Evening journal., 1892-07-29
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.
An TdcI Ccni,cman and tho Perfect
Elusson Of American Manhood.
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I7IlVINl NOIIV7T0lNVU VUVV'I


tia. now believed to be, unhappily, near /
his end, every cultured American is
acquainted; but comparatively few Of
bis counirymen have known of him in /
hia private capacity, for he has always /
boon extremely modest and reserved, as |
mca Of his rare stamp proverbiaily are. |
AS man De is more remarkable more /
exceptional than as a journalist, an
author or an orator.
Since be first drew attention in youth
10y his brillinntund scholarly letters from
the cast in Tho Tribune until his recent
ule he he's been wholly devoted to
principle. so wholesome reforms, to the
diffusion Of liberal ideas He has been
on the right side Of every question and
vet has over shOwn-with all his earnest
moderation, tolerance and gen.
cr05ity. This is SO unusual that those
who did not understand him have some
times styled him u rosewater advocate,
4 Candilel defender of dainty convic-
ucls. and the like.
A nature so sensitive yet so firm. so
gooiols yet so uncompromising, so
culsidcrato yet SO courageous. is entire
~ beyond the comprehension of the ay.
craze miud-unwilling to accept what
it cannot explain. Above everything
else. Curtis is iustinctively and COM
rlotoly gentleman, ia an ideal sense.
the facts Of whose unpretending life
would put reproach on the pompous
chronicles of many a trumpeted hero
Hc is the elimination and perfect bios
som Of the highest and truest American
manhood, unsurpassed if eQualed by that
of Older and more resounding civiliza-
tiCns
While o public man and IN the loftiest
sense % politician. he has never filed any
| p bic Office. which is q severe reflection
on the republic, since no American Of
hia time has been better qualified for the
most exalted positions.
What q national senator what n gov
crlor of the great state Of New York.
what minister TO any foreign court he
would have madel What honor he
would have reflected on his native landl
W hat laudable pride the best of us
would have felt in himl And when we
remember many of the men who have
occupied such places we must admit,
with "a sense OF shame, that in the great
democracy Of the world the best fitted
are the least likely to be chosen.
Nevertheless, his influence for good
must have been strong and felt in count
lees quiet ways less directly than in
directly, not by his writings and speeches
alone but by his uniform kindness and
courtesy and what may be called the
salubrity of his example. Such life as
his can never be in vain; its mental and
moral beauty cannot fail of wide pro-
ducivity.
Ii has been by no means eventful.
His brief connection with The Tribune,
his oditorship, with others, of the first
Putnams Magazine, in which he had a
pccuniary interest, and his long associa-
tion with the Harpers comprise its main
features, exclusive of his lectures and
literary and political addresses.
His most representative work, per
hnps, is "Prue and )" originally con
tr.butcd TO Putnams, which no appreci-
ative reader can readily forget. 1t is
one of the choicest, daintiost specimens
of our literature and must become an
American classic. The reveries and
reflections Of the old boollkeeper con
voy clear and eloquent impression OF
the mind and temperament of the au
thor, who has in a special degree the
uncommon and precious gift of sym
pathy
Tho financial failure of the publisher.
of the magazine in which Curtis was o
silent partner, though not it Is said
LEGALLY responsible. swallowed up his
private fortune. inherited from his
father, and left him wholly depeudcn
ON his own exertons. He might easily
have avoided responsibility for the debt
OF the house, but he preferred poy
erty to the slightest blur on his es
cutcheon. After the loss of his fortun
he was still heavily in debt, and to dis
charge it he labored faithfully for SOM
twenty years.
When Henry J Raymond died sud
denly, the New York Times offered Cur
lis three times the salary he was repute'
to be receiving from the Harpers. IL
declined the generous offer. and mad
no mention of 10 to his employers. But
having heard OF it through others, the.
voluntarily advanced 1t to the fgur
that had been named by the newspaper
Although poor, in New York sense
most of ms life, he has again and agaii
] declined all compensation for elaborat
8 addresses for academic anniversaries
@ for eulogies On distinguished men, etc
No amount of persuasion would induc
him 10 change his mind Generosit
has ever been one of his shining virtues
He has always been ready 90 lend any
/. body in need whether actual on imag
incd. a helping hand The amount @
service he has rendered gTatuitousl
every year 20 all manner Of appicane
a 20 every worthy object proposed, is b'
y yond calculation and the belief of ol
'' binary sclhshness Young authors an
aspiants foi literary fame have take
his time aud patience most unreasoni
=. hly without the slightest rebuff orsyml
e tom Of irritation The spirit of courtes
a and chivalry is incmnate in him. III
fine eul0ey on Lpwen-his last publ
appearance IN New York would appl
almost word for word to himself II j
y should die his death would boz loss