The herald., 1894-03-25

Mr.. Levels wife was living. Mr.. J. W.
Gross, who, less than two years aiser the
death OF Lewes, was married to George
Eliot at the fashionable fame in Han
over square, says: "In forming a jndg-
metlt on go momentous a question, it ls
above all things necessary to under
stand what was actually undertaken
aud what was actually achieved and, in
nv opinion this can be best arrived at,
not from outside statement or arguments,
but by consideration OF the true ten
our OF the life'' which followed,
in the DEVELOPMENT of which Mr..
Lewes's true character, as we'll aB that
of George Eliot, uniolded itself. George
Eliot herself. writing to lady in de-
tense OF her line OF conduct, declared !:
'sIf there is any one action or relation in
nv life which is and always has been
profoundly serious, it is my relation to
Mr.. Lewes." In order TO allay any pre-
iudice which her friends may have had
against her mode OF life, says one OF her
biographers, she argues the possibility
for two pelso to have different opin-
ions on momentous subjects with equal
sincerity, with an equally earnest con-
Viction that their respective opinions are
alsne the truly moral ones. III we dif-
fer on tbs subject OF marriage laws, :"
says George Elliott, writing to Mrs.
Bray, the lady above referred to, II at
least can believe OF you that you cleave
to what you believe to be good ;
and don'tknow anything in the nature
of your views that should prevent you
believing the same of me. One
thing l can tell you in few words
Lightly and easily broken ties are what
1 neither desire theoretically nor could
live for practically. Women who
are satisAed with ties do not act aa
have done. That any unworldly, un-
superstitious person, who IS sufficiently
acquainted with the realities OF life, can
pronounce my relations with Mr.. Lewes
immoral, can only understand by re-
membering how subtle and complex are
the influences which mould opinion.
From the majority OF persons, OF course,
we never looked for anything but con-
demnation. We are leading no life oi
self-indulgence, except, indeed, that,
being happy in each other, we find every
thing easy. | should not care to vlndi-
cate myself if l did not love you,
and desire to relieve you OF the pain
which you say these conclusions have
given you. l should like never to write
about myself again; it is not healthy
to dwell on ones own feelings and con-
duct, but only try and live more faith
fully and more lovingly every fresh day" f."
1t is, perhaps, hardly necessary for me
to point out what is perfectly we'll known
namely, that Lewes and his wife had
previously come to the conclusion that
they could no longer live together. The
4 l. 1o bo
more George Eliots-women with the
courage to be true to their
hearts and their convictions
and fewer of those women who,
in accordance with the monstrous law
Of society that you may commit any
number OF sins il you can do 80 without
being found out, lead double lives, and
instead Of elevating themselves and
their husbands by the good influence
which an honorable attachment would
exercise over them, gradually sink down
and down, and become brutalized under
the weight of the dual existence which
they have been beguiled into leading.
These, however, are practically the
women who are most severe and unspRr.
ing in denouncing the weaker vessele
who have fallen in public estimation,
HlLuDlY DCCbuE6 bAOI AnNo AOb OOOA pAA'
fciently clever to observe the eleventh
commandment: Thou shalt not be
found outW
From the days when. to go no farther
back, Hogarth painted his Marrisge Ia
Mode, down to the present date, oui
satiristH have made the marriage insti.
tute a target for thsir most pointed
shafts. One eminent wrote me on these
pertinent remarks, which l perhaps
may be pardoned for observing, fully
bear out my assertions as printed above
'Considering how fashionable mar
riages originate, it is astonishing that
they do not turn out worse than they
generally do. A man meets girl in 9
ballroom, admires her, gets into the way
of dancing with her, calls on her parents
and, perhaps. is asked to dinner. The
end of the season approaches; she seemE
to prefer him to others; the match would
be suitable he proposes and is accepted
Whatever the
cause and exp xplanation, thoroughly
united and loving couple is comparative
ly seldom to be met with in good society
Finding 1t terribly dull at home
she invites some of her most favored
acquaintaDceH to call on her. Soon one
succeeds in rendering himself more
agreeable than his rivals. and he gradu.
ally establishes his position as perma
nent cavalier, and she soor
gets so used to his visits and attractions
as to look on them as almost necessa'
ries Of lite. By degrees the cavalier
draws his intimacy closer.
Then the woman must be prodigy i
she is not in great danger Of iorfeitins
her fair fame"
Our novelists and playwriehts base tht
great majority OF their stories and dra
matte plots on the unhGD3ineHa OF thea,