GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 3 March 1876
Title
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 3 March 1876
Title
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 3 March 1876
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Elma Stuart
Date(s)
- 1876-03-03
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 3 March 1876
MS: British Museum. Published: Stuart, pp. 51-53.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
March 3. 76.
Dearest Elma
Thanks for the sweet violets and still sweeter letter, which promises delightful things -- the best being that you will come over in April and see your parent who is hanging to life by a very indifferent loop of flesh. Imagine us both as ghastly as possible, that the sight of us may not shock you too much.
I wrap myself already in the new plaid that is being woven for me, and take its soft tissue as a symbol of gentle affection. As to the reprints, 420 dear child, it was like your warm heart to get them done, but they must be destroyed, please. You could not hinder the suspicion that we had prompted the distribution -- that would be the immediate conclusion of ordinary minds, and would by and by become their absolute statement. I have not read the article. Mr. Lewes carefully protects me from reading about myself, and as soon as I know that there is an article on me in any periodical, I wait till it is cut out before I take up the print for other reading. But Mr. Lewes reads everything about me that comes in his way, and he thought, with you, that the said account of me in the W. 421 was well written and done in an excellent spirit. He read aloud to me two sentences. But the details of fact are quite erroneous, except the Liggins story, which is correctly told.
As to the Table, the photograph shows a great beauty, but our own are beauties too of which we are very proud, and we don't see why you should have the trouble of packing and bringing anything better in exchange. Pack and bring yourself, my daughter. You will cheer greatly the heart of
Your anxious and affectionate
Mother.
Our love to Roland, of whom we hope to hear the best news when you come.
MS: British Museum. Published: Stuart, pp. 51-53.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
March 3. 76.
Dearest Elma
Thanks for the sweet violets and still sweeter letter, which promises delightful things -- the best being that you will come over in April and see your parent who is hanging to life by a very indifferent loop of flesh. Imagine us both as ghastly as possible, that the sight of us may not shock you too much.
I wrap myself already in the new plaid that is being woven for me, and take its soft tissue as a symbol of gentle affection. As to the reprints, 420 dear child, it was like your warm heart to get them done, but they must be destroyed, please. You could not hinder the suspicion that we had prompted the distribution -- that would be the immediate conclusion of ordinary minds, and would by and by become their absolute statement. I have not read the article. Mr. Lewes carefully protects me from reading about myself, and as soon as I know that there is an article on me in any periodical, I wait till it is cut out before I take up the print for other reading. But Mr. Lewes reads everything about me that comes in his way, and he thought, with you, that the said account of me in the W. 421 was well written and done in an excellent spirit. He read aloud to me two sentences. But the details of fact are quite erroneous, except the Liggins story, which is correctly told.
As to the Table, the photograph shows a great beauty, but our own are beauties too of which we are very proud, and we don't see why you should have the trouble of packing and bringing anything better in exchange. Pack and bring yourself, my daughter. You will cheer greatly the heart of
Your anxious and affectionate
Mother.
Our love to Roland, of whom we hope to hear the best news when you come.
Signature
Mother.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, London, 3 March 1876, 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/93410