LABOUCHERE ON WILDE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5267, 25 May 1895, Page 4

LABOUCHERE ON WILDE.

Mr Labouehere, editor of London Truth, who has known Oscar Wilde for years, says he has always regarded him as somewhat wrong in his head. "So Btrang* and wondrous is his mind, remarks tha observant editor, when in an abnormal condition, that it would not surprise me if he . were deriving keen enjoyment from, a position whioh most people, whether inno* cent or guilty, would prefer to die rather than occupy. He must have known in what a glass house he lived when he challenged investigation in a court of jua< tico. After he had done this, he went abroad. Why did he not stay abroad P The possibilities of prison may not be pleasant to him, but I believe the notoriety that has overtaken him has suoh a charm for him that it outweighs everything else. I remember in the early days of tbo oult of aeathetioism hearing him asked how a man of his undoubted capability could make such a fool of him* self. He gave this explanation : He had written, be said, a book of poems. In vain he went from publisher to published asking them to bring them out. Not ont would ever read them, for he was unknown* In order to find a publisher he felt thai he must do eomo thing to become a per* sonalifcj, so he hit upon seathetioismu It snoceeded. People talked about him, and invited him to their houses as a sort of lion. He then took his. poems to a pnb* lisher, who, still without reading them, gladly accepted the M.S."