The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-20

be varied. OF course, from one epoch of my life
to another. But neFer went further toward
the actual writing of the novel than an intro
ductory chapter describing Staffordshire vii
lage and the life Of tie neighboring farm
houses; and as the ydars passed on lost any
hope that should evet be able to write novel,
just as Responded about everything else IN my
future life. / alwaysi shought / was deficient in
dramatic power, both tof construction and dla-
logue, but | felt l should be at my ease In the
descriptive parts of powell. My Introductory
chapter pure description. though there
were good materials in'it for dramatic presenta
ton. It happened to be among the papers /
had with me in Germany, and one evening at
Berlin something led me- to read it to George
He was struck with it as bit of concrete de-
scription, and it suggested to him the possibil-
fly of my being able to write novel, though
he distrusted-indeed, disbelieved in-my pos
session of any dramatic power. Still. he began
to think that might as well try some time what
could do in fiction, and by and by, when we
came back to England, and had greater sue
cess than he ever expected in other kinds Of
writing. his impression that it was worth while
to see how far my mental power would go to-
wards the production of a novel; was strength
ened. de began to say very positively, You
must try and write story and when we were
at Tenby he urged me to begin at once. de-
ferTed it, however, after my usual fashion with
work that does not present itself as an absolute
duty. But one morning, as l was thinking
NudI SnOulu Do Ln6 SuDJccb OF my Stoty, lily
thoughts merged themselves into dreamy
doZe. and imagined myself writing story, OF
which the title was The Sad Fortunes OF the
Reverend Amos Barton. | was soon wide.
awake again and told G. He said, oh, what
capital ttIer and from that time had settled
in my mind that this should be my first
story. George used to say, 1t may be
a failure-it may be that you are un
able to write fiction Or perhaps, it may
be just good enough TO warrant your trying
in ito a chpf-
at once-there's no telling But his prevalent
expression that. though could hardly write
q poor novel, my effort would want the highest
quality of iction-dramatic presentation. He
used to say You have w.t. description, and
philosophy-those 60 a good way towards the
production of novel It is worth while for you
to try the experiment.
I'VE determined that if my story turned out
good enough we would send it to 'Blackwood;'
but q. thought the most probable result was
that should have to lay it aside and try again.
The success of her efforts is story familiar to
all readers In the second and third volumes of
the biography the history Of each novel she pro-
duced is given in detail, together with facts con-
corning their sale and the money received for
them. With all her wonderful success the old
distrust of her own abilities manifests itself in
later years. She writes. after the publication of
one of her books: II never think what I write
is good until other people tell me so, and even
Their it always seems to me as if | should never
write anything else worth reading" The source
of her inspiration is thus referred to: Writing
is part of my religion, and / can write no word
that is not prompted from within. At the same
time believe that almost all the best books in
the world have been written with the hope of
getting money for them"
During all the years of her life with Lewes
she constantly refers directly and indirectly to
her affection for him. II am very happy" she
says once, "happy i'll the highest blessing life
can give US, the perfect love and sympathy of
nature that stimulates my own to healthful
action"
The subjects of the numerous biographies of
distinguished literary people which have ap-
peared within the past few years have-with the
shining exception Of Emerson-suffered some
form of physical affection. George Eliot's all
ments were like Carlyles dyspepsia and head
ache. Unlike him. however, her temper was not
soured by bodily affection. Though frequently
referred to in her letters, the inconvenience is
mentioned rather as an item of daily life and not
as m after for complaint With young ladies
who can speak half dozen languages fiuently,"
SO common in the newspapers of the day, it is
interesting to learn that this gifted woman,
though understanding French, German Italian
and Spanish thoroughly, never attained facility
of speech in any one of these tongues.
Mr. Lewes died in 1879. Six months later
George Eliot emerged from her widows weeds
and married John w. Cross. She was at that
time sixty, he forty-fve years of age This
occurrence was perhaps quite as much of
shock to her friends as her first alliance had
been Many who had looked indulgently on her
irregular connection with Lewes could not re-
coleile this speedy marriage with their pre-
conceived notions of what was due to romance
and sentiment
Mr.. Cross seems to have been tenderly attached
to his wife and devoted himself to her until her
death, two years later. In preparing this BIZ
ography he has shown tact and delicacy as we'll
as a fine appreciation of a noble intelligence. 1t
is probably the best protraiture of this remark
able woman that the world will ever have.