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-- OR -- Miss Grace Dunbar, philanthropist and suffragette, can also be seen in these previous issues of Electro-Graphic Monthly courtesy of her literary agent Sandy Kozinn: January
2004 . . . February
2004 . . . March
2004 . . . April
2004 . . . July
2004 . . . |
A
Word from My dear fellow members of the Dark Lantern League, It is my understanding that some of you have been talking about Oscar Wilde -- gossiping, in fact. There is no doubt in my mind at all that the only reason I have learned this so late is that some of you suspect that I disapprove of gossiping. You are quite right to suspect that; it is true. Although I spend most of my time in the country, as befits a widow, I have not complete withdrawn from the world. My work with children, which the kindness of my late husband has made possible, and my own desire, as a former teacher, to keep abreast of the current culture brings me up to London from time to time. I am, therefore, not unacquainted with the sort of person Mr. Wilde is; he is not, I admit, a man whom I should choose to bring into my social circle, though I have no doubt at all that a suitably chaperoned luncheon with him would be highly amusing and perhaps enlightening as well. Mr. Wilde's writings and plays are not the literary works I should recommend for the young or uneducated, but in some of them there is wisdom and in some there is humor; in some, there is both. Those who disapprove of his thoughts need only refrain from reading or viewing his works. Mr. Wilde's personal life is another matter. Certainly much has been said about it, but all that is whispered from ear to ear in the so-called "season" in London is not true, and much is exaggerated. I have had students like Mr. Wilde, who behave somewhat outrageously only to irritate those who are easily irritated, upset those easily upset, and mock the prudish. Shock and outrage only cause them to redouble their efforts; ignoring their behavior invariably causes them to behave in a more acceptable manner. Mr. Wilde does, indeed, often behave childishly and provokingly. If he were younger and I his governess, his behavior would soon change. Whatever harm he might or might not be doing to himself, it is not clear, at least to me, that he is harming anyone else. Having known for myself the damage that can be done by gossip, rumor, and speculation, and having been trained to recognize the futility of anger at childish behavior, I beg all of you to speak only of facts, known irrefutably to be facts, and then as little as possible. Separate the man's work from his play, for that is what some of his overt behavior is, mere play, take the good where you find it, and ignore the rest. That, my dear colleagues, is the advice of a former governess. Very truly
yours, |
