The Apostle of Æstheticism.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7292, 29 May 1895, Page 4

The Apostle of Æstheticism.

Mr Labouchere, editor of London Truth, who has known Oscar Wilde for years, says he has always regarded him as somewhat wrong in his head (writes a London correspondent). "So strange and wondrous is his mind," remarks the observant editor, " when in an abnormal condition that it would not surprise me if he were deriving keen enjoyment from a position which most people, innocent or guilty, ■would prefer to die rather than occupy* He must have known in what a glass home he lived when he challenged investigation in a court; of justice. After he had Bon& this, he went abroad. Why did he not stay abroad ? The possibilities of prison may not be pleasing to him, but I believe the notmit-ty that hus overtaken him has such a ch*rm for him thnt it outweighs everything else. . . I remember in the early days of the cult of JEstheticism hearing some one ask him how a man of his undoubted character could make such a fool of himself. He gave this explanation : He had written, he snid, j a book of poems. In vain he went from publisher to publisher, asking them to bring them out. Not one would even read them, for he was unknown.- In order to find h publisher, he felt that he must do something to become a personality. So he hit upon reatheticism. It succeeded. People talked about him and invited him to their houses as a sort of lion. He then took his poems to a publisher who, still ■without reading them, gladly accepted the M.S." Mrs Oscar Wilde is of Irish extraction. Her maiden name was Constance Lloyd. Her father had a lucrative practice as a barrister, and at his death she inherited a large sum of money. She has beeu described as exceedingly pretty, of dainty features, and graceful figure. They were married some fifteen years ago, and until the present storm, burst upon her husband's head, she appeared to believe in him implicitly, and to be deeply devoted to him. Their union, in face, was regarded by many as an unusually fortunate and happy one. She continually looked up to the self-constituted autocrat of jeatheticism, and scrupulously adopted his ideas as to dress. Even after he had returned to the conventional styles of men's attire, she persisted in wearing the so-called aesthetic costumes, and these ■weie frequently described with enthusiasm in ladies fashion journals. The manners of Mrs Wilde are simplicity itself. Ifc is related of her that she even shrinks from the telliug of a 41 society fib." In Tite-street, Chelsea, her borne was fitted up in admirable taste, and adorned with desirable pictures and statuary. Her receptions were at one time frequented by some of the noted men in literature, journalism,' and art. Mrs Wilde has two children, boys, Cyril, born in 1885, and Vivian, born in 1886.