New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-23
GEORGE ELIOT'S LETTERS To HEB
AUNT.

AUNT.
THE GREAT NovELIsr's EARLY oRTHoDoxY-BsR
sTuMBLING-BLOCK' LOVE OF HUMAN
PRAIsE"-HER AMBITION.
From, The Manchester Ttmes
An important link in the chain of the great nov
'Dinah Bedes.' now residing In Sheffield. File hasin
by George Eliot years ago to Mrs. Elizabeth Evans
and Mr.. Samuel Evans, tho "Dinah Morris" aud
seth Bede" of her most popular story. The letters
name, MARY Ann Evans" and they are indited
from Griff, and FOleshill. near Coventry, at which
place she lived with a. her father during the years
the fortunate owner OF these documents very prop
erly looks upon them as great treasures; still he
has allowed the writer the privilege OF perusing
them Some of the letters are brown with age. and
much worn at the edges and in the folding creasee.
Others are in better preservation. The let
tiers, at least those dispatched in ls4l, were
sent to Wrksworth. Just year before Sir Rowland
Hills scheme for penny postage was carried into
effect. and before envelopes had come into common
use They are written the Old-fas hOned poet
paper and the address, " Mr.. b. Evans, the Mill
houses Wordsworth" appears on the outer sheet.
that George Eliot bad paid for the transmission.
Most OF the epistles are addressed to my dear
uncle and aunt and all reveal George Eliots great
talents. -,
The style is elegant and graceful, and the letters
abound in beautiful metaphor; bnt their most
striking characteristic is the religious tlnge that
pervades them all. Nearly every line denotes that
George Eliot was an earnest Biblical student, ana
that she was especially in the years 1880 and $780,
very anxious absut her spiritual condition. In one
of these letters written from Griff TO Dinah Nor,
rls" IN 1899, she says she IS living In dry ana
thirsty land, and that she is looking forward with
pleasure 10 visit to Wirksworth, and likens her
aunt's compaDi0nship and counsel TO o spring OF
pure water. acceptable TO a aer az Is t lne
well dug for the traveller IN the desert; tnat ,ns
between the eminent authoress and MIS-. Elizabeth
Evans, or Dinah Bede." Is apparent from this cor
respOnGence. The Utmost secrets OF George Eliots
heart are laid bare IN these letters to the famous
Methodist preacher who was at that time her dear
est friend. She is ever asking for advice and spr-
itual guidance aud cOufesses her faults with a eau
dor that is rendered additionally attractive by
reason of the polished language in which 1t Is
clothed.
pious and clever; and in the letters she wrote IN
1889 when she was nineteen years old, the clever.
ness has grown and expanded, although she Is NOT
sure about her piety. She says that unstable as
water thou shalt not excel" seems to be descrp-
ton of her character instead Of the progress from
strength to strength that should be experienced 6y
those who wish TO stand in the presence OF God.
In another letter she admits that she cannot give
good account Of her spiritual state, says that she
has been surrounded by worldly perso1s, and that
love of human praise is one of her great
stumbling blocks. But in letter written IN
1910 the uncertainty has gone from her mind, and
she writes that she mas resolved 10 .ns saengsn o.
municatlOn, however, she does not appear 30 con-
fdent. and admits that she 10 obliged to strive
her fonduess OF worldly praise u great oar ana
hlndrnnce to spiritual advancement Sul! she
thinks it is no use sitting inactive with folded
hands, and believing that the lsye OF God ie tho
only thing to give real satisfaction to human beings
che hopes with His help, TO obtain it.
One OF the letters is ehley deyoted e tne concern
another, written at FOeshill, betrays some hun0r
amid the trouble that aflicts the authoress about
her future Their outward circumstances she writes,
about her spiritual state although she feels that IT
ON ono to speak Of the preacher at Fseshii!.
with whom she n not greatly pleased.
I'VE get the truth but It is not
she writes of this divinei yet she 10 charitable
wlthal, and removes the sting by adding that more
good may sometimes be obtained from humoie IN.
struments than from the highest privileges and that
she must examine her own heart rather than speak
unkndly of the preacher. . x,,.,
Up to this period it is evident that George Ehovs
views upon religion were orthodox, and That her
life was passed in ceaseess STRIVING for the peace
that passeth 6qt n astS isasr
Evans of Grf in winch George Eliot is spoken o.
and the change in her religious opinions Indicated
Mrs. Evans writes that she Is IN great pain apout
Mary Ann, but the Last portion Of the letter dealing
more fully with the subject, has unfortunately got
lost or destroyed. The lose association OF eorge
Eliot with Derbyshire. as well as her love Tor the
quaint village of Wirkswortb. aud its upright nom
est God-fearing people, breaks forth IN more than
one of these communications; out the writer nas
even stronger proof or ner deknt III INC SociosS VI
the Bedes" and the affection that grew 80 strong
bet ween the authoress and " Dnah Bede."
Sheffield has the honor of being tho town In
which Mary Evans, the daughter OF e DInsh Nor
risn now lives. But it is useless for the curious 70
attempt to discover the lady, who Is married and
has changed her name She remembers george
ElOts visits 10 her mother at Wrksworth, particu-
larly in 1887, and denies that Mary Ann ever went
TO school in the village. She remembers, however,
that George Eliot sometimes took notes o. the cou
versatiOns with her mother; and notwisnstanattng
any statement to the contrary. is connoent tuao
thres characters in "Adam Bede" are wofo pn0tS
graphs OF her mother, Elizabeth Evans ner fasner.
Samuel Evans. and bis brother. Robert Evens AVG
Evans family she states lived at Milihouses. aooot
q mile beyond the village, ON the DERBY roao ano
there were two daughters and nve 0rotaers. Inc
lads were ali ioiners Robert, the Adam bede" Of
George Eliots story, was the eldest; aud samuel,
ths Seth 3ede" OF the novel. who married Dnah
Morrisn was the youngest. and became partner IA
fhe tsne mill Luke was greatly interested ~
ieorae Eliot and went o visit TO Der et Foieshht
In lS4o dc Is spoken Of a. wondsrtnl man %
Argument but when he returned 20 Wnkswortn no
ssid George Eliot had historically changed her News
upou religious question: and that 10 had 1ieo ~
vain 10 bring her back to her former CONDITION oS
thought. Ii was In this year that Ddnah Bede
died ; and the intimacy between tho auehoBc8 mo
her Niykswosth fr1ends grew Leo md leeA goeAhY
on account OF her leaning tow6fd heeer9dozys a.
though she always had warm place in her hoes1
Tor t6e peopls IN the old Defbyshife viilaes, WHO
"a cx,A.1 kop aloa0 fhn UinrnHna0un DafhB a