The Chicago Tribune - Sunday, September 29, 1895
This report was originally published in English. Machine translations may be available in other languages.
Sympathy for
Wilde.
[SPECIAL CABLE.]
Reticence About Wilde.
Various rumors come from the Wardsworth Prison, where Oscar Wilde is serving out his sentence. The published reports that his mind is failing was denied recently to the World correspondent 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 22 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."
LONDON, September 28. - Various rumors come from the Wardsworth Prison, where Oscar Wilde is serving out his sentence. The published reports that his mind is failing was denied recently to the "World" correspondent by the police official who inspects the prison, but absolute reticence about Wilde is now maintained in the face of an allegation in the London "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 offenses, of his heartless treatment of his wife and children while lavishing thousands of dollars 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.
In view of the absolute proof of Wilde's guilt, of the character of his nameless offenses, of his heartless treatment of his wife and children while lavishing thousands of dollars 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.