ithout 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 _a
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 la ou je le
trouve.'

"You, Oscar, can go further, and with fresh effrontery, that will
bring you the envy of all criminal _confreres_, unblushingly boast,
'Moi, je prends _son_ bien la ou je le trouve!'"

Chelsea.

[Illustration]

_In the Market Place_

[Sidenote: _Truth_, Jan. 9, 1890.]

Sir--I can hardly imagine that the public are in the very smallest
degree interested in the shrill shrieks of "Plagiarism" that proceed
from time to time out of the lips of silly vanity or incompetent
mediocrity.

However, as Mr. James Whistler has had the impertinence to attack me
with both venom and vulgarity in your columns, I hope you will allow
me to state that the assertions contained in his letters are as
deliberately untrue as they are deliberately offensive.

The definition of a disciple as one who has the courage of the
opinions of his master is really too old even for Mr. Whistler to be
allowed to claim it, and as for borrowing Mr. Whistler's ideas about
art, the only thoroughly original ideas I have ever heard him express
have had reference to his own superiority as a painter over painters
greater than himself.

It is a trouble for any gentleman to have to notice the
lucubrations of so ill-bred and ignorant a person as Mr. Whistler, but
your publication of his insolent letter left me no option in the
matter.--I remain, Sir, faithfully yours,

OSCAR WILDE.

_Panic_

[Sidenote: _Truth_,