Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-09-01
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.

GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS.
George William Curtis, who died yester
day morning, was essentially a man Of
letters. In his youth his family tried tc
make business man of him, but his ap
premiership in German importing house
in New York lasted only about year, and
in 1910, filled with the noble enthusiasm
of the transoendentalists, he went to
Brook Farm. In that queer and lofty COM
munity he remained four years, mingline
with Hawthorne, Emerson, Parker, Alcott
and others of the great and good, and he
spent two years after that at Concord in
the same improving and stimulating soci-
ETY.. A trip to Europe, Egypt and Palestine
rounded off his education, and he came home
we'll equipped for the literary work which
has been 80 pleasing and helpful to the
many thousands who have eagerly waited
for and devoured the fruit of his thought
and skill. His books are not as well known
as they ought to be, but his easy Chair
has been long known and read of all men
who admire good sense, deep and kindly
feeling, exquisite tact, and fine felicity of
expression. More pleasantly satisfying
reading than he has given the world in the
'tEasy Chair" month after month cannot
be found, and there has been nothing like
it in any other publication. 1t has been
full of good nature, good judgment and
good construction.
But though Mr.. Curtis was chiefly a
man of letters, he was also force in
public affairs. It Is not to be forgotten
that when the early Republicans were
lighting slavery Mr.. Curtis glowing heart
and golden eloquence were with them.
He was delegate to the Republican
national conventions of 1860 and 1854
In 1868 he WAS nominated a Republican
presidential elector and in 1859 declined
the Republican nomination for secretary
of state of New York. He was one of
the frst in the field of civil service re-
form, and in 1871 was appointed by Presi
dent Grant one of commission to draw
up rules for the regulation of the civil
servioo. Ho WAS elected chairman of the
civil service commission and of the ad-
visory board in which it was
subsequently merged, but resigned
in March. 1878. He was dele
gate to the national Republican
convention of 1876, and at the beginning
of President Hayes administration he was
asked to select foreign mission, but de-
clined, and he also declined the special
offer of the mission to Germany In 1884
he appeared as an Independent in opposi-
tion to Blaine, and since then he has acted
with the Democrats. His political COM
panions of the old days have grieved over
his desertion but they have acknowledged
and respected his sincerity and devotion to
his ideas of duty.
There is one part of Mr.. Curtis long and
honorable career which Is TO US more sig-
nificant of his real character than any other.
Soon after his return from Europe he
became connected with Putnam's Magazine.
After awhile it failed. If Mr.. Curtis had
been willing to take advantage of legal
technicalities he might have escaped
pecuniary responsibility, but he refused to
do it, and the bulk of all his large earnings
for dozen years or more was devoted to
the payment of debt which had no claim
upon him that could be enforced by law.
1t was a heroic work, heroically done.
1t is pleasant to know that Mr.. Curtis
last days were free from pain and that his
fine mind was clear to the last. Peace and
rest to him.