New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-08-29
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
PERSONAL LIFE OF GEORGE GRoTE.

The Personal Lie OF george GrOte," by MIS-.
Grote is the subject of leading paper in each of the
above named English Quarterles, and as the work
itself has not yet into general circulation IN
this country, readers cannot fail to be gratieu
with brief summary of the recollections ana aneo-
aotes which give peculiar interest 10 'no i"'
moir of the illustrious historian
Mr.. Gzote was born November H. l794' at DecHen
ham, near London, where his infancy wa paSSeu' ~
Mt the age of five and half he was se,'' W "
SevenOaks, and at the age oil ten no wa, - -
ferred to the Charterhouse, where ne )"
years Among his youthful companions were u1oiS ~
and Horace Waddington' ConDop iniii""i' a..
Ul.1 "a o,bars who afterward obtained dis
.;..i =; 3he different walks of life. His father'
IT., ,os a wealthy banker of German EXTRACTION
IA No o,-unathy With learning, and took httle ln
.ot IN the education Of his son. he was roma Vi
hvn+;nO shooting and other athletic anusehehtS'
and "a soon as George was old enOughto engage Ill
hnsipess he removed him from school, and set nun
20 work in the banking house. The youth nau
already istinguished himself IN his studies anu MS
teachers were urgent that he should receive UNI
ver1ity education. But his father mad no such III
4enton. He wished for the services of his son IN
business. in order that he might withdraw from
commercial affairs for thepursuts OF country gen
tleman to which be afterward devoted himself
Accordingly. al the early age Of 16, and indeed
somewhat under It, young George Groe began tne q"
He Sed with his father that to say, his fathers
house his home When he STAYED IN LThu9 p u NJ
IN Thrradpeede-st. that he resided, aud, WINE MI
rOte Oxfordshire usually lr9n sePseV T I
April such was his regular hSDil tuEesSu ~ resi-
10 Badgemoor at intervals, During MS fanny : Ies
dence at Beckenham, George used TO pass tns @ 8,
part Of The week with them :T He GI1a oe"siona ox
oeptions with his father, and riding back zen mites 70
d deal of Ground also besides the exercise OF riding
twenty miles per day. In those DAYS tne lunVr nel
ssed q the Walk clerk" carrying the various pills for
presentation duty involving some TWO or three hours
ON the evening OF the days when it was necessary for
b bn nrlneipay with study. lie had contracted
strong taste the classics at ChdrtelhOuSe anu ~
prompted cultivate them on quitting tine scene oI s
26oIuns forward to commercial of life, GER
tain 70 prove embarrassing In ITSELF he resolved 10 pro-
vide himself the higher resources OF lnelec'u"i W
eupation. -,,,. o. ,,o charm oS
mnsc and frs0uented tine concerts OF the PHILHARMONIC
Society then newly established, when maze edsdh'
He began to learn the vOloncelO, too. towards the
year 1876 and that instrument ne 1TegAehIy accom-
played HANDLES compositions in the family crce WIN
Arain, yoHnS George addressed himself TO the study
of the German language, under me tuition Oh ~
senSSoe n te "a al Thar neTIod very few Young men
(and scarcely any women of cOurse knew German, anu
II iurnished evidence OF earnest devotion 70 literary
nursoIs when George Groe gave up his leisure hours
lew they were, 10 its acquisition
The tolls of business were not relieved by the
pleasures of a cheerful home His mother was Il
rigid Cavinist of the ascetc type, and almost en-
tirely abstained from social intercourse of every
Kind Young Grote, however, had tine good fortune
to fnd many congenia friends in the neighborhood,
some of whom shared his taste for poetry and mag
NATIVE literature while others stimulated his zeal
for speculative inquiry.
Among the acquaintance thus formed was a young
lady named Harriet Levin, with whom the future
historian soon fell ardeuuy in love. He was de
TERED however. from telling his love by the mis-
representations of tGeacherOus friend who tired
unsuccessfully TO supplant him. His father, per-
ceiying the detection which naturally followed on
his disappointment. ascertained the state OF ms
sons affections, and exacted from MIN a promise
that he would never propose maTriagetoany woman
without his sanction. This promise was readily
given at the time; but when GTote shortly after
wards discovered that he had been deceived and
that Miss Levin was free, he appealed TO his father
10 release him from the pledge he had SO hastily
given. His father. however, reluctant to incur the
expense of establishing his son, who was dependent
on him. nexorably refused and all intercourse with
the levin family was broken off,
This took place in 1915, and he did not again see
che object Of his affections for three years, when he
met her by accident. His description OF the passing
kntervew is not without touch of romance
81 had the happinessor misfortune q know not which
90 call IT, the feelings mixed 10 see my dear
friend and favorite Harriet Levin, the other day. at
Bromley. She sitting with Charlotte ana anothef
lady IN the carriage, which was waiting at the door OF
the Bell stood there and eonversed with her about
ten minutes but something's know not what II is
fept me during the whole of in such state Of
understandable tremor aud uneasness that could haidy
utter rational sentence she looked iovey e&
preston features still retained the same life aud soul
winch did magnetic me never have seen IT. ana
never will IT, any other face. My dear Harriet
IL is terrible work IL Is most cruelty painful 10 MINK
that can only appear her in the light of who has
OccasiOned nothing but pain and uneasness TO her 1et
60 il must be. am sometimes tempted TO wish myself
al heiu
nothing out those friends whom own merit Qittle as
that isl may attach 70 me, and to whom my affections
now spontaneously and ardenty. Relations are cham
which drsGs man on by means Of his senseot duty
Happy is he who has fewest"
After this meeting, bis father at length gave his
consent TO the engagement, on condition that the
marriage should be postponed for two years.
Meantime, Mr.. Grote pursued his studies with
unhaggng assiduity. They embraced wide range
of inquiry especially in the direction of philosophy
AstOry, and political economy, but including also
freauent excursions into the varied field of classical
literature His marriage did not take place till the
Spring Of 1920, when the young couple went TO
live in q spacious house adjoining the bank OF
Mr. Grote's father, on whom he was still entirely
dependent. The allowance granted him was so
small o. TO make the most igid sefdenial matter
of necessity. The confinement Of the city produced
al injurious effect the health of Mrs. GrOte, who
had always been accustomed to the freedom and
pure air of the country and she contracted the hab-
ats of an invalid from which she never fully recOv-
cred The character Of this lady Is thus described
presenting a charming picture of perfect conJugal
union.
Those wEo are acquainted with the life and labors Of
Mr. Groic he well that the active and cheer
Ing influence Of his wife was inseparable from them
onward u the full exercise OF ms powers she was the
grayest pursuits and achievements OF politics and
scholarship, she gave motive force; inSomuch tnat IL