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

about to commence the making Of mince pies
with all the interesting sensations characterizing
young enterprise or effort She took no part in
the agitation of the woman question so far as
the demand for suffrage was concerned, but
seems not to have been seriously opposed
to the movement, though she did give
utterance to the remark, "Enfranchise-
ment of women makes only creeping progress;
and that is BEST for woman does not yet de-
serve much better fate than man gives her."
In the higher education of women she took
deep Interest and was earnest in urging the es-
Enlistment of Girton College. passage from
Daniel Deronda" is quoted to show that she
1elt the bondage of her sex: 'You may try, but
you can never imagine what it is to have the
force of mans genius in you. and yet to suffer
the slavery of being girl"
One allusion to her personal appearance is Of
interest as showing that she was sensitive con-,
corning her plainness. Writing from Geneva,
where she spent some months after the death of
her father, she says; Il hope you managed to
get in the black velvet dress. The people dress
and think about dress more even than in Eng
land. The Marquse took upon herself the
Office of femme de chambre and dressed by hair
one day. She has abolished all my curls aud
made two things stick out on the sides of my
head like those on the head of the sphinx. All
the world says look infinitely better, so com
ply, though to myself l seem uglier than ever
if possible" .
George Eliot was considerably past thirty years.
of age when she met Lewes He was introduced
to her by Herbert Spencer, who, oddly enough,
was in after years the indirect means of making
her acquainted with Mr.. Cross. The friendship
with Lewes ripened rapidly, and when she be-
came, as some one has PUT it, his unlawful but
cherished wife," it was an overwhelming sur
prise to all who had known her. This event in
her life is, naturally handled with great delicacy
by the biographer He introduces one letter
bearing on the matter which, it will be seen,
states her own view of the act, but which can
hardly be considered a reasonable justification
by her severer critics 1t was written fourteen
months after her union with Lewes, to Mrs.
Bray, her early friend, before mentioned. Some
time previous to this important step she had
written to the same lady and her sister: 1T is
impossible that should ever love two women
better than you and Cora Indeed 1t seenA to
me that can never love any so WE'LL and it is
certain that can never have any friend-not
even a husband-who would supply the loss of
those associations with the past which belong to
you" In spite of this tender regard she ex-
perienced its loss. forit does not appear that the
estrangement following her union with Lewes
was ever entirely healed The letter of explana-
nation, if such it may be called, is as follows
eff there is any one action or relation of my
life which is, and always has been, profoundly
serious, it is my relation to Mr.. Lewes. 1t is,
however, natural enough that you should mis-
take me In many ways, for not only are you UNI
acquainted with Mr.. LewesS real character, and
the course of his actions. but also, it is several
years now since you and / were much together.
and it is possible the notifications my mind has
undergone may be quite in the opposite direction
of what you imagine No one can be
sible for two people to hold different opn-
ions on momentous subjects with equal Gin
cerity, and an equally earnest conviction TINT
their respective opinions are alone the truly
moral ones If We differ on the subject of The
marriage laws, at least can believe OF you that
you cleave to what you believe is good; and I
don't know of anything in the nature of your
views that should prevent you from believing
the same of me. How far we differ / think we
neither of US know, for | am ignorant of your
precise views; and, apparently, you attribute to
me both feelings and opinions which are not
nine We cannot set each other Quite right Id
this matter in letters, but one thing can tell
you in few words.
Light and easily broken ties are what I
neither desire theoretically nor could live for
practically Women who are satisfied with
such ties do not act as | have done That any
unworldly interpretations person who is sufh-
GENTLY acquainted with the realities of life can
pronounce my relation to Mr.. Lewes immoral,
can only understand by remembering how
subtitle and complex are the influences that
mold opinion. But do remember this-and
l indulg" in no arrogant or unchartable
thoughts ,ut those who condemn US, even
though light have expected somewhat
differen dict From the majority of per-
sons, of arse. we never looked for anything
but condemnation. We are leading no life of
self-indulgence, except. indeed. that being hap
by in each other, find everything easy We
are working hard to provide for others better
than we provide for ourselves and to fulfill
every responsibility that lies upon us. Levity
and pride would not be sufficient basis for
that. Pardon me if, in vindcating myself from
some unjust conclusions, / too cool and
sef,asserting l should not care to vindi-
cate myself if l did not love you and
desire to relieve you of the pain which YOU
say these conclusions have given you. What
ever / have misinterpreted before, do not mis-
interpret your letter this morning, but read in it
nothing else than love and kindness toward me,
to which my heart fully answers yes.
II should like never to write about myself
again. 1t is not healthy to dwell on ones own
feelings ana conduct, Out only TO Try ana i've
more faithfully and lovingly every fresh day. I
think not one of the endless words and deeds Of
kindness and forbearance you have ever shown
me has vanished from my memory. / recall
them often. and feel as about everything else in
the past how deficient have been in almost every
relation of my life. But that deficiency is ire
vocable, and ! can find no strength or comfort
except in pressing forward toward the things
that are before and trying to make the present
better than the past But if we should never be
very near each other again, dear Cara, do bear
this faith in your mind, that was not insensible
or ungrateful to all your goodness, and that
am one among the many for whom you have not
lived in vain. / lam very busy just now, and
have been obliged 10 write hastily Bear this
in mind, and believe that no. meaning is mine
which contradicts my assurance that am your
affectionate and earnest friend
Shortly after her alliance with Lewes they
spent some months in Antwerp and Berlin. OF
the latter city she says: There are certain
.o..oc mr.; tho,,t anv rhvsioonomy the caAaIoC,1M