which were painful to persons, of ordinary modesty and decency, to read. Sir Edward Clarke had quoted from Coleridge, "Judge no man by his books," but his lordship would prefer to say "Confound no man with the characters of the persons he creates." Because a novelist put into the mouth of his villain the most abominable sentiments it must not be assumed that he shared them. It will be remembered that on this occasion the jury were unable to agree on a verdict as to whether Mr. Wilde was guilty or not of the charges brought against him. In the second trial, which began on May 22nd following, the subject of his books was not mentioned. [34] Pp. 6-10. [35] Pp. 57-58. [36] p. 63, 64. [37] p. 79. * * * * * MR. ROBERT BUCHANAN ON PAGAN VICIOUSNESS. Mr. Robert Buchanan, the well-known writer, in a letter dated April 23rd, 1895, expressed his own views on this subject in the columns of _The Star_. Referring to an anonymous correspondent in the same newspaper who had accused Mr. Wilde of "pagan viciousness"--this was more than a month before a verdict of "Guilty" had been returned against him--Mr. Buchanan asks, "Has even a writer like this no sense of humour? Does he seriously contend that the paradoxes and absurdities with which Mr. Wilde once amused us were meant as serious attacks on public morality? Two thirds of all Mr. Wilde has written is purely ironical, and it is only because they are now told that the writer is a wicked man that people begin to consider his writings wicked." "I think," he adds, "I am as well acquainted as most people with Mr. Wilde's works, and I fearlessly assert that they are, for the most part, as innocent as a naked baby. As for the much misunderstood "Dorian Gray," it would be easy to show that it is a work of the highest morality, since its whole purpose is to point out the effect of selfish indulgence and sensuality in destroying the character of a beautiful human soul. But it is useless to discuss these questions with people who are colour-blind. I cordially echo the cry that, failing a little knowledge of literature, a little Christian charity is sorely wanted." * * * * * COMPARATIVE TABLE OF CHAPTERS IN THE FIRST TWO EDITIONS OF 'THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY'. 1890 1891 I I II II III III IV V IV VI V VII VI VIII VII IX VIII X IX XI X XII XI XIII XII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIII XIX, XX * * * * * PASSAGES WHICH APPEAR IN THE 1890 EDITION ONLY.