Impressions of America by Oscar Wilde

An interesting account of Oscar Wilde, at the time of his American tour, was given in the "Lady's Pictorial" a few weeks after his arrival in New York, the city which he described as "one huge Whiteley's shop."

He was interviewed in a room which was intensely warm and the sofa on which the poet reclined was drawn up to the fire. An immense wolf rug, bordered with scarlet, was thrown over it and half-encircled his graceful form in its warm embrace. Wilde was wearied. In a languid, half enervated manner he gently sipped hot chocolate from a cup by his side. Occasionally he inhaled a long, deep whiff from a smouldering cigarette held lightly in his white and shapely hand.