Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-05

wnen her legal husband became lntereSfe
in George Eliot, as he did, and very deeply
as soon as he had been introduced to her
The two seemed to be mutually attracted
chiefly through the mind, however, fol-
neither of them was young. handsome cl
OF one another the better they liked one
another. Their affection was founded on
intellectual sympathy and mutual esteem
They wanted to marry but how could
eey. except in violation of the law? There
ae no Connecticut nor Indiana courts in
gland, where divorce can be and is made
ca y ; and If there were it is doubtful
wi ether the pair would have had recourse
10 them. They believed they could be of
great mutual help spiritually and mentally
Dy living together, and they contemplated
1t IN the face of legal technicalities.
A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES.
They consulted their friends, among them
some of the best known men and women in
Great Britain, and it was decided, after
careful consideration, that they should dis
pense with the usual formalities until they
could be legally united. They were fully
aware of the gravity of the step they were
about to take. But they took it. neverthe-
less. While their immediate friends coun-
tenanced them in their course society neces-
sarlly frowned upon it. and they were large
ly isolated.
About six or seven years ago the first Mrs.
Lewes betOok herself permanently to an
English churchyard, and Lewes was at
once Joined in wedlock to his friend by the
laws of the land. The novelist was known
as and called Mrs. Lewes Immediately after
her informal wedding, 50 that the legal
wedding neither changed nor added any
thing to their domestic relations. Their
defiance of average public opinion. however,
has aided to cut of the lady from general
society and increased the shyness OF which
she originally had an excess.
She scarcely ever goes out, though she re-
celyes few Of her own and her husbands s
friends. Her opposition to being lionized
Is. and always has been, very determined.
An introduction Is counted as rare good
fortune for any stranger, because she Is sell
dom willing to make new acquaintance,
and. indeed, she holds herself 80 vigorously
aloot from social approaches that few per
sons OF pride and sensibllity care to make
them.
Tue WOMAN HERSELF.
Mrs. Lewes is very plain and not at all
elegant, having, very naturally under the
circumstances, Il slender stock Of the small
talk and minor graces that SO largely con-
stltutc social agreeableness. Many people
think 1t l. IN corseq Of these detects
that she shrinks from the world, which is
probably untrue, because she l. t,mpera-
mentally RESERVED ard averse 10 mi-cella-
neous company
Her husband has a good deal of the same
feeling concerning general society. though
he Is very tar from modest or diff lent, as
those can attest who have read his =" Histo-
~ OF Philosophy" " Lie of Goethe" or
any of his brilliant and scholarly though
not always profound works. He is as de-
void o. beauty as she. albeit an admirable
talker. or rather monUlOgist, on an infinite
variety OF subjects.
GREAT WORKER
She is tremendous though an irregular
worker. Sac loves TO write She says
writing Is imperative with her; that she
could no more stop writing than she could
stop breathing. She i by no means tree
from ambition, either. she enjoys the
worlds applause, little A. she ha- 10 do
with the world, and she has clear appre-
ciatien--it would he strange if she had not
of her high Intellectual gifts. She near
ly lives in her study. Day after day She
will spend ten and twelve hours day ou
her manuscripts. and then will not touch
them for f0rty-eight hours. Her work will
average thirty-fye or forty hours a week.
She writes slow or fast. according II her
intellectual temper. bat never without ire
Quent revision. She does not permit line
OF autograph or proof 10 leave until she
has made 1t precisely what she wants. In
addition to composition. she studies hard,
and l. constantly .iu pursuit of knowledge.
Like her husband She j. an excellen lin
guist, reading French, German. Italian,
Spanish and Dltch with the greatest ease
and with critical comprehension. Her sole
recreation l. about two months IN the sum
mcr, when she usually accompanies her
liege to the Continent.
Her constitution l. good, bat her health
j. delicate on account Otthe perpetual strain
she puts upon 1t. There are no signs Of
her ply steal or mental failure, and she ox
pect- 10 write quite a. many novels as she
to- READY published. Her husband l. her
s-, G and financial manager. and has the
ri. On OF bargaining very shrewdly
wl,h g.L,lshers both for his own and his
wlies earnings.
She has earned by her pen, it is reported,
including her pay for " Deronda.' from
$50 900 to $40, 1000 (Sls0 600 to 5000 ,O00).
The literary couple live very comfortably
but quietly near Regents Park. spending
part OF tie year IN the country. Their
house contains a number Of pictures,
BONES AMI objects OF virtu. and they are
.. harmonious AMI cOntenteI as If neither
lad ever sen an inkstand