasures.

Now, these symptoms are not peculiar to artists. One might with equal force claim them as characteristic of preachers or writers. No; they are simply the symptoms of general depravity and exist independent of the calling or profession of the depraved. Every one who knows many artists will know that this is so, but many people do not know intimately professional artists or their quiet and busy struggle for excellence in their art, and for a living.

This man Wilde once made a missionary visit to this country, and we are now threatened with a visit of a like nature from the latest apostle of the aesthetic cult.

If it were really necessary that we travel to England to worship at this particular shrine, these mission visits for the cause might be necessary, but it is not so. We have all that is needful in our midst. All the products of their depraved pens and pencils is published and sold in our midst- but not by artists, nor for artists. Let us hope that England will now stamp out this thing that masquerades as high art and may we follow in her path.

Apr. 8

B.U. L. C.