Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1892-09-02
BIOGRAPHICAL.
George William Curtis, Author, Lecturer
Reformer and Politician.

george william Curtis, Author, Lecturer,
Refornor and Politician.
George William Curtis has long been
known to the world as author, lecturer
and journalist, reformer and politician,
yet when his serious illness was an
nounced the thinking public suddenly
discovered that it had not really known
him. Not of late years, at any rate, for
only the older class of readers remem-
bered his courage in trying times, his self
sacrificing devotion to ideals in govern
nlent and society, and the patience with
which he toi]ed to pay debts for which he
was not legally bound, but for which he
held himself morally accountable.
He was stigmatized in turn as social
ist." "abolitionist," "negrophilist," and
"miscegenationist, then as "snivel serv-
Ice reformer, ""political dude" and "anglo-
maniac" and, as the last epithet of in
fanny. as n "Mugwump," yet defended his
position on each issue by the same axioms
and compelled respect at the last He
was always true to his ideals, and when
they came to summarize his life's work
many people found that they had loved
him all along Wi bout knowing it.
His carly uttersnces in favor of freedom
have become classics. They were so COM
pletely absorbed into tho popular wealth
of thought that mankind had forgotten to
whom they owed them, and the younger
generation learned with surprise that this
genial essayist and conservative scholar
was once the very incarn alton of fervent
1adicalism.
lie was born in Providence Feb, "a.
1924, and after obtaining common school
education there passed four years ut an
academy in Jamaica Plains, Mass.
Strictly speaking he never took college
course, yet his scholarship was unusually
sound and thorough.
His first business experience was in a
German importing house. He had been
there but short time when he 'cut the
shop" and joined the Brook Farm COM
munity at West Roxbury, Mass
1t was an idealistic, communistic, opti-
mlstlc experiment and fiat failure. Mr..
Curtis says of the commune: 1T YVES &
company of highly educated and refined
persons who felt that the immense dispar-
ity Of conditions and opportunities among
men was an injustice full of peril to So
clety; that every person is enti-
tied to mental and moral culture, X \
and were the necessary work Of the world
shared by all, all would find opportunity
AVA AAeACA Su1 Wv dClOu.
For two years afterwafd Mr.. Curtis and
a brother worked farm near Concord
studying meanwhile. At the end of that
time George William had acquired a
standing as writer which enabled him
to go abroad. He went in 1916 and re-
turned in 1860. The result appears in his
famous works on Syria and Egypt, which
caused him to lie known for many years
the 0H0vvo1iiS
turned to New York to find himself in the
front rank among young writer's.
His first independent ventures in Jour
nallsm proved disastrous, and in e short
time Mr.. Curtis firm found itself
stranded, with debts which it took ten
years of hard work to pay.
In 1856 he married Miss Shaw, who Is
unknown in the literary world, but greatly
loved in the social circle. That year also
he gained great reputation as IN orator.
speaking for Fremont in various suites.
In 1860 he was a delegate to the conven-
ton which nominated Abraham Lincoln,
and by clever stroke secured the inser-
ton IN the platform Of the opening
clauses of the Declaration of Independence
after Joshua r. Giddin-s lad been de-
featcd III the same Attempt In 1853 he
became the political editor of Harper's
Weekly and socn made it the power it has
oyer sin:e been. ).
Hs >"''>'Tncnt career Is known and
1r"5 ii 81! men, but i critical review of it
"'.y;s' ;'':.. :'sinto current politics. His
;'t'"i.'; T.. s:::.' at Ashfeld, in Western
-: -. -. =. WIS, long a sort of rural
=iH.s" - Try men, AID his home Oh
othl' u where Le lived for over
eai;i: j.: ~ -; sort of, museu N Of
reh'',' slavery agitation.