Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was famous for his humorous, ironic observations. This quality stayed with him right up to the end. The final words attributed to the Irishman, as he lay on his deathbed, were, “This wallpaper and I are fighting a duel to the death. Either it goes or I do.”

It should be noted that there is considerable debate as to whether these were, in fact, his final words. It is one of those stories, however, that bears repeating, whether it is true or not.

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