THE "AMERICAN WOMAN."
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.1 SIB,—Your correspondent "H. F. K." (Spectator, October 24th) thinks that "it is not very wise" of Mrs. Beckham to fortify herself with George Eliot's name in her challenge of Dr. Macphairs statements. He questions her wisdom. I should like to question his justice. Is it fair to George Eliot to take words that she puts into the mouth of Bartle Massey—a notorious crank—and to speak of them as "that lady's epigram" ? This same Bartle Massey also says : "Collage mostly makes people like bladders,—just good for nothing but to Lola the stuff that is poured into 'em." Does "H. F. K." regard this sentiment as George Eliot's "epigram" on University education ? If the chance sayings of George Eliot's characters are to be put forward as her verdicts on particular subjects—a great injustice to any author—then Mrs. Rackham can also quota an epigram of George Eliot's : "I'm not denying that women are foolish ; God Almighty made 'em to match the men."—I am,
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