New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-12-24
reader to-day hearing that their writer has de-
parted, will think of her with gratitude.
RECoLLECTIoNs By KATE FIELD.


To the Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR: George Eliot dead and you ask for MY re-
collections of heri Memory is almost lost IN regret
forshe was great and good and kind to me. but will
try to recall the past Come with ME to Florence,
Flower OF all cities and city of all flowers"
Here when left as schoolgirl to study singing
and Italian. L first met George Eliot. Beng in
charge of an accomplished Englishwoman. who
numbered among her friends all that were best in
literature. art aud diplomacy enjoyed advantages
far beyond my years, and found second
home at Vllno Troilope. the residence of
Thomas Adolphus TroIlope. Will you come with
me there and meet George Elliott Ii is Sunday
evening, and she rs expected with her husband
All this Vino Trollope is quantity fascinating
with its marble pillars its grim in armor.
starting Ike sentinels from the walls. anG
its curiosities greeting you at every step. The an
tiquary reveIs IN its majoca. Its old bridal chests
and carved furniture ITS beautiful terra Gotta of the
Virgin and Child by 0rgagno its hundred oggetti
of the enque cento The bibliopole grows silently
ecstatic ne .sinKs quietly into medlDval
chair and feasts his eyes q model library
bubbling with 5000 rare books many won
derfuly Illuminated and enriched by costly on
cravings. To those who prefer earnest eak with
the host and hostess politics, art religion, or the
last book, there the cosey study where Puss
Christian terms and where the daughter
of the house will sing you the Tuscan can't popo-
lar like young nightingale in voice, but with
more than youthful expression.
Here Is Anthony TrDllOpe and Ii is no ordinary
pleasure to enjoy simultaneously the philosophic
reasoning of Thomas Trollope-oCkiug half Socrates
and half Collaboration Mrs Browning called
"Anstides The just" and the almost b0yish enthusi
asm and Impulsive augmentation of Anthony Trol-
loyal EnglIshman.
1t is late in spring. Soft winds kiss the budding
foliage and warm it into bloom the beautiful ter
of Yilno Trolope is transformed into
reception-room. Opening upon garden,
with It's lofty pillars. its tesseated mar
bic floor. its walls inlaid with terra Gotta,
has reefs. inscriptions and coats of arms, with here
and there niche devoted to some antique madonna,
the terrace has all the charm of a campo saaiO with
out the chill OF the grave upon it or were few
cowled monks to walk with folded arms along its
space might fancy it the closter of monastery.
On this warm spring night there laughter and
the buzz of many tongues. No lights but the stars
are burning. aud men and women, talking IN almost
every civilized tongue, are slipping iced lemonade
one OF the speeialties of VilliDo Trollope.
Dalp Ongaro. the poet. is recting to my
chaperone. and sit beside her wondering whether
George Eliot will deign to notice me. There she
stands quietly IN the moonlight speaking earnestly
to Adolphus rrollope. while Lewes hoyers near. CALI
ing the exqusi beauty of the lights
and shades made by the moon. One by one the
guests are presented to the author of Adam Bede"
who receives all with shrinking diffidence more
and more wonder whether Mr. Trollope will re-
member the American girl IN the corner-a nobody.
There SIT growing very detected when the host
offers his arm to George Eliot and they walk to-
yarI lodi tphI 10 uhO my hon
They stop to admire the work; the
host discovers ME. l am introduced,
and my heart beats quickly rs George Eliot takos
my hand and seats herself beside me- expressing
interest all Young girls who aspire to lead
broader lives than those carved out by society l
gazs at her with delight and a of
medium stature, of large frame and fair Saxon
colorng. In heaviness of jaw and height of cheek
hone she greatly resembles German. nor
are her features unlike those of Words |
worth whom Haztt swore looked Just
like horse. We are all said to resemble ami !
NAL and George Eiot's animal, like WordswortRs, !
Is the horse. Her eyes are pale blue, her mouth !
large and sensitive her teeth large and white. The
expression of her face gentle while her manner
Is slnRuary timd yet. If by force of Will If
she had been told something about me BY good Mr. |
Troope she puts this t1mditY aside, relates her
own literary experience and suggests advice.
True genus allied TO humility, and in see |
ing George Eliot do the work of a good Samaritan !
50 unobtruslvely learn to respect the woman as
much as bad before admired the writer " For
years" she says. wrote reviews because knew |
TOO httle of humanity and doubt whether | should |
ever have ventured upon a novel had not Mr. |
Lewes urged me to it, To him submitted my Scenes
Of Clerical Lfe short stores of the worth Of which
WAS IN doubt. Mir. Lewes insisted upon their pub
hcston. and their success put an end to my reviews
All my manuscripts pass through his hands before |
thoy are submitted to the public He is my critic |
and my inspiration"
To think that George Eliot should be tell |
ing all this to schoolgirl! Why l can |
scarcely believe my ears; yet / venture |
to ask whether she enjoys writing; whether |
It is easy worKf mo-" she replies, 81 am miser-
able when writing but l am still more miserable
when not writing" After more kindly words. |
George Eliot rises her husband comes forward and |
claims acquaintance with the little republican" |
find myself absolutely laughing and talking with |
these two wonderful creatures, and then they bid |
me goodnight That is all L see of them.
their lortnight's stay in Florence being over.
In the maturity of her wisdom this gifted woman
startled the world With Scenes Of Clerical Life"
Adam Bede," Mill the Floss and " Silas |
Mariner" making era IN English fiction, |
and raising herself above rivalry. Elk.
perience was much to her. Her men are
men. her women are women. and long did English |
readers rack their brains to discover the sex of |
George Ehot." Mrs. Lewes need not necessarily |
nave encountered the characters she so vividly |
portrayed. Genius looks upon Nature, and then
creates. The penthouse scene in Silas Mariner
is az perfect DuIch painting. yet the author
never entered a pOt-house. Her strong physique |
enabled her In earlier DAYS to brush against the
world and IN thus brushing she gathered up the
dust fine and coarse, out of which humanity Is made.
1t is o powerful argument in the Woman
Question" that-without going TO France |
for George Sand" Adam Bede" aud the
of PAM Earrol y |