The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-11
A VISIT TO GEORGE ELIOT.

1t was my good fortune to pass
month or more during the early sum-
mer of 1869 in London. at hotel oppo-
site St. Georges Church, Hanover
Square. 1t was q small, old-tashioned
hotel kept by two ladies, and our par
lor wore the air as Dickens used to say
when he came into it, ''of stage draw
inp-room. The vases and artificial
flowers and small mirrors and unneces-
sary tables were all there, and were
often in strange contrast to the simple
tastes of its temporary occupants and
their guests; although it could not be
denied that the lightness and cheer and
fancifulness had real charm for us In
the somewhat dark world of London
1t was here that Mr.. Lewes found us
one afternoon (by great good fortune
we had Just returned from rambling
abut, sight-seeing), and While he ex-
planned that Mrs. Lewes was never able
to make visits, stayed himself, and
talked freely about George Eliot and
literary affairs. He was not a very
prepossessing person in his appearance,
but his nercuriai temperament and his
large intelligence made him gay and in
teresting in conversation. He fingered,
full of agreeable subjects of talk. until
we knew something of each other, and
he had obtained a promise that we
would go on the following Sunday, in
the afternoon, to see his wife.
We found them at the time appointed
in a pleasant house somewhat retired
from the road, with trees and shrub
berry outside, and plenty of books IN
side small company of ladies and
gentlemen were already assembled, ana
there was much conversation Present.
,v however. George Eliot disengaged
herself from the general talk, and, al
lowing the company to break up INTO
groups, came and seated herself by my
side for a more intimate acquaintance.
7 ,ecall the glow which overenread her
face when she discovered that we had
n common friend in Harriet Beecher
stowe The effectionate generosity with
which she poured out her unbunded ad-
miration for Mrs. stowe, and her love
FOR her work, IS never to be forgotten,
She seemed to understand the rapt IN
tensity of Mrs. Stoves nature as few of
contemporaries have done and to re-
ioice In the inspiration which prompted
her great book Nor did she stop there
She had read and appreciated her later
books as we'll, and she loved and reVer-
enced the woman.
At his first visit to the "The Prory,'
the doors were kindly open to us ON
SUNDAYS during our stay in London
Unhappily l have no notes of those Wis
it's, nor of George Eliots conversation,
but I must always remember how the
beauty of her voice impressed me. |
also remarked the same quality | nave
mentioned in cpealling of her letters
a sense of perfectness in her presenta-
ton of any scene or subject. | recall
this impression especially In connection
with description she gave one after
noon of a late visit to Germany, por-
! the places (was t IlmenauD made clas-
rraying the chrm af living in one OF
places (was it IlmenauD made classic
to us by association with Goethe The
whole was so clearly yet simply and
vigorously said, that any listener, ig-
norant of her fame, must have felt her
unusual qualities both of mind and
| heart-Mrs. J. T. Fields in Century