Edith Simcox, Autobiography, 23 November 1879
Title
Edith Simcox, Autobiography, 23 November 1879
Title
Edith Simcox, Autobiography, 23 November 1879
Sender
Edith Simcox
Recipient
U
Date(s)
- 1879-11-23
Place
London
Letter Content
Edith Simcox, Autobiography, 23 November 1879
MS: Bodleian. Extract published: McKenzie, p. 105; Haight, George Eliot, p. 531.
Sunday 23 November 1879
I was not able to get to her till the Saturday afternoon and then Lady Paget was there, so I only left my love. On the 19th I saw her, for about half an hour; she protested against the time and mental force spent in writing to her -- another long report. -- Spoke of the wearisomeness of business and letters -- a man called sending in an impertinent note -- "My dear George Eliot" which she answered by a message, she was not able to receive strangers: said he used to tease her for not being content with dispatching a letter unless it was a composition -- his own notes were scribbled off with ease and he comforted himself that no one would ever wish to print them. She added life wasn't long enough to read up old productions of the penny post, then looked at me to make an exception and when I said [those least of all] she denied -- thought if my letters could be printed anonymously, they would make a very pretty complete romance. Then she went on to say how horrid it was to hear indirectly that some letters, even of sympathy, were only dictated by the hope of an autograph. On the other hand some perfectly beautiful letters came unsigned -- she had one such from a gentleman in New Zealand lately, and they were the most precious tribute: Johnny came in and I could have kissed him for he kissed her hand when he came in.
MS: Bodleian. Extract published: McKenzie, p. 105; Haight, George Eliot, p. 531.
Sunday 23 November 1879
I was not able to get to her till the Saturday afternoon and then Lady Paget was there, so I only left my love. On the 19th I saw her, for about half an hour; she protested against the time and mental force spent in writing to her -- another long report. -- Spoke of the wearisomeness of business and letters -- a man called sending in an impertinent note -- "My dear George Eliot" which she answered by a message, she was not able to receive strangers: said he used to tease her for not being content with dispatching a letter unless it was a composition -- his own notes were scribbled off with ease and he comforted himself that no one would ever wish to print them. She added life wasn't long enough to read up old productions of the penny post, then looked at me to make an exception and when I said [those least of all] she denied -- thought if my letters could be printed anonymously, they would make a very pretty complete romance. Then she went on to say how horrid it was to hear indirectly that some letters, even of sympathy, were only dictated by the hope of an autograph. On the other hand some perfectly beautiful letters came unsigned -- she had one such from a gentleman in New Zealand lately, and they were the most precious tribute: Johnny came in and I could have kissed him for he kissed her hand when he came in.
Citation
Edith Simcox, Edith Simcox, Autobiography, 23 November 1879, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/91791