o show by cross-examination of Mr. Wilde, as to works he
had published, especially in regard to the book called "Dorian Gray,"
that he was a man of most unprincipled character with regard to the
relation of men to boys. His lordship said he had not read that book,
and he assumed that the jury had not, but they had been told it was the
story of a youth of vicious character, whose face did not reveal the
abysses of wretchedness into which he had fallen, but a picture painted
by an artist friend revealed all the consequences of his passion. In the
end he stabs the picture, whereupon he himself falls dead, and on his
vicious face appear all the signs which before had been upon the
picture. His lordship did not think that in a criminal case the jury
should place any unfavourable inference upon the fact that Mr. Wilde was
the author of "Dorian Gray." It was, unfortunately, true that some of
their most distinguished and noble-minded writers, who had spent their
lives in producing wholesome literature had given to the world books
which were painful to persons, of ordinary modesty and decency, to read.
Sir Edward Clarke had quoted from Coleridge, "Judge no man by his
books," but his lordship would prefer to say "Confound no man with the
characters of the persons he creates." Because a novelist put into the
mouth of his villain the most abominable sentiments it must not be
assumed that he shared them.

It will be remembered that on this occasion the jury were unable to
agree on a verdict as to whether Mr. Wilde was guilty or not of the
charges brought against him.

In the second trial, which began on May 22nd following, the subject of
his books was not mentioned.

[34] Pp. 6-10.

[35] Pp. 57-58.

[36] p. 63, 64.

[37] p. 79.

* * * * *

MR. ROBERT BUCHANAN ON PAGAN VICIOUSNESS.

Mr. Robert Buchanan, the well-known writer, in a letter dated April
23rd, 1895, expressed his own views on this subject in the columns of
_The Star_. Referring to an anonymous correspondent in the same
newspaper who had accused Mr. Wilde of "pagan viciousness"--this was
more than a month before a verdict of "Guilty" had been returned against
him--Mr. Buchanan asks, "Has even a writer like this no sense of humour?
Does he seriously contend that the paradoxes and absurdities with which
Mr. Wilde once amused us were meant as serious attacks on public
morality? Two thirds of all Mr. Wilde has written is purely