The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-29
SKETCH OF GEORGEELIOT
THE GEORGE LAND OF ENGLISH
LITERATURE,
But Lacking the Vivacity, Rapidly of Pro-
duction and the FicSleness of the
French Woman.

George Eliot has been dead thirteen
years, but there is no sign that her popu-
larity is decreasing or that her novels
are not rea6 quite as generally as they
were twenty years ago. Her place is as
sured in English literature, and there
IS no reason to doubt that her novels will
be read as long as the Victorian liter
ature is remembered
In many respects she is the English
counterpart Of George Sand but she did
not possess the vivacity, the rapidly Of
production or the fckleness Of the
brilliant French woman. The latter
never had to be forgiven by her country
men, but it was only the commanding
genius of George Eliot that finally com
PEELED the austere British public to con-
done the fault Of Marian Evans. In the
last dozen years Of her association with
Mr.. Lewes she was accepted in certain
social and literary circles as his wife.
She was not his wife, and IL is absurd
for her biographers to call her so.
But the name Of George Eliot is her
own by adoption, and she has immortal
lied it. The world is no longer concerned
with her faults and errors. They are a
part OF our common humanity. But her
splendid genius must sim kindle admira-
tlon, must sim instruct, amuse and
bless mankind.
Her mind was Of slow growth. and Il
was not until her thirty-seventh year
that the imaginative side Of II began 10
develop. She was not like the Brontes
and many other famous story-tellers.
who scrubbed and told stories from,
childhood After her adoption Of the
literary life the idea OF writing a novel
sometimes passed through her mind
but 1t never took form until I'm 1S-6
when she wrote Scenes Of Clerical Life.
These stories were sent TO Blackwood
and accepted. Their immediate success
opened that career which has made her
fame. Almost al a bound she rose TO
the first rank among imaginative prose
writer's. From an obscure subeditor on
an unpopular review she became the
most distinguished woman OF her time
In English letters. The cultivation and
growth OF such a mind is one OF the
most interesting studies in biography.
Mary Ann, or Marian Evans. as she
wrote 1t in her later years, was the
daughter-the youngest child-of Robert
Evans, a carpenter and builder. and
finally land agent. in Warwickshire--
county. She was born
November 22d, 1Sl9-that great year when
all the fairy godmothers seemed TO agree
In bestowing great gifts upon the child
rem OF men. In her novels she has DOR
trayed the characteristics Of her father
I'm Adam Bede and Caleb Garth. From
childhood she was reader and student
and possessed a marvellous aptitude for |
acquiring languages. She also possessed |
fine musical abilities. and was the show |
pianist at school. Her peculiar bent OF !
mind led her into all sorts OF speculative |
studies, and though she WAS brought IN |
az home under the strictest tenets OF /
The Eaivinists, at twenty-one she gave /
np going To church. At twenty-three She I
translated Strauss Life OF Jesus" and |
his work was published I'm 1916. This and I
some other work OF similar Character
brought her into friendly relations with
he Westminster Review then the repre-
sentative In England OF extreme and rad
cal opinion In politics and religion. In
XII she became subedtor OF this period
cnl' to which Herbert Spencer and George !
henry Lewes We're contributors. Spencer
Introduced Lewes 70 Miss Evans. and in
So4 that social relation between the two