The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-23
GEORGE ELIOT.
A Sketch Of the Author of Adam
Bede and middlemuTch.
rrom the Golden Aso)

The story OF Marian Evans life has
been yariously told. Perhaps this is the
most authentic version ot-What has never
been authOritatiVGlY told by the actors
In il:
Mr. Lewes, the distinguished and clever
biographer OF Goethe, and q weli.known
author Of philosophical works had been
unfortunate In his marriage relatlons; so
TOO, had Mrs Lewes; they were a moSI
illasa1rtcd pair, and she shook OIL the
bond which CALLED her, and became I'M
faithful 10 her marriage vow. But 1lr
Lewes himself was equally guilty OF in
fidelity to his wife, and the law Of En-,
gland does this equal justice to man and
woman, viz it RbsolYes neither from q
marriage bond on account OF the inhdeli'
ty Of the other, unless the one who asks
freedom can claim to have been faithful
10 his or her own VOW.
The marriage tic between this 0islOyal
husband and wife wRs broken In fact but
not In law. They had long lived separate
lives when Mr.. Lewes met and learned to
love Miss Evans.
Miss Evans was a woman OF siDgulsrly
unaltracliVe person. No photograph Of
her is to 10 found anywhere, and she
shrinks from contact with strangers, Tor
she Is painfully conscious Of her own lack
OF personal charm. 1t was ner mind and
heart which won Mr.. Lewcs' love, and tho
nobility and purity OF this most pure spirit
lifted that love into q reverence he had
never before felt Tor woman. His love
was returned, and tho question Of their
future was discussed by these loving
friends and friendly lovers. They asked
the advice and counsel OF the wisest aud
best Of their friends IN this emergency,
and at last, after much thought and dis
cussiOn, 1t was decided by themselves and
their counsellors that this being an eXcep'
tional case, 1t must be dealt with in an ex'
cepIional manner. A legal marriage be-
tween them was impossible, but since the
affection which united them was no
youthful passion, but the stable bond OF q
love founded on mutual CoDgeniality and
respect, they would be justified In uniting
their lives outside Of the law, II they were
strong enough to bear the social conse-
quenCe which must naturally follow from
the intraction Of the law. This they re-
solved TO do, and from that time they have
lived happily, contentedly, and hopefully
together. All their best friends approve
oil their course, and no truer wilC 10 her
husband, no more tender to his children,
for she has none Of her own, is to be
found in all England, than this brave and
true woman.
OF course, in o society so rigid as that
Of England in the outward observance Of
tho moralities-thOugh 1t is whispered
that, under a decorOus regard for the
plenty OF indeCorous
acts arc committed and winked at-such
o course as that Of Mr. and LeWes puts
them outside Of general social rccOgni-
ton. MTs. LeweS never visits the house
OF other people; she receives only her
special friends at her own. Since she
has achieved fame, she might be re.
ceived by many ladies, who, before this,
would have refused her entree to their
homes, but she neither desires nor will &C.
cept their prohered recognition. She did
moi oVerstep the conventional laws OF so.
Getty without due consideration; she knew
the price she must.pay for happy home
and a satisfied heart, and she Is content
10 pay it, nor does she find 1t too high.
1t was a perilous experiment, and one
that no woman, unless she be as strong,
as brave, and as pure, and as sure ofhold.
ing her lover as Miss Evans, would do
well to repeat.
Though Adam Bede was the first work
which brought Mrs. Loves prominently
into notice as u writer, it was by no means
her first effort Very few people, like the
Baroness TautphiRs, achieve fame as an
author without serving previous appren:
tiCeship at literature. 1.-THE Initials"
which made the name oGAhe English vile
of the German Baron q household word
in two continents, was actually the very
first attempt its author made at writing.
She was devoted to painting, but tho oils
and colors she used being pronounced in
part accountable for her failing health,
were taken from her by the physicians
order, and che was literally driven to her
pen to Nil up her idle and heavily hang
ing hours. Nothing is more wonderful
in the history Of literature than the bril-.
liant novel which this mere tyro in art
produced.
But Mrs. Lcwcs had no such experience
Of rapid success In the path which she
had entered upon. She herself tells US
that she had for years been On untiring and
diligent worker, translatiug, writing es'
says and stories, which brought her no
reward In fame, and but small compensa.
ton in money. "Adam Bcde" first made
her famous, and her subsequent novels,
1.-THE Mill on the Floss" "Silas Mariner"
"Felix Holt" "RomoiA," and "Middle.
march, have steadily augmented her rep.
utation. Each has lis troop Of admirers,
who consider It her best work. Mr., Gree.
ley regarded "Silas Mariner" as her finest
effort, but we think few would DO found
TO agree with him,