30 MAY 1969, Page 26

This kind of thing must stop

Sir: Re Mr Humphries's criticism of Oscar Wilde by Philippe Jullian (9 May), W. S. Gilbert could not have intended either the character of Bunthorne or Grosvenor as a parody of Oscar Wilde or his affectations, for Wilde, at the time Patience was written, had not attained either his fame or his notoriety. However, D'Oyly Carte did send Wilde to give readings of his poetry in America before pro- ducing Patience there, so that the Americans might know what it was they were supposed to be laughing at.