The sun., 1899-03-12
III.

Sand. whom. one day after her marriage with
Browning. she was to meet We reproduce
the passage: II believe women-all OF us In
a mass-to have minds OF quicker movement.
but less power and depth--and that we nre
under your feet because we can't stand upon
our own. Not that We should. either. be quite
under your feet! So you are not to be proud.
II you piease-and there 10 certainly some
amount of wrong but It will not be righted
in the manner and to the extent contem plated
by certain OF our own prophetesses; nor
suasion. One woman. indeed. now alive.
and only that one down all the ages
OF the world. seems to me TO justify for mo-
ment an opposite opinion-that wonderful
woman George Sand. who has something mon
strous in combination with her genius. there
is no denying. at moments tfor she has written
one book. Leila which l could not read
though 1 am not easily turned back. but
whom. in her good and evil together. 1 regard
with infinitely more admiration than all other
women Of genius who are or have been. Such
a colossal nature In every way with all that
breadth and scope OF faculty which women
want-magnanimous and loving the truth and
loving the people-and with that hate OF hate
too. which you extol-so eloquent. and yet ear
nest. as II she were dumb-so full OF living
sense of duty and OF noble. blind instincts
toward an ideal purity-and so proving q right
even in her wrong" .N
Many a week passes before Browning alludea
to these comments on George Sand and then
he does but touch upon the subject. Even a
touch from him. however. Is worth marking:
DO you know. Consuelo' weares mech.
weares-and the fourth volume have all.
stopped at there lie the three following but
who cares about Consuelo after that hor-
rible evening with the Venetian scamp where
he bulies her) and he does answer after all
she says. as we say? And Albert wearies. too.
1t seems all talk. all writng-not the first part.
though. And what easy work these novelists
have.ofit! A dramatic poet has to mdkc you
love or admire his men and women; they
must do and sap all that you are to see
and hear: really do it in your face. say It in
your ear. and it Is wholly for you. In pour
power. to name. characterize and 30 praise or
blame Uhdt Is SO said and done; II you don't
perceive Of yourself. there Is no standing by
for the author and telling you. But. with these
novelists. scrape of the pen. out blurting OF
phrase. and the miracleis achieved Consueio
possessed to perfection this and the other gift >
what would you more? Or to leave dear
George Sand. pray think of Bulwers beginning
a character by informing you that lone or
somebody in 'Pompeii.' was endowed with
obliging informer might write his fingers
off before he gave the pitifullest proof
that the. poorest spark Of that same. that
genius, had ever visited hin, ? lone has it per
Jectiy '-perfectly-and that Is enough! Zeus
with the scales? With the false weights" A
few days later, Miss Barrett admits that
there can be no disagreeinR with you about
the com parative difficulty OF novel writing and
drama writing. Idisagree q little lower down
IN your letter. because could not deny I'm my
own conVction) certain proportion OF
genius to the author OF Ernest Maltravers'
and Alice ibid you ever read those
books y. even II he had moro impotently
tried (supposinR it TO be possible) for
the dramatic laurel. In fact. his poetry.
dramatic or otherwise. ia 'nought But for
the prose romances. and for Ernest NAL
travers above all. must lift up my voice and
cry" About the two stories OF Bulwer's here
mentioned Browning presently replies: II
have read those novels. but must keep that
word Of words genius for something differ
ent-'talent' will do here surely" Elsewhere
in the same letter he says: "I am not George
Sands-she teaches me nothing-I look TO her
for nothing. am ever yours. dearest friend"
In letter postmarked Aug. 30. 1S45 Miss
Barrett complains Of not having heard from
Browning for three days. and asks ''the aims
vi JuSJ One iluo. having tdkeu III INTO my n0dQ
that something Is the matter. Though
have tried and uished to remember having
written in the last note something very or even
little offensive to you. have failed in 1t. and
go back to the worst stfear"-namely. that he s III.
The reply came instantly: Can you understand
me so. dearest friend. after all Do you see
me-when am away or with you taking Of
fence at words, being vexed at words or deeds
OF yours. even II could not imm ediately trace
them to their source OF entire. pure kindness;
as l have hitherto done In every smallest in
stance. / believe in vou absolutely. utterly
believe that when you bade me that time be
silent that such was your bidding. and was
silent-dare say think you did not know at
that time the power ] have over myself that
could sit. and speak. and listen. as have done
since2 Let me say now-this only once-that
love You from my SOUL and gave you my life.
80 much OF 1t as you would take-and all that is
DONE not to be altered now: 1t was in the
nature of the proceeding. wholly independent