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| Tuesday, 3 June 2003 |
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Oscar Wilde meets his match by Geoff Wijesinghe Oscar Wilde, the famous author, playwright, wit, who ended up in jail because of his liaison with a young man, and his subsequent bitter quarrel with his father, was at the height of his fame in 1882. Considered the leading wit of all time, the arrogant Wilde visited the United States in that year on a lecture tour on Aesthetic Philosophy. He was down to give a lecture at Denver, which was then a small town. Eugene Field, a mischievous, but highly talented and imaginative journalist, who was working for the "Chicago Times" concocted a major story. he suddenly got a bright idea. Itenerary Knowing the itenerary of the famous Britisher, he set about his plan. He had the exact date of the Denver visit. So he published, having cleared the reservations of the editor, a prominent news item that Wilde would be arriving on such and such a train at a given time. A red carpet welcome was got ready for him, and a huge crowd awaited the author at the railway station. Meanwhile, Field, the journalist, made a detailed study of Wilde's looks and attire. On the appointed day, the reception committee arrived with bouquets and flowers to give Wilde a red carpet welcome. They gave him a very warm welcome and accompanied him to the best hotel in town, where a suite was reserved for him. In between, he cracked some witty jokes and was soon very popular with the crowd. Imposter Once he entered the room, the imposter undressed and got into his usual suit. Stealthily opening the door, he found the coast was clear and he made his exit. He rushed back to his office and wrote a very detailed and inspiring "account" of Wilde's arrival in Denver. The next day when the actual Oscar Wilde arrived in the railway station on schedule, there was none to receive him; he had to make his own transport to the hotel. Soon, the truth was out and a public apology made on page one on the Chicago Times. This grand joke by Eugene Field, is yet well remembered by the citizens of Denver. To dwell more on Oscar Wilde's wit, he once said, "I sometimes think God in creating man, somewhat overestimated his ability." Then, here is another one, "It is absurd to divide people in to good and bad. People are either charming or tedious." Lady Windermere's Fan (1892) "It is only shallow people who do not judge by appearances." The Picture of Dorian Grey (1892) "There is much to be said in modern journalism. By giving us the opinion of the uneducated, it keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community." Oscar Wilde, the Critic and Artist Oscar Wilde once said, "The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing. Journalism, conscious of this and having tradesman - like habits, supplies their demand." The Soul of Man Under Socialism (1891) "Life is too important a thing to talk seriously about it." Oscar Wilde, Vera, or the Nihilists (1880) "In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting one wants and the other is getting it." Lady Windermere's Fan (1892) "The first duty in life is to be as artificial as possible. The second duty is no one has not discovered." Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young (1894) "Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious." Oscar Wilde "Only the shallow know themselves." Phrases and Philosophies for the Use of the Young "Only people who look dull get into the House of Commons, and only people who are dull, ever succeed there." An Ideal Husband (1895) "A sentimentalist is simply one who desires to have the luxury of an emotion without paying for it." Oscar Wilde "Men become old, but they never become good." Lady Windermere's Fan (1892) "It is more dangerous to pay any attention to his wife in public. It always makes people think that he beats her when they are alone." Oscar Wilde "The History of Women is the History of Worst tyranny the world has ever known; the tyranny of the weak over the strong. It is the only tyranny that ever lasts." A Woman of no Importance (1893) "Truth in matters of religion is simply the opinion that has survived." The Critic as Artist (1891) "Religion is a substitute for belief." Oscar Wilde "The only way a woman can reform a man is by boring him that he loses all possible interest of life." The Picture of Dorian Grey (1891) "Crying is a refuge of plain women, but the ruin of pretty ones." Lady Windermere's Fan (1892) "Always end at the same point." Lady Windemere's Fan (1892) |
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