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134 April 1882 whose eyes are radiant, and whose forms are full of beauty. But there are few handsome matrons in this country.” Speaking of his first appearance in this country, Mr. Wilde said: “With the exception of speaking at an occasional wine supper at Oxford, I had never spoken in public until I lectured in New York. I then found out what a difficult task I had undertaken. Americans are natural orators. I never heard a spontaneous burst of oratory until I came to America and listened to an American.” 35. “Art and Aesthetics,” Denver Tribune, 13 April 1882, 8 The train which brought Oscar Wilde over the Denver Pacific railroad last night was thirty minutes late, on account of a delayed connection at Cheyenne , and for this reason alone he was exactly thirty minutes behind the usual time for raising the curtain at Tabor Grand Opera house. He arrived in the midst of a spell of weather that is not specially palatable to aesthetic taste, and for that reason only there was not an overflowing audience, but the parquet and dress circle were filled. The train arrived just five minutes ahead of the time announced by telegraph , and baffled the designs of a large crowd of unaesthetics whose curiosity caused them to gather about the platforms, or take refuge from the snowstorm in the sitting rooms of the Union depot. Even the enterprising advance agent, Mr. Locke, was thrown off his guard by the premature movement of the train and was two minutes late, while Mr. J. S. Vale, the manager of the athletic-looking aesthetic, was out prowling around in unknown places for the agent. A reporter for the Tribune had taken precaution against the uncertainties of telegraphic reports or railroad time, and having waited beside the track for half an hour, boarded the train the instant it landed. While the passengers of the palace car were hurrying to and fro with their baggage in the usual unaccountable haste of the railroad passenger to be first out of the narrow door, the reporter was elbowing his way through, eagerly scanning the face of every man for a recognition of Oscar Wilde. At the rear end of the little smoking room the distinguished poet was found all alone, standing and waiting for somebody to receive him. The reporter, feeling that this duty devolved upon him in behalf of the city, introduced himself to Mr. Wilde, i-xii_1-196_Wild.indd 134 8/4/09 9:11:55 AM April 1882 135 welcomed him to Denver, and relieved his uneasiness by the information that his carriage was waiting at the front of the depot. Mr. Wilde was dressed for the evening’s entertainment, but covered with a pair of loose trousers and a large, heavy overcoat with a broad fur collar. A muffler was wrapped about his neck and he wore a broad-brimmed felt hat. He was conspicuous for his splendid physique, his long hair and singular cast of features, which in repose would be that half of man and half of woman. In every movement of the man it was easy to detect a something which gave an effeminate shade to his masculinity, bearing a striking resemblance to the Scribner portrait of George Eliot. But behind and beyond all that was unusual or eccentric, to a man of observation, the strength of manhood and the character of genius. When the reporter introduced himself Mr. Wilde received him cordially and began to say a great many pleasant things, which he ended by declaring that his trip had been very tiresome. Just then Mr. Vale and Mr. Locke entered the car and conducted the poet to the carriage which was waiting for the party. A large crowd had gathered on the platform, and there were many young men who have not the slightest conception of the poetry that lives in the sunflower or the beauties that grow in the lily [who] followed in the footsteps and almost trod upon the heels of the aesthetic apostle. In still greater numbers they blockaded his way and surrounded his carriage, till the pressure of the crowd became disagreeable and even an annoyance. Some of them said such things as “Hello, Oscar!” “Let us see you, Oscar, old boy!” “Put your head out the window, Oscar, for we know you’re in there!” And this they continued till the carriage drove away. One fellow was so anxious to see the famous poet that he...

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