GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Wildbad, 13-14 July 1880
Title
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Wildbad, 13-14 July 1880
Title
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Wildbad, 13-14 July 1880
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Charles Lee Lewes
Date(s)
- 1880-07-13–<br /> 1880-07-14
Place
Wildbad
Letter Content
GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Wildbad, 13-14 July 1880
MS: Yale. Published: Paterson, pp. 233-235.
Wildbad, July 13. 80.
Dearest Boy
I received your welcome letter yesterday morning, and felt inclined to answer it the next minute. But yesterday Willie left us and the after-breakfast time, when I usually have half an hour at liberty, was taken up in accompanying him to the railway station. He is well-tanned and much more robust than when he came to us and his sisters are rather in want of his presence in their crisis of taking a new home. Johnnie is quite well again but is inclined to linger a little in the sweet air of the Schwarzwald which comes to one on gently stirred wings laden with the scent of the pine forests. We mean to drive from here to Baden which is within easy distance.
While I think of it, let me beg you to tell me about Eliza, and her future address when you know it, as I shall want to send her the money for August on my return. At present I am uncertain about the date of our arrival at home, but of course I shall let Mrs. Dowling know the exact time as soon as I am able to do so.
Your programme for the holiday seems very promising and the additional week will make a desirable difference, carrying off the fringes of mere travel from your precious month. About the Black Forest, Willie says that Baden Weiler is much more lovely than this place. He was there, I think, last year with Mr. Hall, and is rather rapturous about the scenery and general characteristics of that third Baden, so if you get near it you may perhaps make a fortunate experiment in going thither. I remember it was a favourite place of the Benzons.
I had written so far yesterday when we sallied forth for a walk over the mountain to a place where we could rest and lunch, returning in the afternoon. The sky was brilliant. But in half an hour the clouds gathered and threatened a storm. We were prudent enough to turn back and by the time we were in the Hotel again the thunder was rolling and the rain pouring down. This continued till about 2 o'clock and then again the sky became clear. I never saw so incalculable a state of weather as we have in this valley. One quarter of an hour the blue sky is only flecked by lightest cirrhus clouds, the next it is almost hidden by dark rain clouds. But we are going to start on our promised expedition this morning, the sunshine flattering us that it is quite confirmed.
I have not the least notion who Miss Dennis is. It seems to me that I never heard you mention her. But if Gertrude is fond of her and Miss Flower makes a fourth so as to give you freedom from the perpetual charge of a third person, it will enliven your journey to have pleasant company at will.
I thought I had paid every "bill" before leaving except the naughty Elderton's 455 who has obstinately kept back his account for seven years and more.
I think you had better address your next letter Poste Restante, Strasburg, as I am uncertain how long we shall rest at Baden. 456
I have written to nobody but you for a long while, except to poor Mrs. Stuart whom I lately asked to send you word of her state that you might let me know of it. I wrote to her just to mention that the baths here are held marvellously curative for rheumatic patients. But one always trembles about [recommending] places as well as people.
I have just asked Johnnie, who like me is scribbling a hasty letter home, whether he will send his love to you and he answers "Yes -- much."
We know hardly any news, but have gathered that there are troubles with Turkey again. Worse than that would be another failure in the harvest, and I sometimes fear that the storms may have greatly damaged the crops at home as well as in these regions.
We have just had letters from Weybridge which tell us that a dear young friend of the Girls -- of Eleanor especially whose comrade she has been for 18 years, has lately died, and they are feeling the loss greatly.
If there are any books at the Priory of a light sort (both in the moral and physical sense) such as you would like to carry with you on your journey, pray select them.
Love to the dear ones from your ever loving
Mutter.
MS: Yale. Published: Paterson, pp. 233-235.
Wildbad, July 13. 80.
Dearest Boy
I received your welcome letter yesterday morning, and felt inclined to answer it the next minute. But yesterday Willie left us and the after-breakfast time, when I usually have half an hour at liberty, was taken up in accompanying him to the railway station. He is well-tanned and much more robust than when he came to us and his sisters are rather in want of his presence in their crisis of taking a new home. Johnnie is quite well again but is inclined to linger a little in the sweet air of the Schwarzwald which comes to one on gently stirred wings laden with the scent of the pine forests. We mean to drive from here to Baden which is within easy distance.
While I think of it, let me beg you to tell me about Eliza, and her future address when you know it, as I shall want to send her the money for August on my return. At present I am uncertain about the date of our arrival at home, but of course I shall let Mrs. Dowling know the exact time as soon as I am able to do so.
Your programme for the holiday seems very promising and the additional week will make a desirable difference, carrying off the fringes of mere travel from your precious month. About the Black Forest, Willie says that Baden Weiler is much more lovely than this place. He was there, I think, last year with Mr. Hall, and is rather rapturous about the scenery and general characteristics of that third Baden, so if you get near it you may perhaps make a fortunate experiment in going thither. I remember it was a favourite place of the Benzons.
I had written so far yesterday when we sallied forth for a walk over the mountain to a place where we could rest and lunch, returning in the afternoon. The sky was brilliant. But in half an hour the clouds gathered and threatened a storm. We were prudent enough to turn back and by the time we were in the Hotel again the thunder was rolling and the rain pouring down. This continued till about 2 o'clock and then again the sky became clear. I never saw so incalculable a state of weather as we have in this valley. One quarter of an hour the blue sky is only flecked by lightest cirrhus clouds, the next it is almost hidden by dark rain clouds. But we are going to start on our promised expedition this morning, the sunshine flattering us that it is quite confirmed.
I have not the least notion who Miss Dennis is. It seems to me that I never heard you mention her. But if Gertrude is fond of her and Miss Flower makes a fourth so as to give you freedom from the perpetual charge of a third person, it will enliven your journey to have pleasant company at will.
I thought I had paid every "bill" before leaving except the naughty Elderton's 455 who has obstinately kept back his account for seven years and more.
I think you had better address your next letter Poste Restante, Strasburg, as I am uncertain how long we shall rest at Baden. 456
I have written to nobody but you for a long while, except to poor Mrs. Stuart whom I lately asked to send you word of her state that you might let me know of it. I wrote to her just to mention that the baths here are held marvellously curative for rheumatic patients. But one always trembles about [recommending] places as well as people.
I have just asked Johnnie, who like me is scribbling a hasty letter home, whether he will send his love to you and he answers "Yes -- much."
We know hardly any news, but have gathered that there are troubles with Turkey again. Worse than that would be another failure in the harvest, and I sometimes fear that the storms may have greatly damaged the crops at home as well as in these regions.
We have just had letters from Weybridge which tell us that a dear young friend of the Girls -- of Eleanor especially whose comrade she has been for 18 years, has lately died, and they are feeling the loss greatly.
If there are any books at the Priory of a light sort (both in the moral and physical sense) such as you would like to carry with you on your journey, pray select them.
Love to the dear ones from your ever loving
Mutter.
Signature
Mutter.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Charles Lee Lewes, Wildbad, 13-14 July 1880, 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/92228