All his friends noticed this.

Even M.Andre Gide, who was a great admirer and wrote, shortly after his death, the best account of him that appeared, was compelled to deplore his deterioration.

He says: "One felt that there was less tenderness in his looks, that there was something harsh in his laughter, and a wild madness in his joy.

He seemed at the same time to be sure of pleasing, and less ambitious to succeed therein.

He had grown reckless, hardened and conceited.
Strangely enough he no longer spoke in fables...." His brother Willie made a similar complaint to Sir Edward Sullivan.
Sir Edward writes: "William Wilde told me, when Oscar was in prison, that the only trouble between him and his brother was caused by Oscar's inordinate vanity in the period before his conviction.