New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-01
SKETCH OF HIS CAREER.

George william Curtis born AT Providence.
r. H. on February "a ls24. Ills ather, George
curtis a business man. and designed for his son
a similar career. and with this view placed him after
HI early education AT jamaica Plain. Mass. In an
importing firm in this city. Young Curtis. however.
on his mothers side, came from a family which had
been devoted To public affairs than 10 the
routine Of the counting room OF The Office of the mer
chant. Ills maternal grandfather was james Burrill.
IT,, at one time United states senator from Rhode
Island and aiterward Chief Justice Of that stat.
And when the young man was only sixteen years
old and had not been In business for more than
year. he forsook the calling chosen for him by his
father and with his brother went 10 live al Brook
Farm. This was in ls4O, time when Brook Farm
was In the process OF blooming and here 1t his
good fortune 10 meet and to know Hawthorne
Thoreau Margaret Fuller, Ripley, Emerson Alcou.
Parker and others, whose influence left strong
impress bis youthful mind. lie remained ut
Brook Farm for four years, going from there TO Con
cord Mass. where for two with his brother he
lived with farmer and strengthened his intimacy
with Emerson, Hawthorne and others OF his Brook
Farm friends.
In August. 1916. he went to Europe and spent four
years In deli ghtful pilgrimage He visited England.
Germany switzerland. Holland, Egypt, Palestine and
syria. He remained abroad for four Years. and the
events which happened IN thut period. In OF
which he was n keen observer If not an active par.
ticipant aftcrward shaped many of his writings lie
dangers in Italy and IA Berlin az The
time OF the killing Of the revolutlonists. The fruits
If his travels and Of the Incidents which marked
them Hot long in being gathered after his return
To his own country. In 1851 he published his Nile
Notes." and In 1852 "The Howadjl In SYRIA
Mr. Curtis when his travels had contributed let
tiers TO The New-lork Tribune and "The New York
Times" and OH his return to America he Joined the
editorial sta OF The Tribune. In the summer Of 1851
lie wrote series OF letters TO this paper from various
Watering place. Thee aferward collected in a
volume under tie title of Lotus Eating" la the fall
Of 1852 Ire editor Of " Putnams Monthly Maya
zine" being associated with Parke Goodwin and Charles
+. Briggs In this work. lie continued his sbors
the periodical until It's collapse contributing to it,
among other things, his Sallrical "Poiphar Papers"
and his sentimental Pr1le and l." When the maya
zines business mana cement changed Mr. Curtis re.
mained with II special partner, pecuniarily re.
spoasible. but having no part in the commercial
ma nagcmcnt. In 1857 the house was forced 10 sus.
pend business 1t was found TO be insovent for
large amount. Mr.. Curtis sank his private fortune
ard then went 10 work 10 money with which
TO the firms creditors from loss. This honorable
endenvor vas finally successful
lie had already In 1852 done his first work for
" Iarpers Monthly lie took his long familiar
" Easy Chair" on That publication. aud also wrote a
series OF papers for larper's Weekly" called The
Iounger7 In 1853 he wrote for liarpers Weekly'
Il novel "Trumps" supposed By bis friends to portray
In parts OF il his early school life at Jamaica Plain
When Harpers Eszar' was established In 1857 Mr..
Curtis began series Of papers entitled "Manners upon
the Road" and this continued until 1873
But in the meantime Mr.. Curtis had won an en-
vable reputation speaker and lecturer. In 1893
he had already gained marked success as a lyceum
lecturer end OF his life his speaking from
q public platform always listened TO with great
delight by cultivated audiences AT the time when
ne was struggling to clear his debts he was most
sctlye and untriDg speaker. giving In some years
besides doing his prolific writing. not less than
hundred lectures At that time he had many