The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-08

Dame Moore. just opposite the gates Of
Griff, and taught tn e way Of hope, are still
here 10 bless her with QuiveTing voice and
tear-dimmed eyes.
One of the most genial OF English gentle
men and helpers of those who come is Mr.
M0ntagu Wilks, solicitor, OF Coventry.
Through his hearty, kindly aid much search
ing for these folks by stranger in strange
land is lightened and made giadSOme
pleasure. Through him learned of many
about Coventry who had loving reminls-
cences Of one whom all who knew mad
loved Her dearest friend of early woman
hood was Mrs. Charles Bray, who now
lives with a sister, Mrs. Hamell, on the
Radf0rd road, in the suburbs Of Coventry.
Probably no other person living could
throw so much real light on the novelist ;
early life as could Mrs. Bray, Another old
friend is a Mrs. Cash, near neighbor Of
Mrs. Bray; while Mrs. Joseph Cash. a
wealthy Coventry manufacturer, owns and
resides in Bird Grove" the house in which
George Eliot wrote Scenes OF Clerical
Life" By far the most interesting and
uncommunicatiYe OF the nOyellstS cOntem-
poraTies here is an ancient professor OF
music, 90 years old, named Simms, who re-
sides on the Radford road. He was for up
ward Of SO years oTgauist OF coventry 5
/ famous ST. Mchael'S Church, and il was he
| who taught George Eliot the mastery OF the
| organ and piaRotorte.
! Ny own discoveries Of those who had lived
] about Griff when the members Of George
! EliOL's family were all together here include
John Marston, an old wheelwrlght whose
smithy still stands near the stealing; BILL"
| Jacques, II years OF age, a schoOlmate Of
| Isaac Evans and O playmate Of the novelist !;
the old man, Cra6StCck, whose generosity
| with a single tuTnip lost him his place at
| Griff; Richard EmmoDs. living at Stocking
| ford, now a very old man and reputed by
the peasantry TO have "hatfuls Of sover-
kn In Gnl6 lnhnFnf
| house servant and fo0tman at Grif, fOOtman
| at birds Lodge" and finally house servant
back at Griff for Isaac Evans, until his
death in 1890; and William Moore, now 70
| years Of age, who lives at Collycroft. lit
tie miners hamlet between Bedworth and
Grff,
The latter is the son of the veritable
! Dame Moore, who kept the Danes School
! opposite Griff's gates. It was in his mother
| cottage that George Eliot, then maiden oil
| Is, gathered together the children OF the
| miners and cotiieTs about GTiff and taught
them, for several years, for an hour or two
| each Sunday morning, and then took her
| ragged charges to Chilvers Cotton Church.
| In the afternoon they all came together
again, when she taught them from the
| Scriptures and some simple melodies OF the
time.
"God bless ep. STRIP said old William
Moore, the tears trickling down his wrinkled
face, Il can see 'er hangel face-she wOr a
| plain sort O. hangel, sir-this minute afore
my eyes. Mary Ann teached t class fur
| nigh onto five year. She wor great
/ seholard, sir, an a 'oOman true!'
| To me that old cottage where that kindly
| work was done is almost the sweete ST place
! about Griff If the present occupants will
! let you who come get as far as the door OF
| the old mansion, the two huge. tiny-paned
| windows at its left will bring another pict-
ure clear and true on which the mind loves
| to dwell: "An old-fashioned child, already
| living in a world of her own imagination.
impreSsible TO her fnger-tips" is the center
! of the simple homeside evening scene.
! There are the energetic mother, knitting
ever, the brother busy at his books or keep
sakes, an ''elder girl. prim and tidy. with her
| work before her," and grave, stern, but
| kindly father who is turning the pages Of
some picture book, with president anxiety
and boandless love in his gray eyes, as be
looks now upon the book and now upon the
| rebeiiOus hair that tumbles over that wise
| young daughters head.
] And you will turn away from Grif with a
| blessing for the father who made this girl
| his insepa:able companion until her years
| of womanhood had come, and almost a
blessing on Griff itself. despite the hateful
| atmosphere of to-day, for what came out of
this olden Preside circle; circling and widen
| ing until it had Zoned with the fruit of one
wOman's genius all our good old globe.
EDGAR L. WAREMAN.
Bedworth, England, April %.
| CoDtTfOhL.