Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-21
The Truth About George Eliot.
This seems to come ont In the following let.

This seems to come out In the following let
| ter to the Boston Transcript
"Mr. G. w. Cookies book on George Eliot,
which he describes as critical study of her life,
writings, and philosophy, has many points of
| great merit, which Thoughtful readers will not
| De slow to find out. As study it is far richer
| In material and more fruitful In method than
| any other yet made, and for guide to writings
which are themselves grand field of literature
| it is extremely valuable.
But on one point of the very remarkable life
| OF George Eliot, Mr.. Cooke has given from no
fault Of his own, not the true account, but the
| false one put forth by and on behalf Of Mr.. G.
H. Lewes. had opportunities. while living in
England, to get first-hand testimony in regard to
the character of Lewes In his earlier life, the
real facts as to his first marriage in which he
was more immoral and prohigate than his faith
less wife was, and the truth as to the heart
wretchedness of George Eliot while trying
to make the best of the mistake into which
Lewes. by deception. had betrayed her.
The assertion. SO much insisted on in various
quarters that rare happiness came to
George Eliot from what is called her marriage
Is as contrary possible to the real truth. which
was that. apart from her faithful efforts to make
the best OF the case for everybody. she was one
OF the most wretched and suffering Of human
beings. The true story Of her life has yet to be
tOlQ. Inc story that has been tOIu Tor so many
years, as to Mr. Lewes, never had any truth in
1t. 1t was first used to cheat George Eliot into
relation which with any suspicion Of the truth
her soul would have abhorred; and it has been
used ever since to make current history tell
lies favorable to Mr.. G.. II. Lewes. George
Eliot. when it was too late, made the best she
could of the false position into which clever
lies had betrayed her, but it vas out of her own
heart, in the great stcry which Is so largely her
autobiography, that she said. There is no COM
pensatiOn for the woman who feels that the chief
relation Of her life has been no more than a mis-
take. She has lost her crown The facts which
are the key to the true life Of George Eliot
have on the authority of lady of the highest
character, who lived in Lewes' family at the
time that his first marriage was made unhappy
In a way much more danning to the name of
Lewes himself than to that of his faithess wife.
The circumstances were such as made clever lie
ABOUT the situation very easy. and on that lie
rested the marriage Of George Eliot with Mr..
LeWes. How she was betrayed, how she tried
to make the best Of it and what her real life
was. can be made out clearly enough. when one
mas the key. from her many reflections of her.
self and Lewes in different aspects in fiction,
and from evidence which, in spite OF industrious
propagation of the false story has come to light
mere has been no sadder tragedy on the stage
OF recent history than the life of George Eliot,
and never has crucified soul more purely
sought to redeem with sweetness of light a life
as dark and bitter as trouble could make it.
'PLYMoUTH, Mass. EDWARD C. TOwNE."