Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-07
GEORGE ELI0T'S HOME.
Wakeman'S Description of the Novel;
lists Girlhood Surroundings.
GRIFF, THE PRETTY FARM HOME.
Shakespeare's Country Also That of the
Modern Female Writer
MANY CHILDHOOD FRIENDS LIVING

earthly influence that might repreSs the pre-
sumptio ION, impudence and immodesty of tha
rapidly-increasing class of my country
women who seem possessed of a mac
craze TO unseS themselves for the pitiabl,
reward of temporary public recognition O.
notorietv, it would be a genuine study o
the genius OF George Eliot, coupled with ;
pilgrimage 10 the localities upon which he
everyday life as a maid and woman lef
the grand impress of their personal worth.
''This much of an object-lesson would be
learned-if such women are capable of re
ceiving grave and serious Instruction.!
would also result from a like study of the
genius Of Harriet Nartineau, the Cary sis
tiers, Rosa Bonheur, Dinah Mulock Craik
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Charlotte
Bronte and all other women who are to re-
main among the Immortals: That where
genius has been the original gift of woman,
in the precise degree that has been event,
ualv achieved and accorded, has that
woman shrunk from offensive exhibitions of
her own personality and Importance.
Another as impressive truth would have
logical revealment. Where anv woman
charges upon the public with demands for
its attention and homage, in the same de-
gree OF her insist and clamor will it. in
time, be withheld and prove her doom to
merited oblivion
Pleasant Region to Visit.
However this NAV be, remembering
George Eliot's work which. in its hold upon
the intellect and heart of all English speak
ing people, is instinctively grouped with
that of Scott and Shakespeare, and her
grand, strong plain face which YOU instinc-
lively group with those of Dante. Bronte,
Sayonarola and List, You come to the
pleasant region where she grew 10 her full
stature of person and genius with something
akin to the same indefnable feeling of
dreamful unrealitv, touched with reference
and almost hushed with awe, as when YOU
tread the quaint streets OF old Stratford,
close to the shrine of the immortal bard of
Avon.
Indeed the Shakespeare country is truly
George Eliot's land. Stratford, Warwick,
bennington, Coventry and Nuneaton all lie
in direct line from the southwest TO the
northeast boundaries of Warwickshire One
of the finest highways in England, elm
shaded for more than half its length, con-
meets them all Eliots Warwickshire was
the Arden OF Shakespeare. The same Avon
smiled back from its murmuring waters
upon them both. The same billowv hills,
geuntle slopes and sunny valleys gave both
their inspiration and imagery. Their hearts
warmed to the same peasantrv- In the sub
tie deiineation OF these Eliot was TO the
carly Victorian age, at least in a degree,
what Shakespeare was to the early Eliza
bethan. And Shakespeare's birthplace and
grave at Stratford are not 50 miles distant
from George Eliot's girlhood hons.
Situation of the Homestead.
1t lies on the olden highway between Cow
entry and Nuneaton. These towns are but
nIpp mi laS pnJ,rcrrh clo al
pit village, is midway between; and about
half way from bcdworth TO Nuneaton, near
Arbury Hall, the seat of the Newdigates is
Grti, a fine old English farm home and
ste2dlng, belonging to the great -Arburv es-
tateS now when George ElioJ's (A1arY
Ann EvansD baby eyes first looked upon
the great frs, cedarS, elms and lines which
shade this old and ample stone structure
In this house of many gables ndtiny-paned
bow windows George Eliot liveI from
March 1920, when she was babe bua
months old, until March, 1911, when her
family removed from Griti to Foieshill,
Coventry, period of p years. These were
the y years in which were nurtured and
matured ali those bodily, heart and mental
forces which gave her the highest place in
literature of any woman that ever lived
Her father, Robert Evans was 4 tena..t of
Mr.. Francis Newdi-ate, at Kirk Halem
Derbyshire. On the death Of old Sir Roger
Newdigate the Arbury estate in Warwick
shire came 20 Francis Newdigate for life,
and Robert Evans accompanied him to
Arburv as his tenant and agent. Bv first
wife there had been two children. Their
mother died in 1909. Their father married
Christiana Pearson in 1913.
Birthday of the Famous Woman
Three children were born of this union
Christiana, in 1914, Isaac, in 1916, and
Mary Ann George Eliot), in 1919, at the
South Farm" Arburv, which had been
given the father temporarily. Cross, in his
Biography of George Eliot, transcribes from
an old diary of the father where il had been
penned in his own handwriting:
Nov. %, IsI9-Nfary Ann Evans was born
al Arbury Farm (thiS WAS south Farm"
Arburyl at five o'clock this morning.
1t was ST. Cecilia's day It is also of
record that the child was baptized in the
ancient church OF Chilvers Cotton, which
rears its crumbling Norman tower over a
landscape that will strongly remind you of
the mOors about Haworth. where the sisters
Bronte struggled nearly all their lives in
pathetic silence. This quaint old pile mid
way between the Griff farmhouse and Nu-
neatOn, anG the half dozen houses under its
cares, is the Shepperton of "Amos Barton"
The three Evans children, then, most and
longest associated with Griff were the three
born upon the Arbury estates. Christiana
married surgeon, named Clark, of Meri-
den, Warwlckshire, and died in 1859
George Eliot died in 1880. Isaac. rs l
learned after arrival here, who had re-
NAMED al Grlll and succeeded the novelest's
father as its tenant and the Newdigates'
agent, suddenly died in his chair on re-
turning from service at Chilyers Cotton
Church, in October, 1890
Uniovab,e and Tnfoved
His children, nephews and nieces of
George Eliot, are four in number 1t is an
unpleasant but truthful statement that
while they command certain Difference on
account Of relationship without which
their own small affairs would never have
reached the confines of their little parish,
they are uniovable and unloved by the few !
OF quality and the thousands of lowly |
around them. They are stern, cold, miserly |
monev-grabbers, all: Extensively conscious |
ot their radiated importance and snappishly |
churllsh and repeilant to all who bring a |
whole-hcarted reverence to spot made |
luminous by the presence OF mighty soul. |
Fhe daughter, 4 maiden lady of severe |
anu awful aspect, WIS Isaac's houSekeeper |
lcr many years at Grif She now resides at |
BED" orth, and the lowlv OF the place dread |
her aUstere visage and her cruel platitudes, |
lhry freely confessed 20 me, when her purse, |
hanu and gentle words might relieve great |
suffering. A brother, the Rev. Frederic 1
Evans, IS the present rector of Bcdworth /
l:e performs his canOnical Offices with me- |
cianlc-l accuracy and metallic soddenness;
ENJOYS his lat living as though the AL |
mighty had arranged the parishes and popu-
laI0n OF England with especial reference to
rnl l.t NJ II fo,,,