The Hawaiian star., 1910-01-18

Il met her as a little, timid girl, in |
cold-looking drawing-room, where
she held Sunday-afternoon receptions
for the artists, musicians, and writer's
of her class, at Charing Cross. l was
presented to the noted woman by
Ralph Waldo Emerson. have always
been peculiarly Influenced by first inn
pressions, and, to be candid, my first
impression of George Eliot was not
agreeable. Her personality was strik
ing, but while it attracted, at the same
time it eluded, and repelled me.
81 retired to a far corner of the long
room and sank into a secluded arm
chair. But with the kindness that was
dominant in her, she at length came
and with one hand resting on my head
and the other clasping my hands she
won me completely. In deep voice
which was, as l remember, very
smooth and mellow she said these
words to me: ''You are very young.
But you must remember, my child, you
will have to meet difficulties and mas
ter them Later, thought she knew
too well of how she spoke And then,
with her blue-grey eyes smiling at me,
, Remember that God is around you, in
everything, and within you
I'm Highgate Cemetery" slowly
mused the little Preacher aloud, "there
are two graves. One is that of George
Henry Lewis, and the other is that of
Marion Evans, better known as George
Eliot An American lady once plant
ed a rose bush OF the latters grave,
and when in bloom it was bore red
roses. The last time l saw it, the
bush had grown to a great size. 1t was
covered profusely with rich, red roses.
The bush had grown in such a man.
ner, that it leaned over the companion
grave, and the petals of the blossom
fell softly over it, covering it complete
ly in a crimson spread.
at seems to me that Queen Victoria
the great and good queen, made one
mistake. 1t was part of her system to
keep the tenor of her court life pure
and with this intense love of right
eousness prevailing in her heart, she
refused to allow the name of George
Eliot to be carved in the floor of the
poets corner in Westminster Abbey
where the greatest of England's meI
and women are immortalized. l have
often walked down the aisles of the
Abbey, and l have paused before mon
p uments, reared to those who have no
, done one-half for the world that she
= did and have no doubt if whose in
| ner lives were displayed to the world
t and cried from end to end as hers
| their monuments would be far less de
r served
e "In, the National Art Gallery in Ira
! | falgar Square, as you enter on the frs
S floor, up to a short time ago, yo1
|. would find photographs for sale of al
e the great authors and artists and nc
j ted people. l went up to a room de
e voted to eminent authors. l saw ther
D a life portrait of Mrs. Hemens, ant
r many others known in English litera
: ture, the last added being that o
Robert Louis Stevenson, who had jus
4 passed away in one Of the islands o
: the South Pacific. Then | looked 70
e George Eliot's. l saw a small fOur-by
!, six water color, taken when a younj
;. man, and as a companion to it that o
e George Eliot, when a very young girl
1 These were placed in most incon
k spicuous place about two feet abov
n the floor A cabinet photograph, takel
n later in life, and one Of George Henr,
d Lewis, was the only other reminder o
e that great soul. / searched all owe
|, London for something more, but moth
d ing could | find. Nothing, only tn
/. two graves in Highgate Cemetery OF