GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, Rickmansworth, 2 September 1875
Title
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, Rickmansworth, 2 September 1875
Title
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, Rickmansworth, 2 September 1875
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. Elma Stuart
Date(s)
- 1875-09-02
Place
Rickmansworth
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, Rickmansworth, 2 September 1875
MS: British Museum. Published: Stuart, pp. 46-49.
The Elms | Rickmansworth | Herts. September 2. 75.
My dearest Elma
We both think that the idea of your writing a detailed story of your self-initiation as a wood-carver is one to be carried out without delay. I should imagine that many girls and women might be helped through your experience, directly or indirectly. And if your loving heart makes it a necessary condition to your doing the good work, that you should mention me (with due discreetness) I will not raise any obstacle. Only we must not see what you write beforehand. Neither Mr. Lewes nor I must have anything to do with it. This is quite absolute. You have a perfect right, my sweet daughter, to say what you think fit (I have confidence in your sense of fitness) about any relation my writings may have had to your history. My writings are public property: it is only myself apart from my writings that I hold private, and claim a veto about as a topic. And I particularly object to Mr. Lewes's having any cognizance of what you choose to say. If you cannot trust your own judgment, consult some dispassionate friend -- friends are not wanting in dispassionateness as critics of the praise given to some one else, and what your overflowing heart prompts is sure to have a sound of eulogy which, as your fervent countrymen would say, will seem "strong enough," i.e. quite tremendously strong to your friendly critic. I don't of course mean that you will write any direct praise, but that your grateful ardour may easily seem to others more than George Eliot deserves.
But write your paper with a vision of the idle women's needs before you. 308
Your spiritual mother has been a sadly dispirited mother of late, with a distaste for herself and her doings which would make life heavy if it were not borne up by soft strong wings of affection -- tender husband's affection. You must have known much in your shorter but often difficult life of that double, reflected depression in which one is constantly wondering how much is bodily feebleness, how much mental anxiety. But since you say nothing of your health I am hoping that you are stronger -- though I fear your silence is not good evidence. Have you left off naughtily working too long at night? And do you encourage sleep in all rational ways? Please to bear in mind that in being careless about your nerves you are endangering your [precious soul.]
We shall leave this place on the 23d. It will be time to do so, for the autumn mists on our meadows would not be sanitary. I suppose we shall go down to the coast while our London house is being cleaned, and perhaps I shall be quickened into more vigour by that change. I have constant cheerfulness by my side in my other self. He works with delight, and on the whole has been much better in this summer abode than in the last, at Redhill.
I am much comforted that you are no longer in anxiety about Roland. Please offer my loving remembrances to him, and tell him that the Eau de Cologne has seemed much more desirable to me since he became my purveyor. But my consumption does not go on so fast as his kind care in providing. Always, dearest Elma,
Your loving Mother
M. E. Lewes.
MS: British Museum. Published: Stuart, pp. 46-49.
The Elms | Rickmansworth | Herts. September 2. 75.
My dearest Elma
We both think that the idea of your writing a detailed story of your self-initiation as a wood-carver is one to be carried out without delay. I should imagine that many girls and women might be helped through your experience, directly or indirectly. And if your loving heart makes it a necessary condition to your doing the good work, that you should mention me (with due discreetness) I will not raise any obstacle. Only we must not see what you write beforehand. Neither Mr. Lewes nor I must have anything to do with it. This is quite absolute. You have a perfect right, my sweet daughter, to say what you think fit (I have confidence in your sense of fitness) about any relation my writings may have had to your history. My writings are public property: it is only myself apart from my writings that I hold private, and claim a veto about as a topic. And I particularly object to Mr. Lewes's having any cognizance of what you choose to say. If you cannot trust your own judgment, consult some dispassionate friend -- friends are not wanting in dispassionateness as critics of the praise given to some one else, and what your overflowing heart prompts is sure to have a sound of eulogy which, as your fervent countrymen would say, will seem "strong enough," i.e. quite tremendously strong to your friendly critic. I don't of course mean that you will write any direct praise, but that your grateful ardour may easily seem to others more than George Eliot deserves.
But write your paper with a vision of the idle women's needs before you. 308
Your spiritual mother has been a sadly dispirited mother of late, with a distaste for herself and her doings which would make life heavy if it were not borne up by soft strong wings of affection -- tender husband's affection. You must have known much in your shorter but often difficult life of that double, reflected depression in which one is constantly wondering how much is bodily feebleness, how much mental anxiety. But since you say nothing of your health I am hoping that you are stronger -- though I fear your silence is not good evidence. Have you left off naughtily working too long at night? And do you encourage sleep in all rational ways? Please to bear in mind that in being careless about your nerves you are endangering your [precious soul.]
We shall leave this place on the 23d. It will be time to do so, for the autumn mists on our meadows would not be sanitary. I suppose we shall go down to the coast while our London house is being cleaned, and perhaps I shall be quickened into more vigour by that change. I have constant cheerfulness by my side in my other self. He works with delight, and on the whole has been much better in this summer abode than in the last, at Redhill.
I am much comforted that you are no longer in anxiety about Roland. Please offer my loving remembrances to him, and tell him that the Eau de Cologne has seemed much more desirable to me since he became my purveyor. But my consumption does not go on so fast as his kind care in providing. Always, dearest Elma,
Your loving Mother
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. Elma Stuart, Rickmansworth, 2 September 1875, 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/93421