The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-17

Adam Bede. Daniel Deronda "a notaDiy MI ~:
rior 10 Middlemarch, the work tnat imm ,si
atsly preceded il in time OF execution' "
dIemarrh has always seemed to US 70 be tno
novel in which George Eloit reached the con-
elimination of her greatness as writer Oh
6cfion That novel il as faithful and elaoo-
rate picture of English country me as hos ~.
Bede but the platform OF action Is moreloi'J
and more spacious. the scenes are more vaiis"
i'm the contrasted play of feeling and emotion,
the problems of human destiny are more
complicated aud dramatic. the influence OF
circumstances more sweeping ana lrrssistlDie'
the stress of individual characters more grlnu-
ing and domineering. the Philosophical STRAIN
of reflection ampler in volume ana more pro-
found the power of analysis keener ana
more minute The matuIed genius OF George
Eliot is here observed in It's perfection. her
intellectual learning her moral sympathles'
the tendencies Of her views OF human hie'
society. the individual-all are reflected upon
the pages of Aiiddlemarch IN their most
graphic and impressive forms.
Numerous critics are inclined TO prefer heI
earlier works. because less detailed aud more
direct in their action than the later. Many
Others condemn the display 0fanal ytlcal power
that is such marked feature OF All her movers
as very serious defect. which she woulo
have done well TO have avoided ms ahay
ticaI tcrdencv ON the part Of George Eliot
was undoubtedly carried IN Daniel Der nda
;rtnrast ~ that story. and even in Middle
march - II could have been exhibited. 70 q less
degrees without iniuring the general EJECT.
Although the novels If George LhOt Il We
were 70 strike out the analytical rehectlohs
would not be marred by as grave an ON sol n
"a the play OF Ham ct" with haInlet ex-
GUIDED nevertheless. the loss would be so
sori rs that these w rks would be deprived or
tle priuclpal portion of their distinct
tive nature. The faculty OF analysis
is as fundamental trait OF this writer as
disposition towards philosophical solilOquy
vas of the melancholy Dane The school 81
readers who like character 10 evolve lteeh
by the process of action AMI conversation. IN
dependently of comment from the author
should not devote much of their time To the
fiction Of George Eliot, but should con1ne
their attention 70 the novels OF Fielding
Dickens. and above all, of Miss Austin. who
possessed in the most remarkable degree the
Shakespearian power of bringing out the
force of individuality by word OF mouth and
play Of circumstance, without reflective or
analytical remarks in accompaniment
It is not too soon to form an accurate
opinion IS 10 the permanent position when
George Eliot will occupy IN the history or
English fiction. That it will always be one
Of the very highest distinction IS not open to
doubt When in time she shall be compared
with the two greatest nOyellsts among her
contempora Dickens and Thackeray-
the final verdict is likely to be that she was
surpassed in mere force of genius by Thack-
cray alone. As pictures OF contemporary me
as reflections of the general philosophical
tendencies of her age, as well as the moral
nrinciples that must survive as long as
human existence itself, the novels OF
George Eliot are not only unsur-
passed. but they are also unequaled by tne
works of any contemporary author InacKe-
raw has a more racy and original flavor. be-
he - a ISL
and impressive meaning of the term but Tor
depth of thought, breadth and hberallty OF
view knowledge of human character IN its
countless variations insight into the emotions
of the heart. comprehension OF the springs OF
action. tragic and comic power, Fielding,
Scott end Shakespeare alone are superior to
the authors of Mr. Cliffs Love Story"
Adam Bede." and Middlemarch."
George Eliot was more than an artist and
novelist She was q very great philosopher IN
the sense that the author OF Hamlet was
philosopher. She was not content TO conhne
bergaze to the commonplace side Of life in the
spirit of Jane Austin. or TO play with the &C.
centricities of mankind like Dickens, or 10
laugh at their social and moral weaknesses
like Thackeray. or TO exalt their physical appe-
tites and impulses like Fielding. Her inquir-
ing mind. seeking with painful conscientious
ness for the secrets that underhe tne frame
work of human life gave profoundly moral
and philosophical turn to the least pretentious
of her works She was a great philoso-
pher.. who employed fiction as the. mos;
Convenient vehicle of expression for the dis
gemination of her observations of human
character and existence. She was philoso-
pher first and then a novelist, but the two
parts are so ntermingled in the fruits of her
pen that they make one distinct impression.
an impression which raises her to pinnacle
of fame so high as to assure for her certain
immortality. Greatest of all the female
writers whom England has at yet produced. it
will be long before rival will appear among
the members Of her own sex TO question the
undisputed supremacy which her name now
ENJOYS. P.AB.