Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-01-07
George Eliot Dead.

THE LIFE OF THE GREATEST WOMAN OF
THE CENTURY-HER EARLY HISTORY
TRUE LOVE THAT NEVER DID RUN
sNooTH-HER LITERARY WORKS AND
FAME-THE LAST CHAPTERS IN HER
LIFE.
A London dispatch of Tuesday says:
"Mrs. Cross George Elliott. the distin-
guished novelist, died at ten O'Clock Mon
day night. Her death was quiet and al
most painless. The Pail Mall Gazetteer
announced Monday evening that Mrs.
Cross was seized with sudden chill, which
attacked her in the larnyx on Sunday last.
She had shortly before the attack received
several friends, who left her apparently in
good health and spirits. The attack, how
ever, did not give serious cause for alarm
until six O'Clock Monday evening. DR..
Andrew Clark then discovered that the
pericardium was seriously affected, and
pronounced the case almost hopeless. She
passed away quietly. On the 9th of May
last the deceased was married as Miss Ma
rian Evans to John Walter Gross, of Wey-
bridge Surrey, a merchant in this CITY,"
The deceased was the daughter Of a poor
curate. born in WarwickSlire, England.
about 1920, but was adopted by a wealthy
clergyman, who gave her careful educa-
ton. On leaving the acadamy she became
pupil Of Herbert Spencer afterwards fa
nous for his PHILOSOPHERS al writiDgs) and
under his training acquired great breadth
of mental development. learning German,
French and studying music and art, as
well as metaphysics and logic. Her first
literary effort was translation of Strauss
Life of Jesus,'' in 1916, followed in 1854
by Feuerbach's Essence of Christianity
AS associated editor of the "Westminster
Review she soon Became acquainted with
the leading representatives BIT rAe School'Of
Benthaen and J. S. Mill, with which she
NAV be classified AS novelist, her first
work was ''Scenes OF Clerical Life" in
1858, originally published in ''Blackwood.
In 1859 "Adam Bede' proved brilliant
success, and her nom-de-plume of George
OF all that followed from her pen. THIS
was followed up by the ''Mill on the Floss"
in 1860, ''oilas Mariner" in 1861, 'Romo-
lo' in 1858, Felix Holt. the Radical" in
1875, and '.Middlemarch'' in 1912. The
last is universally considered one of the
greatest novels of the century. AS poet
she published 1.-The Spanish Gypsy" in
1868, Agatha" i'll 1869, and s'The Legend
of Jubal" IN 1874, which would have suf
feed to establish poetical reputation
for an unknown writer, but have
scarcely added to the fame she had
acquired as a novelist Her skill as a
painter of strongly marked characters was
marvellous. In all her novels the physical
and material difficulties to which the char
acterS are subjected, and in all those things
which ordinarily constitute the plot of
romance, are, without losing their inter-
est in any way, made completely subordi-
nate to this leading design OF picturing
the development Of the individual charac-
ter under different conditions. Thus her
novels form some of the best examples in
the English language Of the true carrying
out Of the highest purposes OF tlctJon.-
Hardly less important characteristics were
ner singular skill IN Selling and embodylng
thoroughly human types OF mind and
thought, so that each of her characters be-
came living representative OF some traits
which every reader recognized. Sne also
Exhibited power of terse and almost cpl
grammatic expression, which placed the
works among that small number from
which expressions pass into popular and
current quotation. With the exception of
'Romolo.'' the subjects of her novels were
generally taken from English village and
impressions Of TheophraStus such. - be-
sides which she edited two posthumOus
volumes of Aeorge Henry Lewes's ''Treat-
Use on Philosophy"
Her relations with Mr.. Lewes were pc
culiar and afforded much room for gossip.
He was married man, but he and his
wife shook off the marital relation, and
we're living apart when he became attach
ed to Miss Evans. His love was returned,
and the question of their future was dis
cussed by these loving friends and friendly
| lovers. They asked the advice and copn-
| sci of their wisest and best of their friends
| in this emergency, and at last, after much
| thought and discussion, it was decided Dy
! themselves and their counSelOrS that this
| being an exceptional case, it must be dealt
| with in an exceptional manner. A legal
| marriage between them Was impossible
| out since the affection which united them
| was no youthful passion, but the stable
bond of love founded on mutual
congeniality and respect, they would
| be justified in uniting their lives
| outside of the law, if they were strong
enough to bear the social consequences
which must naturally follow from the in
| fraction of the law. This they resolved to
| do, and from that time they lived happily,
| hopefully and contentedly together. Mr..
Lewes died in November, 1878, and the
bereavement was shock that nearly prov
cd fatal. Hermarriage to Mr.. John Wal
Ter Cross last May was d great surprise to
all her friends. After the wedding they
made an extensive continental trip in con-
sequence of her delicate health. Mr.
Cross was well known in New York. where
for ten years he had been member OF the
banking firm of Deninstown, Wood q 20
In 1871 he went to London, and went into
business as one of the firm of Cross, BEN
son & Co., of London. He is 40 years OF
age, and has been writer for several Lon
don magazines He was very intimate in
he literary society to which George Hen
ry Lewes and George Eliot belonged, and
was one of the mourners at the funeral OF
Mr.. LeWes.