GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 22 March 1873
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 22 March 1873
Title
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 22 March 1873
Sender
George Eliot
Recipient
Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray
Date(s)
- 1873-03-22
Place
London
Letter Content
GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 22 March 1873
MS: Yale. Extract published: Mathilde Blind, George Eliot, 1883, p. 30.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
March 22. 73.
My dear Cara
I see at once that you must be right about the necessity for being simple and literal. In fact I have ridiculous impulses in teaching children, and always make the horizon too wide.
"The Wounded Bird" is perfect of its kind -- and that kind is the best for a longer work. You yourself see clearly that it is an exceptional case for any one to be able to write books for children without putting in them false morality disguised as devout religion. And you are one of the exceptional cases. I am quite sure, from what you have done, that you can do the thing which is still wanted to be done. As to imagination, the Wounded Bird is full of imagination. And by the way I wish Mr. Smithers were not a nasty man -- he does put delightful illustrations into his little books.
Then, further -- cheques must not be locked up in drawers, else the money they represent may vanish. You will do the work much better if your mind is swept clear of various other projects which you might think it right to entertain for the sake of earning something. And you have got no commercially minded publisher to please. You shall have no trouble about the book. Do, dear Cara, take my view of the matter. Have you not done a great deal of work -- really good work in that geographical survey, and never been paid for it? I cannot bear that you should go on in that way. And I look on this cheque entirely as public money which I am empowered to dispense. The other day I had £50 sent me for the right to reprint "The Spanish Gypsy" abroad. 758 It came quite unexpectedly -- I don't want it for myself or those who are immediately mine.
Even if I thought it was private money, you ought to do me this kindness of old friendship, this willingness to share with me. And, as I said before, I do not regard it as private money. Therefore, please get the cheque cashed without delay, and set your dear head to work on this duty that has come near to you.
Yours ever lovingly
Marian.
MS: Yale. Extract published: Mathilde Blind, George Eliot, 1883, p. 30.
The Priory, | 21. North Bank, | Regents Park.
March 22. 73.
My dear Cara
I see at once that you must be right about the necessity for being simple and literal. In fact I have ridiculous impulses in teaching children, and always make the horizon too wide.
"The Wounded Bird" is perfect of its kind -- and that kind is the best for a longer work. You yourself see clearly that it is an exceptional case for any one to be able to write books for children without putting in them false morality disguised as devout religion. And you are one of the exceptional cases. I am quite sure, from what you have done, that you can do the thing which is still wanted to be done. As to imagination, the Wounded Bird is full of imagination. And by the way I wish Mr. Smithers were not a nasty man -- he does put delightful illustrations into his little books.
Then, further -- cheques must not be locked up in drawers, else the money they represent may vanish. You will do the work much better if your mind is swept clear of various other projects which you might think it right to entertain for the sake of earning something. And you have got no commercially minded publisher to please. You shall have no trouble about the book. Do, dear Cara, take my view of the matter. Have you not done a great deal of work -- really good work in that geographical survey, and never been paid for it? I cannot bear that you should go on in that way. And I look on this cheque entirely as public money which I am empowered to dispense. The other day I had £50 sent me for the right to reprint "The Spanish Gypsy" abroad. 758 It came quite unexpectedly -- I don't want it for myself or those who are immediately mine.
Even if I thought it was private money, you ought to do me this kindness of old friendship, this willingness to share with me. And, as I said before, I do not regard it as private money. Therefore, please get the cheque cashed without delay, and set your dear head to work on this duty that has come near to you.
Yours ever lovingly
Marian.
Signature
Marian.
Citation
George Eliot, GE to Caroline [Mrs. Charles] Bray, London, 22 March 1873, 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/93288