GHL to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lee Lewes, Schlangenbad, 15 July 1866
Title
GHL to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lee Lewes, Schlangenbad, 15 July 1866
Title
GHL to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lee Lewes, Schlangenbad, 15 July 1866
Sender
George Henry Lewes
Recipient
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lee Lewes
Date(s)
- 1866-07-15
Place
Schlangenbad
Letter Content
GHL to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lee Lewes, Schlangenbad, 15 July 1866
Text: Paterson, pp. 122-123.
Schlangenbad. | Sunday, July 15, 1866.
Dearest Children,
You don't know the amount of virtue it requires to make me write a line in this indolent, dreamy, languorous, far niente place 498 -- "No, you know, you don't know, you know," so I tell you.
The weather has been superb and we have enjoyed ourselves in this sequestered paradise as two old lovers (observe: old lovers, young lovers not being comparable to old ones in the old one's eyes) only can. We have delightful rooms with a large balcony in which we sit, take all our meals alone, speak to no one, and indeed scarcely see anyone. War and rumours of war frighten away the guests, but leave us perfectly calm, assured that no harm can reach us. We like this place better than Schwalbach, partly because of the Schwimm baths which are incomparable luxuries -- water as clear as crystal and as soft as milk. The weather has been so much finer and finally we are both so much better in health, which of course means increase of enjoyment. We are in the open air almost all day, take our books out, saunter, muse and meditate and expect to come back beautiful as -- anything!
We can't go to Wiesbaden on account of the troops (we come upon outposts in our rambles) so we shall stay at Aix la Chapelle, taking Bonn on our way, and then see Li'e8ge, Bruges, Ghent and Ostend.
Blackwood is in high spirits about the success of "Felix Holt" -- he says the admiration is universal. The little Mutter is therefore glad to be away and not to hear it spoken of.
We were glad you enjoyed your stay at the Priory. Ben will have missed you. Waiter come to lay the cloth. God bless you both.
Your loving
Pater.
Text: Paterson, pp. 122-123.
Schlangenbad. | Sunday, July 15, 1866.
Dearest Children,
You don't know the amount of virtue it requires to make me write a line in this indolent, dreamy, languorous, far niente place 498 -- "No, you know, you don't know, you know," so I tell you.
The weather has been superb and we have enjoyed ourselves in this sequestered paradise as two old lovers (observe: old lovers, young lovers not being comparable to old ones in the old one's eyes) only can. We have delightful rooms with a large balcony in which we sit, take all our meals alone, speak to no one, and indeed scarcely see anyone. War and rumours of war frighten away the guests, but leave us perfectly calm, assured that no harm can reach us. We like this place better than Schwalbach, partly because of the Schwimm baths which are incomparable luxuries -- water as clear as crystal and as soft as milk. The weather has been so much finer and finally we are both so much better in health, which of course means increase of enjoyment. We are in the open air almost all day, take our books out, saunter, muse and meditate and expect to come back beautiful as -- anything!
We can't go to Wiesbaden on account of the troops (we come upon outposts in our rambles) so we shall stay at Aix la Chapelle, taking Bonn on our way, and then see Li'e8ge, Bruges, Ghent and Ostend.
Blackwood is in high spirits about the success of "Felix Holt" -- he says the admiration is universal. The little Mutter is therefore glad to be away and not to hear it spoken of.
We were glad you enjoyed your stay at the Priory. Ben will have missed you. Waiter come to lay the cloth. God bless you both.
Your loving
Pater.
Signature
Pater.
Citation
George Henry Lewes, GHL to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lee Lewes, Schlangenbad, 15 July 1866, 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/94921