Oscar Wilde, Volume 1 (of 2)

second son was born two years later, in 1854 and the names given to him seem to reveal the Nationalist sympathies and pride of his mother. He was christened Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Will

time. They were sent as boarders to the Portora School at Enniskillen, one of the four Royal schools of Ireland. Oscar went to Portora in 1864 at the age of nine, a c

t school and college, an exceedingly vivid and interesting pen-picture of the lad, one of those astounding masterpieces of portraiture only to be produced by the plastic sympathies of boyhood and the intimate inte

feature of his appearance. He was then, as he remained for some years after, extremely boyish in nature, very mobile, almost restless when out of the schoolroo

iptive power being far above the average, and his humorous

was round a stove which stood in 'The Stone Hall.' Here Oscar was at his best; although

titudes: his power of twisting his limbs into weird contortions being very great. (I am told that Sir William Wilde, his fath

le stir at the time. Oscar was present, and full of the mysterious nature of the Court of Arches; he told us there was nothing he would like bett

uld call him when they wished to annoy him, and which he resented greatly. It was derived in some mys

Wilde. Just at the close of his school career he won the 'Carpenter' Greek Testament Prize,-and on presentation day was cal

backs of two bigger boys in what we called a 'tournament,' held in one of the class-rooms. Oscar and his horse were thrown, and

ool. I was perhaps as friendly with him all through

r with him, treating him always, in

rtinence, gave chase, and Oscar in his hurry collided with an aged cripple and threw him down-a fact which was duly reported to the boys when we got safely back. Oscar was afterwards heard telling how he found his way barred by an angry giant with whom he fought through many rounds and whom he eventually left for dead in the road after accomplishing prodigies of

cience and never had a good word for a mathematical or science master, but there was no

at school were Disraeli's novels. He spok

ays, and the flowing beauty of his oral translations in class, whether

om another contemporary, who has since made for himself a high name as a scholar at Trinity, which, while confirming the general

does not wish his

he school were given by him. He was very good on the litera

e classics that were of stately size with large print..

t indeed; how much he assimilated I nev

everyone the last year at school in the classical medal examination, by walking

. The joy in humorous romancing and the sweetness of temper recorded by Sir Edward Sullivan were marked traits in Oscar's character all through his life. His care i

d nothing like the reputation of my brother Willie. I read too many English n

rough pleasure, as it al

wing purple shadows on the sun-baked pal?stra; 'bands of nude youths and maidens'-you remember Gautier's words-'moving across a background of

lden hours

t togeth

hite vests

wave up a

cothurns t

deep ia

rolling

e vapour o

but even he admitted that in my last year at Portora I had made astounding pro

er the boarding school life of a great, public school wa

childish, Frank; a mere boy till I was over sixteen. Of course I was sensual and curious

Nearly every one went in for athletics-running and jumping and so forth; no on

in for gam

iling, "I never liked

y, did you not, to whom you told your dream

mate personal confession, w

ng walks together and I talked to him interminably. I told him what I should have done had I been Alexander, or how I'd have played king in Athens, had I been Alcibiades. As early as I can remember I used to identify myself with every distinguished

I imagined. It was just before I first heard that I had won an Exhibition and was to go to Trinity. Dr. Steele had called me into his study to tell me the great news; he was very glad, he said, and insisted that it was all due to my last year's hard work. The 'hard' work had been very interestin

n any intellectual field. He knew all about football and cricket and studied the school-books assiduously, whereas I read everything t

any doubt. If I had been offered the Triple Tiara, it would have

iend to tell him all the wonderful news. To my surpri

eem gla

ollege, Dublin, from this place; why, I shall meet men and not boys. Of

still in the same cold way,

ne star

t; I'm always glad to be with you: but perhaps

said, 'but I shall com

ms. My father will give me a room to myself in our house, and you know

as beckoning to me, and I could not help talking about it, for the golde

ent, I remember, and on

o you go

her full of my own thoughts, 'early to-mo

station, having said 'goodbye' to everyone, h

,' he said; 'the Doctor gave me permission,

not thought of asking for his company. 'I'm very glad. My

og looks at one. But my own hopes soon took possession of me again, and

not say 'goodbye' and go, and leave me to my dream

rd came

, if you a

surprise my friend jumped

t going, but I shall slip

nt. I said something, I don't kno

Oscar, won't you, and te

rything. I wonder how the professors will treat me. I do hope they will not be fools or prigs; what a pity it is that all professo

go now,' I

while standing with his hand on the door of th

ght my face in his hot hands, and kissed me on the lips. The

ticky drops trickling down my face-his tears. They affected

this is what h

ong while I sat, unable to think,