The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-03-07
The Author Of NIiddlemaroh.

Miss Evans, the daughter OF poor cler-
gyman, wcs adopted in early life by gentle
man Of wealth, who gave her the best edu.
cation that England could furnish. Herbert
Snencer became her teacher and her friend.
Doubtless the instruction impaired by the
great philosopher is really great-who
has made education the subject of special
study and separate book, and whose father
was O teacher before him-doubtless his
intentions had much to do with the develop
meut OF her naturally fine mind. But even
Spencer could have done little had not
George Eliot possessed genius OF the highest
order for him to work upon. What he did
do. however, cannot be mistaken. He led
her into that sadness and despair which
underruns all her writings, and notably her
Middlemarcb, which critics are now laudiDg
as her masterpiece. No trace OF this sad
ness, not the least, is discerned in Spencer's
own writings; on the contrary, they are full
OF hope for the future OF humanity on this
planet But woman's emotional nature de-
mands something more solid than "The Un'
movable" to lean upon-hence George
Eliol's despair OF human life 10 all OF its
complex forms.
As to the future OF the individuals OF our
race after they have undergone the capital
punishment to which The Unknowable has
decreed every one OF US, neither Spencer nor
any OF his numerous and Increasing school
has aught to say. After this painful life
ended, whatf Repose in the bosom OF the
FatherS No; nothing.
Though Spencer has never said so In 80
many words, there is no mistaking his
meaning. Tyndall, pressed to the wall by
an inquisitive American, who once enjoyed a
walk with him in the high Alps, said, 10 sub
stance, lhct be looked upon nature as upon
the keyboard OF a plauo.forte. "What
came before the bass, know not; what
came after the treble, know not; neither
" do care. My duty is simply with the keys
"I see before me. AS to the possibilities Of
SO conjectural future, have my surmlses as
" others have, but know nothing"
Into this philosophical know.nothingism
Miss Evans has been plugged, and the result
is seen in the bleak hopelessness OF all her
works. It is plain that she has not pinned
her faith TO the doctrine Of the Immortality
OF the soul, or to any Of the other Aryan myths
found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Nor has
she sought refuge, where many of spencer's
disciples are tending, in the worship OF hu-
manlty as set forth In the catechism OF the
Positivist religion. Her religion is rather
that OF the Hindoe King, who, weary OF
thinking, could only sadly question whether
IL God were content when he was not, why
not when he, the king, had passed by to
everlaating annihllation.
1t Is gratifying to know that the author OF
Middlemarch Is really married to Mr.. Lewes.
The latter having wife in England, from
whom he was separated but not legally d..
vorced, the marriage was solemnized on the
Continent somewhere. And now, we be-
lieve, the first Mrs. Lewes is dead. Wheth-
er the present marriage be happy one,
We do not know. We have never heard that
it was not. The distinguished couple have
not been blessed with children. What mat
ter, IL tLeir destiny, like their God, is un-
movable.