The Gentle Art of Making Enemies Part 25

OSCAR WILDE.

[Sidenote: _REFLECTION:_

It is not enough that our simple Sunflower thrive on his "thistle"--he has now grafted Edgar Poe on the "rose"

tree of the early American Market in "a certain milieu"

of dry goods and sympathy; and "a certain entourage" of wors.h.i.+p and wooden nutmegs.

Born of a Nation, not absolutely "devoid of any sense of beauty"--Their idol--cherished--listened to--and understood!

Foolish Baudelaire!--Mistaken Mallarme!

[Ill.u.s.tration]]

_Tenderness in t.i.te Street_

_TO THE POET:_

[Sidenote: _The World._]

Oscar--I have read your exquisite article in the _Pall Mall_. Nothing is more delicate, in the flattery of "the Poet" to "the Painter," than the _navete_ of "the Poet," in the choice of his Painters--Benjamin West and Paul Delaroche!

You have pointed out that "the Painter's" mission is to find "_le beau dans l'horrible_," and have left to "the Poet" the discovery of _"l'horrible" dans "le beau"_!

Chelsea.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

_TO THE PAINTER:_

[Sidenote: _The World._]

Dear b.u.t.terfly--By the aid of a biographical dictionary, I made the discovery that there were once two painters, called Benjamin West and Paul Delaroche, who rashly lectured upon Art. As of their works nothing at all remains, I conclude that they explained themselves away.

[Sidenote: _REFLECTION:_

I do know a bird, who, like Oscar, with his head in the sand, still believes in the undiscovered!

If to be misunderstood is to be great, it was rash in Oscar to reveal the source of his inspirations: the "_Biographical Dictionary_!"

[Ill.u.s.tration]]

Be warned in time, James; and remain, as I do, incomprehensible. To be great is to be misunderstood.--_Tout a vous_,

OSCAR WILDE.

_To the Committee of the "National Art Exhibition"_

[Sidenote: Letter read at a meeting of this Society, a.s.sociated for purposes of Art reform.]

[Sidenote: _The World_, Nov. 17, 1888.]

Gentlemen--I am naturally interested in any effort made among Painters to prove that they are alive--but when I find, thrust in the van of your leaders, the body of my dead 'Arry, I know that putrefaction alone can result. When, following 'Arry, there comes on Oscar, you finish in farce, and bring upon yourselves the scorn and ridicule of your _confreres_ in Europe.

What has Oscar in common with Art? except that he dines at our tables and picks from our platters the plums for the pudding he peddles in the provinces. Oscar--the amiable, irresponsible, esurient Oscar--with no more sense of a picture than of the fit of a coat, has the courage of the opinions ... of others!

[Sidenote: Enclosed to the Poet, with a line: "Oscar, you must really keep outside 'the radius'!"

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With 'Arry and Oscar you have avenged the Academy.

I am, Gentlemen, yours obediently,

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_Quand meme!_

[Sidenote: _The World_, Nov. 24, 1886.]

Atlas, this is very sad! With our James vulgarity begins at home, and should be allowed to stay there.--_a vous_,

OSCAR WILDE

TO WHOM:

"A poor thing," Oscar!--"but," for once, I suppose "your own."

[Ill.u.s.tration]