The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-15
GEORGE ELIOT.
Some interesting Facts About Mary Ann
Evans.

Some Interesting Facts About Mary Ann
Evans.
There has been only one great
woman novelist in English itera-
ture-George Eliot. That was not
her reaLname. Her real name was
Mary Ann Evans, but as she knew
that no publisher would risk pub.
fishing a book, were it by an angel
direct from heaven, with such
name as Mary Ann on the title
mage she changed it, and by taking
!. mans name and writing with
woman's knowledge of women she
caused great controversy as to her
identity. The Blackwoods, as Mr..
Molloy narrates in recent issue OF
The Queen, were Miss Evans first
publishers. They were very KIND
he says, or seems to think. They
patted her on the back. They per
ceived that she had talent and told
her that she was worthy of the
honors of print and pay George
Eliot, it should be added, did her
publishers a little honor. too, and
made them little money-a few
score thousand pounds.
The work she commenced with
was Scenes From Clerical Life,
written when she was living with
Mr.. Lewes. Mr.. Molloy tells how
the book was made:
Returning from Germany. Mr
and Mrs. Lewes settled in London,
with the intention of continuing
their work as journalists and maga-
zine writers, but one happy day
Lewes said to her. My dear. think
you could write a capital story
The suggestion took root in her
mind, but for time she said moth
ing of its development. When. some
weeks later, Lewes was about to
dress for a dinner party, she re-
marked: L won't go out this even
ing, and when you come in don't
disturb me. / shall be very busy
That night the greater part of her
first story in the Scenes From Cler-
ical Life, called The Sad Fortunes
of the Rev. Amos Barton, was writ
ten
'.On the tale being shown to
Lewes his pride and delight were
great, and he Immediately sent it to
Mr.. John Blackwood, to whose mag.
azine he is contributor. stating the
tale was the work Of a friend who
desired to be known as George Eliot
and that it was one of a series This
was in the autumn of 1856 Mr.
Blackwood approved of the story !;
but, being eager to assure himself
that those which were to follow had
equal merit, he asked to see them
before committing himself to a de-
cision. .
Mr.. Molloy recounts an interest
ing imposture connected with the
publication of Adam Bede:"
in the spring of 1858 the open
ing chapters of George Eliot's first
novel, Adam Bede, were in tbs
hands of the publisher. who, COM
municating with Lewes, says: !
write this note to allay all anxiety
on the part of George Eliot as to my
appreciation of the. merits of this
most promising opening of picture
of life. In spite of all injunctions l
began Adam Bede" in the railway
and felt very savage when the wan
ing light stopped me as we neared
the Scottish border. On the publi-
cation of this great work curiosity
was more rife than ever regarding
the author Lord Lytton had al
ready been suspected of masquerad-
ing under the ename of George Eliot,
as had also, strange to say, Professor
Owen, from some fancied similarity
between his handwriting and that
of the manuscript of George Eliot,
but when excitement was at its high
est news came from Coventry that
the author of Adam Bede' was Il
resident in that town named Joseph
Liggens. This individual had been
educated at Cambridge, had run
through a fortune, was familiar with
the scenes described in George
Eliot's books and was supposed to
be man of talent. No doubt was
left in the minds OF the inhabitants
of Coventry regarding the author of
Adam Bede.
Mr. Liggens was visited by two
dissenting clergymen bent on gain
ing an admission from him of his
greatness. When pointedly asked if
he did not write Adam Bede, he
replied, If didn't, the devil did.
He Immediately became an object
of interest, and invitations to dinner
poured in on him. He was poor, and
suggestions were made regarding a
testimonial to relieve genius in dis
tress. A clergyman wrote to The