Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-21
GEORGE ELIOT,
Personal Defaiis Coneerning Oh.
Great UOS elkst

S8OHdh ELHOI,
Personal Details Concerniug che
Great UOS elfst. "a
This woman, " no u ranked by the best critics
own, If not in any period, and who has been
hopored " tn the utle of {" the female Bacon"
is so extraordinary q phenomenon, that every
one mutt De curious to learn her antecedents
are derived mainly from persons who have had
opportunities OF knowing the facts and In the
main have not been published before.
George Eliot, or Miss Evans, is of respectable
ancestry. hut in early life she Was left alone in
the world, and, Il is understood, has no near re-
lations Of any kind living.
gentleman OF means, who gave her an educa-
ton at home. This would be inferred from the
absence Of any account OF scheol-life in her
Q cries. What the nature Of that education was
| is not known. 1t is said on one authority that
at quite an early period of her life Miss Evans
became acquainted with Herbert Spencer, and
| that her studies were afterwards pursued under
his directions, and after the principles set forth
In his striking essays on education. Her meeting
with Spencer probably DID not occur unta a
ton made science the supreme object Of study,
as + seen 10 his essay on '.What kuowled ge is
Of Most Worth" get While in he. late. wri-
! Blot makes constant references to the deep
questions of science, these illusions are exeep-
tiopal in her early books, and In their place we
find thoughts bearing upon questions OF morals
and art. Hence we may infer, and the known
| facts confirm this supposition, that Miss Evans
devoted her early attention to general culture.
She became master OF several languages, inc la
ding German, italian, and French, besides be-
coming proficient in music and student of
art, while she read profoundly in the deepest
Her early life was passed in the country an d
her novels are saturated with the flavor of Eng
lsh rur al life, and no one has drawn pictures of
nature or men or women IN the country part of
England with a finer or frmer hand than hers
1t was while acting as governess that she gain.
ed her deep familiarity and insight into certain
phases of English rural scenes which she As
described, and there is no doubt that Mrs. Pow
ser, Bartle Sandy, Adam Is EIDE, the Vicar, an d
the TUllivers, were sketched direct from nature.
DiDsh was copied from a well known Methodist
saint who went about preaching and doing good
in the early part or this ury, precisely as she
is represented as doing In adam Bede."
Miss Evans first literary performance, like
those of Sir Walter Scott and Carlyle, was
translation from the German, and the circum-
stance that she chose a well-known work by
FeuIbach for this purpose and atterwards trans
lated Sirius 4" Life of Jesus" indicates the ten
dency of her mind at that time towards theolo-
gical subjects.
d She next contributed several articles to the
early numbers of the "Westminster Review"
one Of which, upon Sc Savonarola )" showed the
strong interest which she took in the life aud
character of the Italian reformer, AID TO .esha-
published until long afterwards
Possibly through these contributions che made
the acquaintance OF DR.. Chapman, then editor
became an inmate. Here she was brought in
contact with the leading literary minds OF the
English metropolis, who at once received her as
an equal, and by their sympathy and encourage
ment stimulated as they also drew inspiration
from her powerful mind. Among those with
whom she became intimate were j. s. Mill
Spencer George Henry Lewes. besides others of
the first thinkers in London. The result of her
acquaintance with Mr.. Lewes was their ulti-
mate union, the peculiar circumstances of
which need not be repeated here
al has olr Hu Iaav
found willing disciple in Mrs. Lewes, and ex-
erted powerful influence upon her mental de-
yelopment. 1t is said on good authority that
Mrs. Lewes first began to write At his urgent So
licitatIOR fiction, and If such is the case the
world is indebted not little to him.
Mr.. Lewes has wisely RETAINED from interior
genius, though he must have Influenced it in
directly not a little.
The "Scenes from Clerical Life" first pub
lished in " BlackwoOd," at once DIRE " the atfen-
ton of thoughtful readers in England. Thack-
cray hailed them as proofs of the advent OF q
new literary star of the first magnitude, aud
of "Adam Bede," and George Eliot's later no
wells. These later works have been produce at
rare Intervals, and with great slOwnesS, in com
parlson with the rate OF composition of most
other modern novelists.
Some five years ago, in the winter of 1857, the
writer had the good fortune to spend an evening
in company with several of the literateurs o;
New York who had gathered to meet Mr. John
Morley, the writer of the " Fortnightly Re-
view, who was then making a hasty visit to
the United States, and was inst about return.
ing to England. The main topic of conversation
during the evening was George Eliot, with
whom Mr.. Morley was well acquainted, an in
whom all those present were specially interest
ed. MIR. Morley described Mrs. Lewes as a very
plain person, but with a most benevolent exc
preston OF countenance. She is exceedingly
pie asant and genial in conversation, and is fairly
adored by her friends. By nature she is OF a
decidedly religious disposition, and is most
deeply interested in subjects of that nature,
There Is something very striking in her manner,
and Mr. Morley said she always reminded him |
Of st. Paul. As might be expected from her |
writings she has exquisite sensioilities, and is
actually sensitive Of pain and suffering in Others
30 as TO be much affected by the disagreeable |
sights that are daily to be met with in the |
streets. She lives a very retired life. and sees
but little society on account of her marriage
while, like her husband, who is the most bril- |
liant talker in London society, she is almost al
ways sick, owing to the inability of her fine or
ganization to bear much strain.
Everything which affects the welfare of man
Kind interests her, and as her mind is Of ency-
enough to embrace the whole of the race She
s not much absorbed in politics, Mr. Morley
'ad, and she takes but little interest in the pre-
'ent reform movement in Great Britain.
A gentleman who was present asked Mr.. Nor
ey If he thought George EliOt's marriage was
he result of impulse or was deliberately I'M der
AIKEN. He replied, "the former" "a the act was
90 much opposed to many OF her social opinions
o have been decided upon with calm premsdi-
alton. Mrs. Lewes is devoted follower Of
Comte, and believes that it only needs an apos-
lie OF sufficient power to promulg3te his views !
n order to see the establishment OF new reli-
ZION, . 1.se;. upon pos.tivism.
Her life since her marriage has not been hap
~, principally Il rough the social ostracsm
which resulted from. her union WITT Mr.. Lewes, |
md for a long time she did not write anything.
Mr.. Morley concluded his sketch with glow
ng tribute to the greatness OF her genius. No
woman whom he had met had ever impressed
lin to anything like the extent she had done.
There seemed TO be something apostolic about
her normal character, while her intellect was
II the first order.
An American literary lady who visited Mrs |
Iewes not long since describes her as having a
Tery masculine appearance, with strong and
positively homely features. Her manner, how
'ver, Is exceedingly wOmanly and the reverse OF
masculine. Her conversation was animated and
yet somewhat subdued. She COM
planned of being shut out from female society, |
md Of the loss of q certain kind of sympathy |
which this entailed, and she seemed to appreci-
tie highly the visits OF lady friends ad mirers
Her married life has been happy an d calm,
Is only drawback being that she been
.hildless. Like the harmonious weuasI u lion |
# Carlyle, browning, j. s. Mill. Lowell, and
.ongfellOw, her married life goes far to dis
rove the Oft-asserted theory that two persons
hi literary talent NOT ms with aach |