Rent-boy

[Dave Wilton]

There is a current discussion on my website regarding the British slang term
"rent-boy." The OED and other sources date it to 1969. But there are several
websites that cite a March 1893 letter purportedly by Oscar Wilde to Lord
Alfred "Bosie" Douglas that contains the line: "I would sooner be
blackmailed by every rent-boy in London than to have you bitter, unjust,
hating."

Has anyone run across this or similar early uses of "rent-boy" before? Could
the letter be genuine? None of the websites that cite the letter have
anything resembling a traceable citation. I'm skeptical, but it doesn't seem
to be beyond the realm of possibility.



The full text of the alleged letter reads:

Savoy Hotel, London

Dearest of all Boys,

Your letter was delightful, red and yellow wine to me; but I am sad and out
of sorts. Bosie, you must not make scenes with me. They kill me, they wreck
the loveliness of life. I cannot see you, so Greek and gracious, distorted
with passion. I cannot listen to your curved lips saying hideous things to
me. I would sooner be blackmailed by every rent-boy in London than to have
you bitter, unjust, hating.

You are the divine thing I want, the thing of grace and beauty; but I don't
know how to do it.

Shall I come to Salisbury? My bill here is 49 pounds for a week. I have also
got a new sitting-room over the Thames. Why are you not here, my dear, my
wonderful boy? I fear I must leave; no money, no credit, and a heart of
lead.

Your own,
OSCAR