The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-02
A VISIT TO cnonGn ELIOT.
An American Womnn's 1tccoiircti"ns
of the Erent Nn,NIi,it at Home.

of the Great Np'Vlt1t at iiome.
Mrs James 7. Fields tells in the July Cen
fury the story OF her acquaintance with the
famous novelist George Eliot:
1t was my good fortune to pass a month or
more during the early summer of 1869 in Lon
don, al hotel opposite ST. Georges church,
Hanover square, II was q small, old-fashioned
hotel, kept by two ladies' and our parlor wore
the air, as Dickens usea to say when he cam,
into it. "of stage drawing room" The vase:
and artificial bowers and small mirrors ant
unnecessary tables were all there and wer,
often in strange contrast to the simple taste'
OF its temporary occupants and their guests
although II could not be denied that the light
ness aud cheer and fancifulness had rea
charm for us in the somewhat dark world OF
London. II was here that Mr. Lewes found
US one afternoon tby great good fortune We
had just returned from rambling about sight
seeng), and while he explained that Mrs
Lewes WIS never able to make visits. stayed
himself, and talked freely about George Eliot
and literary affairs. He was not very pre-
possessing person in his appearance. but his
mercnrial temperament and his large intclll-
gence made him gay and interesting III con
Yersation. He fingered, full of agreeable sub
.ects of talk, until we know something of each
other. and be had obtained a promise that we
would go on the following Sunday, In the
afternoon to see his wife
We found them Mt the time appointed In n
pleasant house somewhat retired from the
road. with trees and shrubbory outside and
plenty of books inside a small company OF
ladies' and gentlemen were already assembled,
and there was much conversation. Presently.
However George Eliot dsengaged herself from
the general talk. and, allowing the company
10 break w lato groups, came and seated her
self by my side for more intimate acquaint-
ance. recall the glow that oversrread her
face when she discovered that we had COM
mon friend in Harriet Beecher Stowe. The
affectionate generosity with which she poured
out her unbounded admiration for Mrs Stowe.
and her love for her work. lis never to be for
gotten. She seemed to understand the rapt
intensity of Mrs Stoves nature as few Of her
contemporaries have done. and to rejoice in
the inspiration which prompted her great
book Nor did she stop there She had read
and appreciated her later books as we'll. aud
she loved and reverenced the woman
After this first visit to The Priory' the
doors were Kindly open TO us on Sundays dur
ing our stay in London. UnhaDpily. have
no notes Of those visits, nor Of George Eliot s
conversation. but ! must always remember
how the beauty Of her voice impressed IN q.
also remarked the same quality / have men
toned IN speaking Of her letters sense of
perfectness In her presentatio OF any scene
OF subject. recall this impression especially
In connection with description she gave one
ing tho charm ~ llvlpr IN ~ the places
twas It Ilmennu?) made classic to US by as
ISOLATION with Goethe. 4 ne whole was so
clearly yet simply and vigorously said that
my listener ignorant OF her fame must have
foIt her unusual qualities both OF mind and
heart