OSCAR WILDE DEAD.

Oscar Wilde died yesterday afternoon of meningitis, at a small hotel in the Latin quarter of Paris, where he was living under an assumed name. It is stated that he was recently received into the Roman Catholic Church.

Oscar Wilde was born in 1858, and was the son of Sir W. R. W. Wilde. In his youth, of great promise, he was very prominent at Magdalen College, Oxford, and in 1878 carried off the Newdigate prize for his poem "Ravenna." After his graduation from the famous old English university he embarked on a literary career, which was remarkable for its brilliancy and eccentricity. In 1881 he published his first volume of poems. In 1891 the "House of Pomegranates" appeared, and was well received. In 1893 he attained considerable reputation by his play, "Lady Windermere's Fan." After this came "A Woman of No Importance," "Intentions," and "Salome" (from the French). His weird novel, "Dorian Gray," appeared in 1895, published first in this country by the Lippincotts.

Oscar Wilde was considered a man of brilliant, but erratic, genius. As a writer of epigrams, pungent sophisms, and the like he had few equals. He was a leader of the so called esthetic school, and became the social craze of two continents. During his visit to America he created a great sensation by wearing a sunflower as a boutonniere and by introducing other fads of his peculiar cult.

In 1896 he was condemned to two years' hard labor for vicious practices. Upon his release from prison he spent most of his time in Paris. He is said to have resumed his literary labors, but all of his work was published over a nom de plume. Several plays which have been successes in both London and New York during the last two years were pronounced to be the product of his pen, although accredited to other playwrights.

Wilde's wife was Miss Constance Lloyd, a talented woman, who entertained much in London. The couple had two boys, Vivian and Clarence, now aged 18 and 16, with whose education Oscar took much pains. His home life up to the time of his trouble is spoken of as having been beautiful. Lady Wilde died in February, 1896.

Le Journal says it is rumored that Wilde committed suicide.