[Sidenote: _REFLECTION:_

I do know a bird, who, like Oscar, with his head in the
sand, still believes in the undiscovered!

If to be misunderstood is to be great, it was rash in
Oscar to reveal the source of his inspirations: the
"_Biographical Dictionary_!"

[Illustration]]

Be warned in time, James; and remain, as I do, incomprehensible. To be
great is to be misunderstood.--_Tout a vous_,

OSCAR WILDE.

_To the Committee of the "National Art Exhibition"_

[Sidenote: Letter read at a meeting of this Society,
associated for purposes of Art reform.]

[Sidenote: _The World_, Nov. 17, 1888.]

Gentlemen--I am naturally interested in any effort made among Painters
to prove that they are alive--but when I find, thrust in the van of
your leaders, the body of my dead 'Arry, I know that putrefaction
alone can result. When, following 'Arry, there comes on Oscar, you
finish in farce, and bring upon yourselves the scorn and ridicule of
your _confreres_ in Europe.

What has Oscar in common with Art? except that he dines at our tables
and picks from our platters the plums for the pudding he peddles in
the provinces. Oscar--the amiable, irresponsible, esurient Oscar--with
no more sense of a picture than of the fit of a coat, has the courage
of the opinions ... of others!

[Sidenote: Enclosed to the Poet, with a line: "Oscar,
you must really keep outside 'the radius'!"

[Illustration]]

With 'Arry and Oscar you have avenged the Academy.

I am, Gentlemen, yours obediently,

[Illustration]

_Quand meme!_

[Sidenote: _The World_, Nov. 24, 1886.]

Atlas, this is very sad! With our James vulgarity begins at home, and
should be allowed to stay there.--_A vous_,

OSCAR WILDE

TO WHOM:

"A poor thing," Oscar!--"but," for once, I suppose "your own."

[Illustration]

_Philanthropy and Art_

The _Saturday Review_ has not thought it disgraceful to once more
justify its title to be called the "Saturday Reviler." This time it is
not to break upon the wheel some poor butterfly of a lady traveller or
novelist, but to scoff at an aged painter of the highest repute--Mr.
Herbert--upon h