The Portland daily press., 1868-05-11
Miscellany
g DiOgenes. -
CURIOUS HISTORY OF AN ECCENTRIC CHAR
ACTER.

ACrER.
From the Brunswick Telegraph, May 81
Died. In this town, on the 3Oth, ult., Mr.. L. A.
Curtis aged about 90 years.
Few even of the citizens and fewer still
perhaps, of the graduates of Bowdoin will
recognize, who L. A, Curtis was, for he was
almost universally known here, as "Dio-
genes,' or simply as Curtis. From Mrs, Jo-
than Varney, we gather few incidents of
his life, that may be interesting.
Twenty-seven years ago last August, Cur
tbs appeared in town, coming from Portland
and in company with a colored man. He had
with him at the time, some little box exhibit
tiop, which however, he soon discarded. He
took the shop in which he spent twenty-sev-
en- years OF his life, then standing on Main
street, where Collins saloon now stands. His
first business was to mend and cleanse cloth
ing, working Tor the citizens as well as for
the students. II was remarked, at the time.
that he exhibited great skill as a tailor. and
as a renovator of old clothes he never was
surpassed. Gradually the shop business was
given up, and he came to act as a man of all
work, lat the College, doing errandscarrying up
wood, beating carpets, and for some years he
was employed by the Agents OF the Vii
lage District, to build fires. ard keep in order
the High School and Grammer rooms.-
In this way he managed to earn, in earlier
years ali events, considerable sums of mon.
ey, much of which was expended in the pur-
chase Ct books, many of them costly. and
some believed to be extremely rare and val
liable. In addition to his earnings, Curtis
was accustomed to assess the members OF
the different Freshman Classes,-25 cents
each-to be laid out III the purchase of books.
on the plea, that eventually said hooks
would become the property of the COLLEGE
At the time the railroad was laid out
through the village, the shop which Curtis
occupied, was moved, and at his urgent re-
quest, it was moved to the rear of Mr..
Varney's garden, and there as hermit
lived Curtis, as we have stated above, until
within about three weeks OF his death.
80 far as Curtis would communicate any
OF the particulars OF his early lille, we learn
that he was a native of the Island of Guern
sey, England, d,-that when young he went
to France where he remained five Yeats.
learning meanwhile the glove-makers trade.
1t appears that even as boy he manifested
the same passion for books, that character
lsed his later hte, and it was from the sale of
these books that he obtained the money
with which to visit France. From France
ne went TO Nova Scotia, spending wears
there, and from Nova Scotia he came TO
Brunswick.
Curtis was brought up Catholic, and re-
called the fact of visiting, when a child, a
sister who was connected with some
Catholic seminary in the neighborhood of his
native place. Later in life he abandoned the
Catholic church and nominally became an
Episcopalian, though seldom attending anv
Sunday service. While in Nova Scotia. prop
erty IN England came up for sale, and to com
plete the transaction it was necessary to OBJ
tain his signature. He gave it, directing that
tne money accruing should go in behalf of
his cIrUiUiDU fcfo
want he would write her. Mrs. Varney sup
poses that he did so, as twice after he came
to this town, he received remitlances COM
prlslng several hundreds of dollars, this mon
ey gong mainly for the purchase of books.
How far the above statements are correct. of
course no one here knows; some are doubtless
so, for they are corroborated; perhaps all are.
The general idea has been that there was
mystery about Curtis. We asked Mrs. Var
ney if she thought so. Her reply was no
no more than this, that when quite young he
was Jllted, his own brother taking the prize
from him. He did not state as much. but
this was the only direct inference from what
he did say. The fact that he was an inyeter-
ate woman hater, gives color to the belief 1t
IS supposed that this disappointment drove
him from home, and also to drink. for poor
curtis for years INDUCED TO excess in the
flowing bowl. Latterly he had in great mea-
sure abandoned it.
He was remarkably reticent and almost
savage at times, when any direct inquiry was
put to him. For example he never Willingly
gave the least hint as to his age. Mrs. Var
ney thinks he must have been nearly if not
quite 65 when he came here, making his ace
at death 92 years. From an admission which
IN moment of forgetfulness, he made to Mr..
Charles Griffin, he is satisfied that Curtis was
92 years old. The above results were reach
ed-each independently of the other.
curtis had evidently seen better days. and
moved in different walk in life from that
pursued by him here. He was courteous. and
respectful, IN fact scrupulously polite to those |
VINO treated him as man should be treated |
-eXactlng respect from others, and when it |
was not accorded, treating with bitter scorn
one who could forget his respect for ace, how
ever humble its position. In the discharge of !
whatever task committed to him, he was
prompt and reliable. What he aereed to do |
he did. We baVe said that Curtis manifested |
a perfect mania for acquiring books. He not |
only bought but he read them, and on some |
topics was as well posted as any man YOU
may meet. On some curious points he was |
a perfect encyclopedia. He had proposed va |
rious ways in which to dispose OF his books, |
generally however to the College; some years |
ago, the students by stealth obtained his pho |
tograph, and he was then so angry that he |
declared not one of his books should 60 to
the College.
For the past three weeks OF his life he was
in the house of Mrs. Varney, tenderly cared
Tor and watched over by Mrs. Varney and
Ihe family Indeed, during all his lie here. /
The family have looked after HIM, as for ex-
ample, never omitting OH Sunday morning
70 take into his hut, the inevitable dishes of |
baked beans aud brown bread. Curtis did |
not appear to be afflicted with any particular |
disease, but gradually gave out, with the |
creeping of old age over his mental and |
physical powers.
The funeral took place. on Saturday noon.
Rev. DR.. Harris, President of the College at
lending it, and the Faculty and students be-
ing present. The latter escorted the remains
20 the depot. Curtis had repeatedly asked to
be buried alongside of the father of Mrs. Var
ney, John Robinson, himself an Englshman.
md well known here,) in Weld, and that re-
quest was complied with by Mr.. Varney, the
remains going up in the afternoon train to
Wilton.