The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-10-02

GPT0lIlOD. III l!ODlN IL II - - IN
lie prejudice, and what nc knew would be
a ieering world. took Der back; replaced
her in his home. He believed that he had
done his duty; he was truly one man in ten
thousand. He had sacrificed himself for
what seemed TO be her good. Before the
year had passed Mrs Lcwes. who had
again resumed her old attitude Of OPP
position and defiance. repeated her offence.
She ran away again. Whether she q sec
ond time repented and begged a second
4'mc to be restored to marital f%avors, | do
not know. 1t is not likely. had she done
so, that her licge would or could have par
doned her. He felt that he had had enough
of wedlock; that hcnceforth celibacy would
be forever alluring. And it would have
been, doubtless, under ordinary clrcum-
stances. But meeting George Elliot was
not. to his mind, an ordinary circumstance.
He had no passion for her. no romantic at
tachment, no sentimental prejudice. He
loved her intellect;
HE WoRSIIIPPED E GENIUS;
lie knclt at her mental shrine. But he
could not marry her, and without marriage
society and custom forbade them to be close
companions. The law here, and with you,
too, / think, will not grant q divorce IN
der any circumstances, where dlslOyalty
had once been condoncd. He had con-
doned his wife's clopcment; for her second
e%lopement he had no legal remedy. What
could. what did he do? He submitted the
matter, after due reflection, to their com
mon friends, entirely conscious that George
Elliott would, by living with him, place
herself under ban; that she would expose
herself to misunderstanding, to harsh com
ment, to cruel criticism; that she could
hope for only the recognition and esteem
of the few. Their friends were among the
best and most intellectual persons in the
United Kingdom. They discussed the
question from every side, and finally gave
their verdict in favor Of a spiritual union,
which the law, through Il technicality,
would not sanction. George Elliot and
George Lewes went to reside under the
same roof. and until his death, nearly a
year ago, they were the best Of friends, the
most sympathetic of comrades, the most
harmonious of literary co~-workers. They
lived in a quiet quarter Of the city, near
Regents Park, in a modest but comforta-
BILE and elegant home, full Of books, pic
lures, engravings, bronzes, bric-a-brac, and
other objects of taste and art.
She never went out socially, but she re-
ceived Sunday evenings during the season
with her friend, and they who called were
almost always people of some kind of dis
t~inction. 1t was deemed a privilege to 90,
and a number Of cultured and liberal Anne
ricans have passed delightful hours there.
George Eliot lives there still; but Sunday
receptions have been r~elinquished since his
death, and are not likely to be resumed
She now sees only a very small humble Of
her nearest and oldest friends. Lewes's
death was a terrible bereavement to her.
one from which she will hardly recover.
He was a great stay and support to her; he
encouraged her to write; was her best and
most stimulating critic, and it is no doubt
on account Of her loss, so severe and insep-
arabic, that she has determined to
LAY ASIDE HER woNDROUs PEN.
She is now 50, and childless, and, though
it may not be called so, hers is a most mel
ancholy widowhood. She was always re-
ferred to, while he lived, as the wife of
Lewes. She never was his wife; she could
not be, for Mrs. Lewes proper still survives.
Sin frequently contributes to longevity.
George Eliot's writings have been very
profitable. Their value in the market has
rapidly increased. For s'ScencS of Clerical
adam Bede" she got, all told, e3. 900
Is, OOO); but something less, l fear. for
mill on the Floss 'sRomola." perhaps
her most artistic and one Of the most inter
estlng of her novels, to cultured people,
has never been fully appreciated. It's
earnings have to date, | am told, not
been much over 50, 900. She has cleared
from 'Middlemarch," issued by the Black
woods in eight divisions, the enormous sum
of IS. 600, and for "Daniel Deronda" about
the same. ''Silas Marner,' one of her
strongest stories. was not very profitable,
while Felix Holt" not at all equal to it,
gave her six times as much money. Her
poetry-she has issued six volumes-has
not been liked, nor does it deserve to be
liked in any measure with her novels. Still
she prefers her poetry, and would rather be
ranked as a poet than a tictionist. Her en-
tire earnings have been about $3.50, 600,
and she could make a contract any day for
a new story for which she would be guar
anteed $40, 600.
HER MONEY-MAKING OWL
is not excelled by that Of any writer in
Great Britain.
In her case genius has beer rewarded.
George Eliot is one of the most learned
authors of her time. The amonnt Of hor