Wilde and Mahaffy; Wilde as Yellow Cat

[ijon]

I've come across this very peculiar passage, from the digest offered to its readers by the Auckland Grey River Argus of the San Francisco Mail:
Professor Mahaffy is utilising Oscar Wilde, aesthetic, to illustrate the propisition[sic] that a stupid boy gains more than a brilliant one from a university training1.
What on earth could this mean? I know

Comments

[ext_90340]

As well as your suggestion (which is a good one), the first passage might be more an expression of the writer's opinion than anything else. Note the earlier droll passage M'Dermott, Mardshall of New Boonsville, United States, shot and killed A. B. Thorton, editor of the News, because the paper reflected on his official acts.