The conditions of English society being what they are, it is all but impossible at first to account for the rapidity of Oscar Wilde’s social success; yet if we tell over his advantages and bring one or two into the account which have not yet been reckoned, we shall find almost every element that conduces to popularity.  By talent and conviction he was the natural pet of the aristocracy whose selfish prejudices he defended and whose leisure he amused.  The middle class, as has been noted, disliked and despised him:  but its social influence is small and its papers, and especially Punch, made him notorious by attacking him in and out of season.  The comic weekly, indeed, helped to build up his reputation by the almost inexplicable bitterness of its invective.

Another potent force was in his favour.  From the beginning he set himself to play the game of the popular actor, and neglected no opportunity of turning the limelight on his own doings.  As he said, his admiration of himself was “a lifelong devotion,” and he proclaimed his passion on the housetops.

Our names happened to be mentioned together once in some paper, I think it was The Pall Mall Gazette.  He asked me what I was going to reply.

“Nothing,” I answered, “why should I bother?  I’ve done nothing yet that deserves trumpeting.”

“You’re making a mistake,” he said seriously.  “If you wish for reputation and fame in this world, and success during your lifetime, you ought to seize every opportunity of advertising yourself.  You remember the Latin word, ‘Fame springs from one’s own house.’  Like other wise sayings, it’s not quite true; fame comes from oneself,” and he laughed delightedly; “you must go about repeating how great you are till the dull crowd comes to believe it.”

“The prophet must proclaim himself, eh? and declare his own mission?”

“That’s it,” he replied with a smile; “that’s it.

“Every time my name is mentioned in a paper, I write at once to admit that I am the Messiah.  Why is Pears’ soap successful?  Not because it is better or cheaper than any other soap, but because it is more strenuously puffed.  The journalist is my ‘John the Baptist.’  What would you give, when a book of yours comes out, to be able to write a long article drawing attention to it in The Pall Mall Gazette?  Here you have the opportunity of making your name known just as widely; why not avail yourself of it?  I miss no chance,” and to do him justice he used occasion to the utmost.

Curiously enough Bacon had the same insight, and I have often wondered since whether Oscar’s worldly wisdom was original or was borrowed from the great Elizabethan climber.  Bacon says: