New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-09

French rival Georges Sand, and the life of George
Eliot herself. In the latter there neither that
swift succession of freely gratfed caprices OF pas
sion, that ostentatous and reiterated defiance
to the world which stained the career Of Georges
Sand. George Eliot was the faithful wife of one
man. who was not her husband. Had she been
nobody or mediocrty. the world, had it CHANGED
to know the fact, would have frowned and passed
by on the other side and have kept its
front door closed. But the curiosity 10 see
so great o woman as George Eliot was very
strong indeed. Respect for her was strong; regret
that there should be any blemish in her life was
keen; there was possibly some pity for her. which
she would have rejected dlsdainfully; and there
was an over-mastcring desire to know her, which
finally overlcapt all barriers. If she had cared for
lionIzing or would have permitted herself 10 be
onIzed, she could have been ionlzed to her hearts
content. Bat she never accepted much of the homage
offered her. 1t was sometimes said that she remem
bercd the popularity of her position when hosts
and hostesses were willing 10 forget It, She
went to few houses freely but was.
naturally enough. somewhat cxacting in the nlce-
ties of female diplomacy, and to the last there was
the chance of rebuff against which neither she or
her hostess could always guard. ! have known of
| at least one case in which distinguished guest
under the same roof publicly refused to he intro
not make the acquaintance of a woman on whom
he would not allow his wife to call. He was GER
anly wrong but while it was possible that such
| things might happen, Miss Evans could not be
blamed for her ahyness about going into miscela-
neous company.
Her passion fer music was one If the strongest OF
| her nature aud she was often to be met at houses
where very good mnsic was to be heard. At one
such saw her several times. 1t was one of the most
beautiful houses in London, filled with fine pictures
and rare books, and graced by cordial hospitality
which every OF ITS guests must remember pleas
antIy where iIr. Browning and Lord IIoughion, SIR
Frederick Leighton and Mr. MiaiS Herr joachim
and Herr IIenschel and many other famous artists
and writers were to he met; with hrOng OF less re-
nowned but not less charming people. The LcwrscS
as used to be the fashion TO call thcm-were rs
much at home there as anywhere, and the spacious
rooms were sure TO he rather more crowded than
usual when they were expected. lhiS house mas
been twice closed; once some years since by the
death Of its MASTER and then after while was
opened 10 the more Innate friends OF Mrs. Benzon
whose death last year closed 1t forever The only
fault one could find with tlls musical parties was
that-as Il celebrated London talker said Of a Con-
tincnta Intruder whose stories ircshcr than his
own-thcy spoilt conversation. Nobody dare utter
a syllable while Joachm's violin was talking or
George Eliot less scrupulously silent at Il dramatic
entertainment. | CHANGED 10 sit next to her on the
first night of Tennyson's Queen Mary at tho
Lyceum. The acting of the piece did not please
her. aud she favored me with Il running commentary
on the performance, which was inCOIuparably More
brilliant than either tine play or the acting Her
criticism disclosed singular talent for sharp pleas
antrles. To me this was novel, but l believe most
of her friends who much of her were aware that
she had gift of saying very bitter things in u me-
lodous manner; which gift she, for the most part,
charltaGly kept under control.
A PEN-pOrTRAIr.
George Eliops appearance has often been de-
scribed. but the descriptions do not always harmon
lze. She has been called-l suppose most people
called her-extrcmcly plain. noted wit and
writer is reported to have said of her and Lewcs
rat they were both ugly it was impossible to
believe any harm of them. This sharp tongued per-
son AYERS that he said it not only OF, but to them
Let us hope his memory in that matter has played
him false. About LeweS's extraordinary uglncss
there could be no two opinions. There was not
good feature in his face, yet his face as
a whole was one which you would look
twice at and which Lad, at any rate
the merit of not being commonplace. George
Eliot, when you her IN repose. had beyond dis
pute forbidding couDtenance. People who did not
ike her used to say she looked like horse re-
mark have also known made about a celebrated
living actor 1t was true so far as this that tho
portion below the eyes disprcportionateiy long
and narrow. She had that square fulness of brow
over the eyes which Blake had and which led
Blake to affirm that the shape OF his head made him
q Republican George Elots radicalism went
much further than mere repubIcansm She never
can have been beautiful woman, either in face or
figure She was TALL gaunt, angular, without any flow
ing ease of motion though with asef~pOssession and
frInness of muscle and fibre which saved her from
the stumbling awkwardness often the characteristic
of long and -jonted people. There was no want
of power in her movements, nor in the expression Of
her elongated visage to the lower part of which went
plenty of Jaw and decision of contour She was al
togethera parsonage whom first sight the behOldcr
must regard with respect. and whom, upon further
acquaintance, it was perfectly possible to fluid at
tractIve not from her talk only. which was marvel
lousy full but from her mere external appearance
and still more from her expression and the ANNA
ton of her face. Her eyes were, when she talked,
luminous and beautiful, dark in color and OF that
unfathomabe depth and swift changefulness which
are seldom to be seen in the same Orbs, except IN
persons whose force of character and forco OF intel
ect are both remarkable. They could be very SOFT
and she smiled with her eyes as we'll as with that
large mouth of hers and the smile was full Of lowell
ness when it did not turn to mocking or mark that
contemptuous mood which was not, gather. very
infrcQuent with her. In conversation which did
not wakc>ths demon of scorniulness, born of con-
scous intellectual superiority. tho face was full of
vvacity and light, whether illuminated by smile
or not. have seen 1t, when she was talking on n
subject that moved her. rradiated and sufused with
deep feeling.
She had her humble moods too. Boldly contro-
verting everybody else, leading the talk, often
monopOlizine it, always confident. sometimes des-
potc, she bowed herself before Lewes In humility