Truth, Jan. 2, 1890.
MOST VALIANT _TRUTH_――Among your ruthless exposures of the shams of
to-day, nothing, I confess, have I enjoyed with keener relish than
your late tilt at that arch-imposter and pest of the period――the
all-pervading plagiarist!
I learn, by the way, that in America he may, under the “Law of ’84,” as
it is called, be criminally prosecuted, incarcerated, and made to pick
oakum, as he has hitherto picked brains――and pockets!
How was it that, in your list of culprits, you omitted that fattest of
offenders――our own Oscar?
His methods are brought again freshly to my mind, by the indefatigable
and tardy Romeike, who sends me newspaper cuttings of “Herbert Vivian’s
Reminiscences,” in which, among other entertaining anecdotes, is told
at length, the Story of Oscar simulating the becoming pride of author,
upon a certain evening, in the club of the Academy students, and
arrogating to himself the responsibility of the lecture, with which,
at his earnest prayer, I had, in good fellowship, crammed him, that
he might not add deplorable failure to foolish appearance, in his
anomalous position, as art expounder, before his clear-headed audience.
He went forth, on that occasion, as my St. John――but, forgetting that
humility should be his chief characteristic, and unable to withstand
the unaccustomed respect with which his utterances were received, he
not only trifled with my shoe, but bolted with the latchet!
Mr. Vivian, in his book, tells us, further on, that lately, in an
article in the _Nineteenth Century_ on the “Decay of Lying,” Mr. Wilde
has deliberately and incautiously incorporated, “without a word of
comment,” a portion of the well-remembered letter in which, after
admitting his rare appreciation and amazing memory, I acknowledge that
“Oscar has the courage of the opinions ... of others!”
My recognition of this, his latest proof of open admiration, I send him
in the following little note, which I fancy you may think _à propos_ to
publish, as an example to your readers, in similar circumstances, of
noble generosity in sweet reproof, tempered, as it should be, to the
lamb in his condition:――
“Oscar, you have been down the area again, I see!
“I had forgotten you, and so allowed your hair to grow over the
sore place. And now, while I looked the other way, you have
stolen _your own scalp_! And potted it in more of your pudding.
“Labby has pointed out that, for the detected plagiarist, there
is still one way to self-respect (besides hanging himself of
course), and that is for him boldly to declare, ‘Je prends mon
bien là ou je le trouve.’
“You, Oscar, can go further, and with fresh effrontery,
that will bring you the envy of all criminal _confrères_,
unblushingly boast, ‘Moi, je prends _son_ bien là ou je le
trouve!’”
J. A. McN. WHISTLER.