The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-02-20
GEORGE ELIOT.

Kate Field, In New York Tribune.
George Eliot dead and you ask for
my recollections of her? Memory is
almost lost in regret, for she was great
and good, and kind to me, but l will
try to recall the past. Come with me
to Florence, flower of all cities, and
city of all flowers"
Here, when left as a school girl 10
study singing and Italian, met George
Eliot, Being in charge Of an accom-
plished Englishwoman, who numbered
among her friends all that were best in
literature, art, and diplomacy, enjoy
ed advantages far beyond my years,
and found second home at Villino
Tronope, the residence of Thomas Adolf
plus Trollope. win you come with me
there and meet George Elliott 1t is a
Sunday evening, and she is expected
with her husband.
All, this Villino Trollope is quantity
fascinating with its marble pillars, its
grim men in armor, starting like senti-
nels from the walls, and its curiosites
greeting you every step. The antiquary
reyels in its majolca, its old bridal
chests and carved furniture, its beauti-
full terra Gotta of the Virgin and Child"
by Orgagno, its hundred oggetti of the
cinque cento. The bibliopole grows ST.
lently ecstatic as he sinks quietly in
to midpval chair and feasts his eyes
on model library bubbling over with
five thousand rare books, many wonder
fully Illuminated and enriched by cost
" engravings. To those who prefer
an earnest talk with the host and hostess
on politics, art. religion, or the last
new book, there is the cosy study where
Puss and Bran, the faithful dog, lie side
by side on Christian terms, and where
the daughter Of the house will sing you
the Tuscan can't popolari like young
nightingale in voice but with more than
youthful expression.
Here is Anthony Trollope, and ii is
no ordinary pleasure to enjoy simultan-
eously the philosophic reasoning of
Thomas Trollope looking half Socrates
and half Calico whom Mrs. Brown
ing called "Aristides the Just" and the
almost boyish enthusiasm Of Anthony
Trollope, who is an admirable specimen
of a frank and loyal Englishman.
ii is late in spring, Soft winds kiss
the budding foliage and warm it into
bloom; the beautiful terrace Of VilIno
Trollope is transformed into a reccp-
tion-room. Opening upon a garden,
with its lofty pillars, lis taSsellated mar
BILE floor its walls inlaid with terra cot
Ia, basrcIirlS, inscriptions, and coats OF
arms with here and there a niche de-
voted to some antique madonna, the ter
race has all the charm Of campo san
10, without the chill Of the grave upon
it; or were few cowled monks TO walk
with folded arms along its space one
might fancy ii the ClOiStcr of q monas-
terry On this warm spring night there
is laughter and the buzz OF many
tongues. No lights but the stars are
burning, and men and women, talking
in almost every civilized tongue, are
slipping iced lemonade one of the spec
iaNtieS OF Nillino Trollope.
Dan Ongaro, the poet is reciting
verses TO my chapcrone, and | sit beside
her wondering whether George Eliot
VIII deign 10 notice me- There she
stands quietly in the moonlight, speak
ing earnestly 10 AdolphuS Trollope,
while Lewc> hoyers near calling her
attention 10 the exquisite beauty OF the
lights and shades made by the moon.
One by one the guests are presented
10
THE AUTHOR OF adam BEDE,"
who receives all with striking diffdence;
and more and more ! wonder whether
Mr.. Irollopc will remember the Amer
lean girl in the corner-a nobody.
There | sit growing very detected,
when the host offers his arm TO George
Eliot, and they walk toward Madonna
which is above my head They stop to
admire the work; the host discovers
me. | am introduced, and my hear
beats quickly as George Eliot takes my
hand and seats herself beside me, ex
pressing great interest in all young
girls who aspire 10 lead broader live'
Than those carved out by society.
gaze at her with delight, and see
woman OF medium stature, OF large
frame, and fair Saxon coloring In
heaviness of jaw and height Of cheek.
bone she greatly resembles German,
nor are her features unlike those OF