GE to Mrs. William Cross, Homburg, [25 September 1872]
Title
GE to Mrs. William Cross, Homburg, [25 September 1872]
Title
GE to Mrs. William Cross, Homburg, [25 September 1872]
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Mrs. William Cross
Date(s)
- 1872-09-25
Place
Homburg
Letter Content
GE to Mrs. William Cross, Homburg, [25 September 1872]
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale Endorsed: October 1872. Extracts published: Cross, III, 169-170.
No. 14 Obere Promenade | Homburg.
My dear Mrs. Cross
It was a delightful surprize to see your handwriting when we went to inquire at the Poste Restante. We are indebted to Miss Helps, 599 who says in her letter which you forwarded, that she has been detained in London with her Father, but hopes still to pay the visit to Walton which will be the occasion for her having the pleasure of making your acquaintance.
We had, on the whole, a fortunate journey, and are especially grateful to Mr. Hall for suggesting the route by Tr'e8ves, where we spent two nights and an exquisite day. I was continually reminded of Rome when we were wandering in the outskirts in search of the antiquities, and the river banks are a loveliness into the bargain which Rome has not. We had even an opportunity of seeing some dissipation, for there happened to be an excellent circus where we spent our evening. 600 The pretty country through which we passed had an additional interest for us about Libramont. 601
We arrived at Homburg on Saturday night and settled in these comfortable lodgings the next morning. The air, the waters, the plantations are all perfect -- "only man is vile." I am not fond of denouncing my fellow-sinners, but gambling being a vice I have no mind to, it stirs my disgust even more than my pity. The sight of the dull faces bending round the gaming tables, the raking-up of the money, and the flinging of the coins towards the winners by the hard-faced croupiers, the hateful, hideous women staring at the board like stupid monomaniacs -- all this seems to me the most abject presentation of mortals grasping after something called a good that can be seen on the face of this little earth. Burglary is heroic compared with it. I get some satisfaction in looking on from the sense that the thing is going to be put down. Hell is the only right name for such places. 602
"Everybody" is going away, or rather gone, except a few stragglers in search of health like ourselves -- and the gamblers. Nevertheless we have found acquaintances, some rather grand, who are going away on Friday, 603 others less grand who are also likely to go in a few days. We don't mind their departure, if the Sun will give us his company. But it was cruel to find the bitter cold just set in as we arrived. For two days we were as cold as in clear winter days at Berlin. Since then, the wind has become milder, and we are hoping that there may still be at least a fortnight, if not three weeks, of healthy dryness in this delicious spot. Damp would drive us away.
We are tolerably prosperous in health, and in sufficiently good spirits to think that we shall be better before we are worse again. There are no amusements for the evening here, and the pleasure of listening to the excellent band in the afternoons is diminished by the chilliness which makes one fear to sit down in the open air. But we like being idle, and the days pass easily.
It is good to have in our memories the two happy days at Six Mile Bottom, and the love that surrounded me and took care of me there is something very precious to believe in among hard-faced strangers. But it has vexed me to think that Mr. Hall lost his morning's shooting owing to my troublesome ailments. My best love to him and all the other young ones. George's love keeps close to mine and flies with it. Chief love to you, dear Friend, and much gratitude for the anticipated letter that will come to tell us more news of you by and by.
Always yours
M. E. Lewes.
MS: Tinker Collection, Yale Endorsed: October 1872. Extracts published: Cross, III, 169-170.
No. 14 Obere Promenade | Homburg.
My dear Mrs. Cross
It was a delightful surprize to see your handwriting when we went to inquire at the Poste Restante. We are indebted to Miss Helps, 599 who says in her letter which you forwarded, that she has been detained in London with her Father, but hopes still to pay the visit to Walton which will be the occasion for her having the pleasure of making your acquaintance.
We had, on the whole, a fortunate journey, and are especially grateful to Mr. Hall for suggesting the route by Tr'e8ves, where we spent two nights and an exquisite day. I was continually reminded of Rome when we were wandering in the outskirts in search of the antiquities, and the river banks are a loveliness into the bargain which Rome has not. We had even an opportunity of seeing some dissipation, for there happened to be an excellent circus where we spent our evening. 600 The pretty country through which we passed had an additional interest for us about Libramont. 601
We arrived at Homburg on Saturday night and settled in these comfortable lodgings the next morning. The air, the waters, the plantations are all perfect -- "only man is vile." I am not fond of denouncing my fellow-sinners, but gambling being a vice I have no mind to, it stirs my disgust even more than my pity. The sight of the dull faces bending round the gaming tables, the raking-up of the money, and the flinging of the coins towards the winners by the hard-faced croupiers, the hateful, hideous women staring at the board like stupid monomaniacs -- all this seems to me the most abject presentation of mortals grasping after something called a good that can be seen on the face of this little earth. Burglary is heroic compared with it. I get some satisfaction in looking on from the sense that the thing is going to be put down. Hell is the only right name for such places. 602
"Everybody" is going away, or rather gone, except a few stragglers in search of health like ourselves -- and the gamblers. Nevertheless we have found acquaintances, some rather grand, who are going away on Friday, 603 others less grand who are also likely to go in a few days. We don't mind their departure, if the Sun will give us his company. But it was cruel to find the bitter cold just set in as we arrived. For two days we were as cold as in clear winter days at Berlin. Since then, the wind has become milder, and we are hoping that there may still be at least a fortnight, if not three weeks, of healthy dryness in this delicious spot. Damp would drive us away.
We are tolerably prosperous in health, and in sufficiently good spirits to think that we shall be better before we are worse again. There are no amusements for the evening here, and the pleasure of listening to the excellent band in the afternoons is diminished by the chilliness which makes one fear to sit down in the open air. But we like being idle, and the days pass easily.
It is good to have in our memories the two happy days at Six Mile Bottom, and the love that surrounded me and took care of me there is something very precious to believe in among hard-faced strangers. But it has vexed me to think that Mr. Hall lost his morning's shooting owing to my troublesome ailments. My best love to him and all the other young ones. George's love keeps close to mine and flies with it. Chief love to you, dear Friend, and much gratitude for the anticipated letter that will come to tell us more news of you by and by.
Always yours
M. E. Lewes.
Signature
M. E. Lewes.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Mrs. William Cross, Homburg, [25 September 1872], 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/93719