Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-03-22

tions OF the Famous Author.
From the Golden Age.l -,
The story of Marian Evans life has
been yar;ously told. Perhaps this is the
most authentic version Of what has never
been authoritatively told by the actors
in it:
Mr.. Lewes, the distinguished and clever
biographer OF Goethe, and well known
auther of the philosophical works, had
been unfortunate in his marriage rela-
tions; so, too, had Mrs. Lewes. They
were a most ill.assorted pair, and she
took off the bond which CALLED her, and
became unfaithful to her marriage vow.
But Mr.. Lewcs himself was equally guilty
of infdelity to his wife, and the law oi
England does this equal justice to man
and woman, viz: il absolves neither from
marriage bond on account OF the inti.
deity of the other, unless the one who
asks freedom can claim to have been
faithful TO his or her own vow.
The marriage tie between this disloyal
Il asband and wife was broken in fact, but
NOT n law. They had long lived sepa.
rate lives when Mr.. Lewes met and
learned 10 love Miss Evans
Miss Evans was woman of singularly
unattractiye person. No photograph Of
her is TO be found anywhere, and she
shrinks from contact with strangers, Tor
she is painfully conscious OF her own
lack of personal charm. it was her
mind and heart which won Mr.. Lewes'
love and the nobility and purity Of this
most nure spirit lifted that love into a
reyerence he had never before felt for
woman. His love was returned, and
the question of their future was dis
cussed by these loving friends and
I friendly lovers They asked the advice
and counsel of the wisest and peel, al
their friends in the emergency, and at
last after much thought and discussion,
IL was decided by themselves and
their eounsellors that, this being
an exceptional case, it must be dealt
with in an exceptional Lsanner. A
legal marriage between them was i'm
,,ossible. but since the affection Nhieh
united them was no youthful passion
but the stable bond of love founded on
mutual congeniality and respect, they
would be justified in uniting their lives
outside of the law, if they were strong
enough to bear the social consequences
which must naturally follow from the
infraation of the law. This they resolved
TO do. and from that time they lived hap
ply, conteutedly and hopefully together.
All their best friends approve OF their
course. and no truer wife to her hus-
hand. no more tender mother to his
children, for she has none OF her own,
is to be found in England, than this
brave and true woman.
OF course in q society so rigid as is
that of England in the outward observ-
ances of the moralities-though it is
whispered that under decorous regard
to the conventionahties plenty of indie.
corous acts are committed and wlnked
a,-such a course as that of Mr.. and
Mrs. Lewes puts them outside of general
social recognition. Mrs. Lewes never
visits the house Of other people, she
receives only her especial friends at her
own. SINCE she has achieved fame, she
might be RECEIVED by many ladies who,
before this, would have refused her en-
tree to their homes, but abe neither de-
si,ea nor will accept their proHered te-
eagnition. She did not oyerstep the
Conventional Jays Of society without due
consideration; she knew the price she
must pay for 4 happy hoHe and a salts
fed heart, and she IS contentea 70 pay
it, nor does she find IL too high; IL is
a perilous experiment, and one that no
wouan, unless she bs Rs strong, as
brave, and as pure, and as sara ct hold
ing her Lover as Miss Evans, wodtd 90
well to repeat.