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Lecture Tour of America 1882

Writing and Research on Oscar Wilde

St.Paul

Minnesota

Opera House

Thursday, March 17, 1882

St. Patrick’s Day Address

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For the full report and text of Wilde’s talk see St. Patrick’s Day.

Verification

Newspaper report

Daily Globe, (St.Paul, MN), March 18, 1882, p.1

Wilde had lectured the previous evening at the Opera House on The Decorative Arts, and on St.Patrick's Day he returned to the same venue to attended a patriotic gathering, one of several events held that day in St. Paul, a city with a large Irish population, to observe the occasion. Despite inclement weather, the Opera House was full for a series of addresses interspersed with vocal and instrumental selections.

Wilde spoke towards the end of proceedings and responded to the Irish sentiment abroad, and some favorable mention of his mother's (Speranza) nationalistic poetry. He gave what can now be seen as a rare, and perhaps even uncharacteristic, speech about Irish patriotism, albeit from the perspective of the Arts.

This is considered an official lecture as it is evident that Wilde prepared his remarks, wore his lecturing garb, and gave the talk in a formal setting.

Venue

Opera House

Wabasha Street between Third and Fourth Street, St. Paul, MN

Dedicated: February 22, 1867

Reconstructed: 1883

Destroyed (fire): January, 1888

Accommodation

Metropolitan Hotel

Washington and Third Streets, St. Paul, MN

Built: 1869-70

Opened: June 27, 1870

Demolished: 1913

John Cooper on Oscar Wilde © 2026