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154 May 1882 41. “Oscar Wilde,” Toronto Globe, 25 May 1882, 3 Mr. Oscar Wilde arrived in the city yesterday morning on the Grand Trunk express from the East. A deputation of gentlemen belonging to the city was at the station to receive him and escort him to the Queen’s Hotel. By previous engagement he attended the lacrosse match between the Torontos and St. Regis Indians in the afternoon. He arrived on the grounds a few minutes before the game commenced, and when the grandstand and other available seats were densely packed. As he passed through the gate someone shouted, “Here’s Oscar Wilde.” The intelligence soon passed along the rows of seated spectators, and all eyes were at once strained to catch a glimpse of him. The juveniles were inclined to be boisterous at first, but they soon ceased their shouting, as Mr. Wilde appeared not even to notice their demonstrations. He was escorted to the space on the grandstand reserved for the lieut.-governor, where he was introduced to Miss Robinson and a lady friend. Without noticing the sensation his arrival had created he reclined his head gracefully on his hand, assumed the aesthetic attitude, and gazed earnestly into the field, where the teams were preparing for the fight. He was dressed in a grey tweed pair of trousers and cobweb-coloured velveteen coat and vest; his necktie was a dark green in colour, tied loosely around his neck, and covering his shirt front. He wore a handkerchief to match. He had a flowing coat, with a deep velvet collar, and secured to his form by a tasselated cord, which passed across his chest. He wore a black felt hat of unusual proportions. The earnest or intense expression of his almost feminine face, his long flowing hair, and his tall, handsome figure, and graceful movements gave him a striking appearance , producing immediately a favourable impression. When the game was started he evinced the most lively interest, and as it progressed his enthusiasm seemed to keep pace with the players, for he laughed heartily when any of them went unceremoniously to “grass,” or clapped his hands when a good piece of play was done. He left the field shortly before the match was completed. On being asked by a Globe representative how he enjoyed the match, Mr. Wilde said, “Oh, I was delighted with it. It is a charming game. That was the first opportunity I ever had of witnessing your national game, and I enjoyed it so much—but can you tell me who that tall, finely built man, that played defence for the Torontos, is?” broke off Mr. Wilde. “That’s Rors Mackenzie, one of the best lacrosse players in Canada.”1 i-xii_1-196_Wild.indd 154 8/4/09 9:11:59 AM May 1882 155 “I admired his playing so very much,” said Mr. Wilde. “He appeared so thoroughly at home in the game. Lacrosse is so far ahead of cricket for physical development, and then everyone seems to get an equal share of the play, or hard work as I should term it. But don’t you think,” Mr. Wilde asked, “that the Indians, or at least the Indian umpire, should have been dressed in a manner to impress one with the position he occupied? I think he should have been dressed, say, in war costume, with his face painted, armed with a tomahawk, and wearing a headdress of feathers. I was greatly amused at the gesticulations of the Indians, and I wondered what language they were speaking.” After asking some questions about the Indians and the original of the game, Mr. Wilde said he was much pleased with the appearance and dress of many persons he had seen on the ground; “and,” he continued, “I could not help admiring the dress of a little girl who sat in front of me. It was charming— such a beautiful blending of colour that corresponded so nicely with her rosy cheeks.” “What is your opinion of Toronto and Toronto ladies, Mr. Wilde?” “I have seen so little of the former that I have scarcely formed an opinion, but I judge from the appearance of your principal business street that it is a bright little town, and I have no doubt it is a commercial centre. But I cannot help wondering why your citizens build their houses with that horrid white brick when red brick is the same price. I think white brick such a shallow...

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