THE HABIT OF SECOND NATURES
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.
CHELSEA.