The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1886-04-01
GEORGE ELLIOTT.
4 Just Criticism of Her Writings by II
Conscientious Critic.
Especial Cor. STATE CHRoN IL

Ii seems to be the fashion nee Geo
EliOts death to consider hcra much
abused and long suffering woman, and as
an author whose works, 50 faT from pro
ducng undesirable results, are calculated
to confer lasting benefits upon all who
read or study them. Critics and 0ograph
erS have toned down her failiugS to such
an extent that it is no uncOmm5n thing at
the present day TO see her eXtOled IN most
extravagant terms, by christian newspa
pers and ministers of the gospei, as being
"a great teacher whose impartality, pro
found ability, and broad sympathies are
having a most elevating influence upon So
ciety at large. Believing that great deal
Of this praise comes from persons who are
ignorant of Geo. EliOt's writings and the
real nature of her influences we shall
make a few brief extracts here and there
from her works. and, without arguing the
question, leave our readers to Judge for
themselves. We shall not make capital of
the sad story of her domestic life with
Geo. Henry LeWeS, except to say, that,
had such a mistake as this great teach
err was guilty Of, been committed by
Southern lady, the doors OF refined society
would have been forever closed against her.
Neither have we a word to say in dispar
agement of her high claims % intellectual
renOwn. 1t is admitted bytnose far more
capable of Judging than we, that England
has never produced woms who can be
compared with her in the delineaton of
feeling, the analysis of motive, or in the
general scope of her poweS. But these
qualities alone will not MAKE a great or
trustworthy teacher; let us zee if her rep
utation for impartiality and good influence
Is borne out by her writing And first,
as an example of her So-calad impartial
ity, notice on what widely j tferant prln-
ciples she crlticises two vel know n liter
airy characters, Henry Heine and Dr. Ed
ward Young; the former noted German
wit and skeptic; the latter, an English
clergyman and the illustrious author of
'Ihe Night Thoughts" Speaking of Heine
she says, ''Whatever benefit there may be
in denouncing the evil, it is after all more
edifying, and certainly more cheering, to
appreciate the good Hence, N endeavor-
ing to give our readers some account Of
Heine and his works, we shall not dwell
lengthlly on his failings;. but let the
! light fall as much as possible on the nober
and more attractive details"
| Now keeping these charitable remarks
| in mind, let US turn to her essay on Dr.
Young: ''And if in the present view of
| Young, we seera 10 be more intent on
| laying bare unfavorable facts than on
| shrOuding them in charitable speeches, it
| is not because we have any irreverential
| pleasure in turning mems characters The
seamy side without, but because we see
no great advantage in considering a man
as he was not" Exactly 1t is more
| edlfylng certainly more cheering, not
to dwell on the failings of Heine, lht
| irreverent and Infamous German soeptic
and debauchee; but the failings of Young
the christian poet, must be Published tC
the world, though it is a torture to hel
charitable nature to do it. See again what
she has 70 say upon ''Evangclical Teach
ing Zone more characteristic Of Dr.
Cummings writings, and we have done
This is the PERVERTED MCGAL JUDGtENI
that everywhere relgpS in them. Not that
this perversiop is peculiar to DR.. Cumming
it belongs 10 THE DOGMATIC SYSTEM WIIICF
liE SHARES WITH ALL EVANGELICAL REIiEy
ERs."
Now this is sweeping assertion and
wholly unsupported She shakes her fist
at Dr. Cumming in another place and in
forms him that there are plenty of sensi
Bile people "Who find the dogmatic scheme
built on the letter Of the Scriptures op
posed to their profoundest molal convic
tiOns" We would suggest th,t perhaps
she did tind this ''dOgmatic scheme" some
what opposed to the moral 0nvictions'
on which she justified her relations Will
Mr.. Lewes. She rejoices in tie assump
ton that the dogmas concerning the in
herited curse, and the damnatiol of heath
ems, and Of heretics have passed away
doctors of divinity may sign testimonial
to the excellent character OF tlese decayel
beliefs; but for the mass of CHRIS ians the,
are no more influential than Inrepealet
but forgotten statutes The MASS ol
CHRISTIANS What does Geo. Eliot, isola
ted as she was from all Christin society
and sunk to her ears in German skeptl
csm, know about +'the mass of clristiansl :
All these glorious results, be it Iemember
ed, are ''due to the advance ofthe spiri
of rationalism.' She charges lr Lecky
, the author of a work on rational sm, Will
not bringing out clearly enough ''the sd
premely important fact that th. gradua
! REDUCTION Of all phenomena within th
: sphere of established law, which arries a
a consequence, the rejection of he mira
[ culous, has its determining currelt in th
l development of physical science. Thes
are only few Of i.'r pearls al random
, strung but they are enough to shoV
, what sort of influence her writings are cal
: culated to exert, especially upon tie young
!. On purely literary questions we place al
r most implicit confidence in &C. Eliot
4 judgment, but wfen-it comes torelioiou
: questions, to the great problemtf life, 0
! duty, of destiny, we confess to asneak 4
e desire for less impartiality and nltre truth
, '"ALFRED SMCn4ERS'