The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-16
SOEE NEW BUOKS.
Mnrr v..oll.tnnerrni,,. srurr.


W." so.iYl rut. if rrld.u: %" ,cil which oh-
t.uro.i rnUfa,.'.a ai.itc; anl they rtIind
~ VITA fiio o...tI'u.. ,l p,.Up'o ihat good
iuNrl.y.s &C.. sir'gde ty 90" clear eyes ami
tartrrt s.nii ~ r..-."l.tv. lu WrfJ liraafoue-
,,of $50. trn.s l,ArnDi,olrrf. cos. I str'h 70
v.rS JOS i'su t-srsnt ior ono vino loved and
tI'' A., g.u- i.tui g. wnom s'snt gnn;icness
- .H-'ir WY t.f.l iu i'r lifetime. With q
g.. ...ty Wtu.h rather htray- than hides the
h~ut-nr~s cf hts syurat.y. She uutuor has
Undertaken TO- .siicfhrsi ,ry Cd woman whose
toyruN. we're uurscoeui1.tl. whose pure and
Er.vv ami gepcrous nature waa abused aud mis-
Interpreted. an whesc name was dcspisct.
Nc huvc now. eighty Years after her death the
it~i srrious auemW In this memoir by Nr.
laui. 10 st her rich, in the eyes OF those who
WI consent a. see her ~ she was.
Those vino rrtracc the thread Of this remark
able lie can thirdly fail to be- impressed by the
rar.ous analogy with what is publicly known
regarding the NEST famous English woman
oi our day. Not only ia the pnral-
lcl hotwees Mary Wollstonecraft and Miss
Marian Evans suggested by an obvious identity
OF attitude toward the marriage relation hut 1t
nligat lee carried out in quite minute details OF
cirCumstREco and achievement Both give proof
Of wide and fruitful acquisitions from the
diverse fields Of books aud personal experience:
both evinco uncommon nptitudes for more than
one form q literary exposition: and although
Tie wife Of Goodwin canno, b. credited with the
Erti-tic caracity OF the author Of Middle
mnrch." yet hcr rare and delicate genius Is SUI
lcentiy uttested by the letters in this volume.
lee ides treatses in social and political philoso-
ply. among which her "Vmdication Of the
Rights OF Women and her reply TO Burkc's
STRUCTURES on the French Revolution chal-
ieng' the most respectful attention. Mary
Woilstluccrait found time. amid the constant
fractions ana anXictics Of struggle for exist
en"r. Ia write essays, notes of travel and works
nl Il ,tion which may stil be read with no or
binary pleasure. On the other hand. we need
not say that George Eliot would have boon dis
tngui-hed as poet essayist, and reviewer N
shc md never written novel and she Is now
understood to be engaged In completing n
philosophical work. There was. too. singularly
enough. the precise disparity OF age between
Mary Woistouecraft and William Goodwin. with
whom dc latest and happiest part OF her life
was passed rs existed between Miss Evans
mad Mr.. Loves. and Che tSo mon wore much
G.se. los regards the direction OF their studies
EuitHo quality Of thoir intellect. Both concen-
lra;'d their energies Oh scientific Investigation.
10 ia. in each cgtse. gave substantial results;
and y-Jb,T ar hes; known by their raad1m.
excursions IN tie field 81 prose narrative, the
one by Caleb " illams. aud Subsequent Nes-
tNrfS IN Nrtluu. the other by tho Lie OF
Hocthe.' Each denonstra:ed In word the
Somewhat rare aGmiXture If keen stnsibilltins
und robust intelligence and proved Ills abh-
nyto touch the heart a. well AS convince the
reason. II is certainly "A striking coincidence
llat such women as Mary WOilstone-
craft and George Eliot should each be
brought In contact with man 80
VOL qualified TO appreciate her tHlents. aud
gauge 1e purity Of her motives. uLshaken by
the prot els. scruplos or proJudices Of society.
ln nci:het c,se docs the irregular union con-
lra't,d seem TO have wanted anything Of the
confidence and oonstancy which the marriage
bond j. attended t. assure. In one instance IL
= trls:ii, relation PROMPTED by at tion and
r,;rcu Old finally receive the sanction Of the
law. owing 10 reus ms. however. which scarcely
invoked d surrender OF principle, while in the
c.i"r Il remained uupropped by amy exterior
ub.i.:pti0n but rooted In reciprocal trust aud
tenderness until L was lately suudercd by death.
To analogy Ia situation j. manifest; vt it IL
far less impres-iy than tho difference In the
~ attAcnt which these a.comp, she'd women
llvc received from the world. Il might mo-, Doe
d.ft .u't % dplurs from Felix Holt aud
Daniel Derauda' religious opinions the re-
gs- ol orthodox. but tine time has passed
'.h,n such iu4u.iic- would DO tolerated IN the
'rtir.,m ola work of art Nor are N,-s Evan7's
tih- N'''"t li'.iA NNl4Aaf rtuNf4 is'i ttlfH U'-
laUse their author is known - have translated
t.tau.-'s Life OF Jesus Mary Wo.stone-
o.alt. however. though Size lived and died
- Christian. was called an atheist. az
N-}s hard name. and which. in her day.
NJ term OF oboluy and s,orn. On an
Hnis save one her opinions were those
iow held uy .ultiya.el women. yet tor that sin
i- divergence this high-minded. generous.
L.nl.c ieiue was dcalt with rs a wautou. and
r-r"Ilel with coutumcly not only from society.
~ to q largo extent from the world Of lattor-
Atutirr when She drpcn led on hrg Pen Q earn
Tread for Ter child her innocent writings wcr.
branded rs infamous hy the censors az thorr-s..
md shut out with loothirg from respectable
craving rooms. She whoL 10 her biogr4pA-r
points out. the real enthusiasm Of humanity be-
I r. the words were known which designate a
feeling far from common was mad. by coarse
and cruel Sights 20 feel herself an outca-t from
her kind
Ca Die other hand. George Eliot. however sod
E'ou-ly guarded tie refined aud stud!ous scclu-
s.uui which she prefers o. dwell. cannot posi-
uy De accounted one Of the martyrs ~ society
Although the uuture 4 her relations % MrLowes
n...- from, tl, .,,.l,,. .f, ,t-..