GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Wandsworth, 7 October 1859
Title
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Wandsworth, 7 October 1859
Title
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Wandsworth, 7 October 1859
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Charles Lee Lewes
Date(s)
- 1859-10-07
Place
Wandsworth
Letter Content
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Wandsworth, 7 October 1859
MS: Lieutenant-Commander Arthur Ouvry. Published: Paterson, pp. 74-77; extracts in Cross, II, 134-135.
Holly Lodge, Wandsworth | October 7. 59.
My dear Charles
When people write books which are a little too weary and pedantic, their writings, as you know, are said to smell of the lamp, it being supposed that the unfortunate authors sate up late at night to write them -- with weary eyes and muddled brains. It is probable that my letters to you will smell at least of candle, for as I have no time to write them by daylight, I take the last hour of the evening for the purpose and so give you the fag end of my wits.
The very best bit of news I can tell you, to begin with, is, that your Father's "Physiology of Common Life" is selling remarkably well, being much in request among medical students. You are not to be a medical student, but I hope, nevertheless, you will by and by read the work with interest. There is to be a new edition of the "Sea-side Studies" at Christmas or soon after -- a proof that this book also meets with a good number of readers. I wish you could have seen today, as I did, the delicate spinal cord of a dragon fly -- like a tiny thread with tiny beads on it -- which your father had just dissected! He is so wonderfully clever now at the dissection of these delicate things and has attained this cleverness entirely by devoted practice during the last three years. I hope you have some of his resolution and persistent regularity in work: I think you have, if I may judge from your application to music, which I am always glad to read of in your letters. I was a very idle practiser, and I often regret now that when I had abundant time and opportunity for hours of piano-playing, I used them so little. I have about eighteen sonatas and symphonies of Beethoven, I think, but I shall be delighted to find that you can play them better than I can. I wish Bertie could be exhorted to work at his music, since he appears to have a decided ear for it. I am very sensitive to blunders and wrong notes, and instruments out of tune, but I have never played much from ear, though I used to play from memory a great deal. The other evening Mr. Pigott whom you remember, Mr. Redford, 340 another friend of your father's, and Mr. Wilkie Collins 341 dined with us, and we had a charming musical evening: Mr. Pigott has a delicious tenor voice and Mr. Redford a fine baritone. The latter sings "Adelaide," that exquisite song of Beethoven's, which I should like you to learn. Schubert's songs, too, I especially delight in: but, as you say, they are difficult.
One pities that American importation into Hofwyl! But perhaps the masters are rather the proper objects of pity, having to manage so rough a cub. He must have seen some odd experience among the Indians and in his other escapades.
I suppose you are feeling very near to winter, but we, after some cold and rainy weather, are having almost sultry days again. I enjoy very much the great expanse of blue and clouds that make a great arch over us when we are walking on Wimbledon Common, which is really worthy to be called a "plain" -- it is such a grand stretch of heath-clad level ground. This fine Common is the chief thing we have to make amends for the loss of the Richmond walks, which are so various and so beautiful. We have had a long, long walk today -- Pug being with us of course; and I wish you had seen that young gentleman's interview with a brood of small pigs. Pug goes up to every animal with an apparent intention of making their acquaintance, but no sooner do they put out their noses in an inspecting or threatening manner, than he runs to a distance, and like the South Sea Islanders, dances his war dance at a safe remoteness from hoofs and noses. Yet the next minute he forgets his fear and runs up again: clearly a dog to whom experience is not a successful teacher!
That is a dreadful exit that your Herr Stamm made from the school
Good by, dear Charles. Kisses "over the water to Charlie!" from
His affectionate "Mother"
Marian Lewes.
MS: Lieutenant-Commander Arthur Ouvry. Published: Paterson, pp. 74-77; extracts in Cross, II, 134-135.
Holly Lodge, Wandsworth | October 7. 59.
My dear Charles
When people write books which are a little too weary and pedantic, their writings, as you know, are said to smell of the lamp, it being supposed that the unfortunate authors sate up late at night to write them -- with weary eyes and muddled brains. It is probable that my letters to you will smell at least of candle, for as I have no time to write them by daylight, I take the last hour of the evening for the purpose and so give you the fag end of my wits.
The very best bit of news I can tell you, to begin with, is, that your Father's "Physiology of Common Life" is selling remarkably well, being much in request among medical students. You are not to be a medical student, but I hope, nevertheless, you will by and by read the work with interest. There is to be a new edition of the "Sea-side Studies" at Christmas or soon after -- a proof that this book also meets with a good number of readers. I wish you could have seen today, as I did, the delicate spinal cord of a dragon fly -- like a tiny thread with tiny beads on it -- which your father had just dissected! He is so wonderfully clever now at the dissection of these delicate things and has attained this cleverness entirely by devoted practice during the last three years. I hope you have some of his resolution and persistent regularity in work: I think you have, if I may judge from your application to music, which I am always glad to read of in your letters. I was a very idle practiser, and I often regret now that when I had abundant time and opportunity for hours of piano-playing, I used them so little. I have about eighteen sonatas and symphonies of Beethoven, I think, but I shall be delighted to find that you can play them better than I can. I wish Bertie could be exhorted to work at his music, since he appears to have a decided ear for it. I am very sensitive to blunders and wrong notes, and instruments out of tune, but I have never played much from ear, though I used to play from memory a great deal. The other evening Mr. Pigott whom you remember, Mr. Redford, 340 another friend of your father's, and Mr. Wilkie Collins 341 dined with us, and we had a charming musical evening: Mr. Pigott has a delicious tenor voice and Mr. Redford a fine baritone. The latter sings "Adelaide," that exquisite song of Beethoven's, which I should like you to learn. Schubert's songs, too, I especially delight in: but, as you say, they are difficult.
One pities that American importation into Hofwyl! But perhaps the masters are rather the proper objects of pity, having to manage so rough a cub. He must have seen some odd experience among the Indians and in his other escapades.
I suppose you are feeling very near to winter, but we, after some cold and rainy weather, are having almost sultry days again. I enjoy very much the great expanse of blue and clouds that make a great arch over us when we are walking on Wimbledon Common, which is really worthy to be called a "plain" -- it is such a grand stretch of heath-clad level ground. This fine Common is the chief thing we have to make amends for the loss of the Richmond walks, which are so various and so beautiful. We have had a long, long walk today -- Pug being with us of course; and I wish you had seen that young gentleman's interview with a brood of small pigs. Pug goes up to every animal with an apparent intention of making their acquaintance, but no sooner do they put out their noses in an inspecting or threatening manner, than he runs to a distance, and like the South Sea Islanders, dances his war dance at a safe remoteness from hoofs and noses. Yet the next minute he forgets his fear and runs up again: clearly a dog to whom experience is not a successful teacher!
That is a dreadful exit that your Herr Stamm made from the school
Good by, dear Charles. Kisses "over the water to Charlie!" from
His affectionate "Mother"
Marian Lewes.
Signature
Marian Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Wandsworth, 7 October 1859, 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/92226