The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-02
CRoSSS LIFE OF GEORGE ELIOT.

Inc character ana the moue OF uIe Oh OeOrge
Eliot have been the subject of many and contra
dictory theories. The moral quality of her
books has been the subject Of even more dis
putes than the moral quality of her life. Was
she betrayed by her own ill-regulated passions
into an alliance in defiance of law which was
matter for regret during all her later years2
Was her marriage with Mr.. Cross
a confession that her life with
Mr.. Lewes had been a failure,
a bitter Disappointment Was that marriage
remon with Mr.. Cross a further confession
stilll Was it a return to the jurisdiction of the
chureh2 Was it a public expression OF repent
ance for an act thus acknowledged to be wroLga
These are a few Of the inquiries which a men
zion of her name has, in recent years. seldom
failed to call forth. The lessons Of her books
Do they teach that a blind, unconscious fate con-
trolls all human livesl Do they, by the recogni-
ton of such a controlling fate, rob the actions of
human beings of all moral quality? Or do they
emphasize the moral quality of every conscious
deed, and inculcate the most effective moral
lessons by showing that every act bears fruit
after its own ~kind-fruit which the actor must
eat, be it to death or to life9 These are a few of
the problems which have been discussed by the
critics OF a series of novels, which have been
second to no other influence during the last
twenty years in modifying the moral opinions OF
the English people. The lovers of George Eliot
"a numerous and still increasing class-will find
dread removed. anxiety dispelled and
every afectionate hope realized by the
disclosures of Mr.. Cross's biography.
In these pages prurient curiosity finds
seeks the sources of a great intellectual force
that curiosity which longs to know how great
works of art have been produced, how the season
Of intellectual fruitfulness may be prolonged
during forty consecutive years; the curiosity
which seeks to know what are g~enius's estimate
of itself-such curiosity finds here much gratif-
cation. Thus the lovers and the faithful stu
dents Of George Eliot, and the philosophical
students of human nature. will find these vol
umes written for them. As for that class of peo-
pie who are capable of forming confident opin-
ions without data, it is doubtful if these reser-
yoirs of data will in any way modify their opinions.
The method of Mr.. Cross as biographer chal-
lenges admiration. A very short Introductory
chapter presents with great clearneSS the main
facts of the first eighteen years of Mary Ann
Eyanss life, and acquaints US with the conditions
in which the girl was born, and under which she
grew to womanoood. In this chapter the home
Y thO A6AOo 0A@ OAo toA1 obA
the school life are clearly merged. From this
point the work Is a compound of biography and
biography. George Eliot is permitted to tell
her own story in extracts from her letters and
diaries. These are so judiciousiy selected and
so s~killfully woven together that they form a
consecutive narrative in which chronological
order is so perfectly preserved that one does not
once think of the story as fragmentary, and
it costs some effort to recall the
fact that this well rounded picture of the exter-
Tor and the interior of a great personality is after
all but a mosaic. Really all of the explanatory
and connecting passages introduced by MIR. Cross
would probably make less than fifty ordinary
octave pages, and the passages selected are so
fitting and so invariably inserted at the point
where needed. that they produce no jar; the
reader experiences no sense of interruptions; in
like marginal notes as ordinarily arranged, these
do not distract but rivet the readers attention.
The arrangement of the explanatory matter
elicits the readers gratitude, and the omission Of
the formal openings and conclusions of the let
broken page which cannot be too high
" commended. An occasional reader
complains that this omission causes
confusion; but surely any confusion thus caused
may be removed by turning to the ummary at
the close of each chapter while all names and
dates are duly given.
In some quarters the complaint is made that
this biography should have been prepared by a
professional author" 1t would, however. seem
that all the advantages possibly possessed by a
professional author are outweighed by that
industrious collection Of material which leaves
no question unanswered by an interchangeable
study of materials through which they were re-
duced in the mind of the editor to a perfect
unity; by an exquisite taste which. from first
page to last. respects the most exacting sense of
propriety, and by the ingenious arrangement
previously referred to. Biographies recently
prepared by professional authors have so
degraded this most charming and helpful form
of literature that one almost fears to open a new
volume of it. Apropos, are George Eliots refec-
tions upon this theme called forth by the pub
LEGATION of Dickens's letters: 90 Still.
something should be done by dispassionate crit
icism toward the reform of our national habits
in the matter of literary biography. Is it rot
odious that as soon as a man is dead his desk is
raked. and every insignificant memorandum
which he never meant for the public is printed
for the g~ossiping amusement OF people too idle
to re-read his books! He gave the people of his
best. His worst he kept; his best he gave
But there is a certain set, not a small one, who
are Initiated by the worst and indifferent to the
best. / think this fashion is a disgrace to US all.
1t is something like the uncOvering of the dead
Byren's club-foot"
OF all the remarkable qualities which Mr..
Cross work proves him the possessor, his most
remarkable is modesty. Hardly could any s'pro-
fessionaI author" have so suppressed himself.
Ordinary vanity would have betrayed any but a
very remarkably balanced mind into using his
function of biographer as a means of making
himself aud his connection with that famous
woman conspicuous. A very delicate task was
it for Mr.. Cross to make his pages reveal the
sweetness of the domestic life of George Eliot
with Mr. Lewes; to search out aud arrange ex-
tracts of letters, and entries in her journal, that
would shos5 all the admirable and lovable quail
ties of Mr.. Lewes, and would show their mutual
tender love to be the growth of a
quarter of a century. "A delicate task,
indeed; but so faithfully and exquisitely per-
formed that Mr.. Lewes's own critical eye and
e~xacting taste could not be offended by a word
in these pages.
So mnehf for Mr.. Crosss method and his success
full execution of it; it is a method which should be
emulated by succeeding biographers; a method
that secures for him the gratitude of all lovers
of George Eliot, and Of all students, lovers or
otherwise, who seek to know her and to know
her method; moreover, a method which evinces
fine qualities in the man who has used it. that