GE to John Chapman, Berlin, 9 January 1855
Title
GE to John Chapman, Berlin, 9 January 1855
Title
GE to John Chapman, Berlin, 9 January 1855
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
John Chapman
Date(s)
- 1855-01-09
Place
Berlin
Letter Content
GE to John Chapman, Berlin, 9 January 1855
MS: University of Texas. Endorsed: Miss Evans. Partly published: II, 190.
2 Dorotheen Strasse, Berlin | January 9. 1854. 244
Dear Friend
Glad to hear from you again, though I was casting no mental reproaches on you for your silence, as I was aware that you must be very busy at the high tide of your editorial affairs.
I still think the "Ideals of Womanhood" a good subject and one I should like to treat, but I have been thinking lately of an article on another subject which I believe I could make interesting and which I could prepare for your next number if you agree with me that it is promising. Meanwhile, if you think well, I will slowly prepare the other article for some future number. The subject I now propose is "Woman in Germany" 245 -- not simply the modern German woman, who is not a very fertile subject (metaphorically speaking) but woman as she presents herself to us in all the phases of development through which the German race has run from the earliest historic twilight when it was still blended with the Scandinavian race -- and its women were prophetesses, through the periods of the Volks wanderung and the romantic and b'fcrgerlich life of the Middle Ages up to our own day. There is a great deal of picturesque material on this subject and I am just in the midst of it here, so that it would suit me perhaps better than any other just now. What say you? -- No, of course, unless you heartily concur -- and I shall equally remain etc. etc. as politeness says at the end of letters, meaning Go to the -- . The article would very likely not reach 32 pages, but I should be glad to be allowed that length of tether as it would be a disadvantage to the subject for me to feel cramped.
I am amazed to hear that Dr. Hodgson and company could think of venturing on the attempt to establish a new quarterly. 246 I cannot believe it will be carried through. But if no heresies are allowed in it, it will not be a formidable rival to you. Heresy would have been strength to it. I see the propriety of your objection to sending private matters in Nutt's parcel, and one can always wait for the story of people's misdoings. I am sorry to be obliged to think that Dr. Hodgson has behaved ill.
Mr. Lewes's health has been variable, but I think he is on the whole better. He desires me to send his kind remembrances to you, as indeed he always does, and I always forget to give them. We like our Berlin life immensely -- an ugly place it must be to any one who comes to it hipped or solitary or what is worse, with a disagreeable companion. But, to make a very novel quotation -- "the mind is its own place" 247 and can make a pretty town even of Berlin. The day seems too short for our happiness and we both of us feel that we have begun life afresh -- with new ambition and new powers. I say so much to you, because I know you have a friendly interest in me, and to that extent I am not afraid of incurring the fatality which the Germans seem still to believe in. When any one is spoken of as being very happy, they say "Unberufen" -- meaning "Don't talk of it, or their happiness will vanish."
It is distressing to see the multitude of soldiers here -- to think of the nation's vitality going to feed 300,000 puppets in uniform. In the streets one's legs are in constant danger from officers' swords, and at tables d'h'f4te the most noise is always made by officers. Will you be kind enough to let me owe you a 1d stamp and send the enclosed letter to Miss Hennell?
We have just come from hearing "Fidelio," and I write tonight to save the working time in the morning. Pray let no one else see this hasty and unconsidered letter.
Ever yours sincerely
Marian Evans.
In a sentence of my article which was altered, perspicuity was printed for perspicacity 248 a mistake which would make any one with a nice sense of the language shudder. Verbum sapientibus. Please to put a seal on Miss Hennell's letter. You can read it if you like.
MS: University of Texas. Endorsed: Miss Evans. Partly published: II, 190.
2 Dorotheen Strasse, Berlin | January 9. 1854. 244
Dear Friend
Glad to hear from you again, though I was casting no mental reproaches on you for your silence, as I was aware that you must be very busy at the high tide of your editorial affairs.
I still think the "Ideals of Womanhood" a good subject and one I should like to treat, but I have been thinking lately of an article on another subject which I believe I could make interesting and which I could prepare for your next number if you agree with me that it is promising. Meanwhile, if you think well, I will slowly prepare the other article for some future number. The subject I now propose is "Woman in Germany" 245 -- not simply the modern German woman, who is not a very fertile subject (metaphorically speaking) but woman as she presents herself to us in all the phases of development through which the German race has run from the earliest historic twilight when it was still blended with the Scandinavian race -- and its women were prophetesses, through the periods of the Volks wanderung and the romantic and b'fcrgerlich life of the Middle Ages up to our own day. There is a great deal of picturesque material on this subject and I am just in the midst of it here, so that it would suit me perhaps better than any other just now. What say you? -- No, of course, unless you heartily concur -- and I shall equally remain etc. etc. as politeness says at the end of letters, meaning Go to the -- . The article would very likely not reach 32 pages, but I should be glad to be allowed that length of tether as it would be a disadvantage to the subject for me to feel cramped.
I am amazed to hear that Dr. Hodgson and company could think of venturing on the attempt to establish a new quarterly. 246 I cannot believe it will be carried through. But if no heresies are allowed in it, it will not be a formidable rival to you. Heresy would have been strength to it. I see the propriety of your objection to sending private matters in Nutt's parcel, and one can always wait for the story of people's misdoings. I am sorry to be obliged to think that Dr. Hodgson has behaved ill.
Mr. Lewes's health has been variable, but I think he is on the whole better. He desires me to send his kind remembrances to you, as indeed he always does, and I always forget to give them. We like our Berlin life immensely -- an ugly place it must be to any one who comes to it hipped or solitary or what is worse, with a disagreeable companion. But, to make a very novel quotation -- "the mind is its own place" 247 and can make a pretty town even of Berlin. The day seems too short for our happiness and we both of us feel that we have begun life afresh -- with new ambition and new powers. I say so much to you, because I know you have a friendly interest in me, and to that extent I am not afraid of incurring the fatality which the Germans seem still to believe in. When any one is spoken of as being very happy, they say "Unberufen" -- meaning "Don't talk of it, or their happiness will vanish."
It is distressing to see the multitude of soldiers here -- to think of the nation's vitality going to feed 300,000 puppets in uniform. In the streets one's legs are in constant danger from officers' swords, and at tables d'h'f4te the most noise is always made by officers. Will you be kind enough to let me owe you a 1d stamp and send the enclosed letter to Miss Hennell?
We have just come from hearing "Fidelio," and I write tonight to save the working time in the morning. Pray let no one else see this hasty and unconsidered letter.
Ever yours sincerely
Marian Evans.
In a sentence of my article which was altered, perspicuity was printed for perspicacity 248 a mistake which would make any one with a nice sense of the language shudder. Verbum sapientibus. Please to put a seal on Miss Hennell's letter. You can read it if you like.
Signature
Marian Evans.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to John Chapman, Berlin, 9 January 1855, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/92773