The Portland daily press., 1894-12-07
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

Ao SCOIlAJ CfShUS VI PoAieASNA AAAoSSA
yet recent have associated the name o.
GeorgeWilliam Curtis with politics rather
than letters. But he was not politi
clan; although in his early career .hs
was not without experience in practical
politics. Neither was he statesman,
for he did not pursue politics to that
highest point where craftsmanship il
the browning degree. AS man of let
tiers, more deeply interested in public
affairs than most of the literary men OF
considered. 1t is thus that he is consid-
cred in the biographical sketch by Ed
ward Cary in the series of American
Men of Letters. published in Boston
by (Houghton, Miffiin & Co.; Portland:
Loring, Short & Harmon. Price $1.25.
George William Curtis was of old New
England stock; although the ancestor
who came to Massachusetts, in 1875 was
member of the Church of England,
and another ancestor was Tory during
the early days of the Revolution. But
though not IN harmony with the &C.
clesiastical and political trend of New
England puritanism, the Curtises seem
to have had all the sturdy and indomita-
BILE characteristics of that race. George
William Curtis was born in 1924. in
Providence, r. L., in home of wealth.
culture and the highest social position.
His education was obtained in private
schools, at Brook Farm, at Concord
under the influence of Emerson. and ny
travel in Europe. He never attended a
college. In 1912, with his brother Bur-
rill, he fell somewhat under the influence
of the New England Transcendental
movement, ana became boarder with
the Community at Brook Farm. This
school was the Headquarters for reform
ers, who by the unsympathetic would
be considered little better than "cranksr
in these times. One of Curtis critics
afterwards spoke of it as "lunatic
school," 1t is curious fact, however,
that as companions at this school were
George William Curtis and Charles A.
Dana, the great apostle and the great foe
of civil service reform. At Concord he
was an associate Of Hawthorne, Ellery
Charming, Thoreau and Emerson.
Mr.. Curtis's literary career began in
1851, when, on his return from long
tour in Europe, be published the
Howadji books, descriptive of life in
the East. They attracted much atten-
ton. and at once gave Mr.. Curtis posi-
tion among American men Of letters.
A bout the same time he began lecturing,
also doing little journalistic work
on the New York Tribune He was in
vited at this time to unite his fortunes
with the Tribune, but declined on ac-
count of the drudgery of the work. The
" Potiphar Papers, in which the society
of the time was satirized. and "Prue
and l" increased Mr.. Curtis's reputation.
The anti-slavery agitation had always
commanded his sympathy. AS boy he
had disapproved of Webster, because of
the latter's disposition to compromise.
In 1856 he married Miss Ann Shaw, of
Staten Island, whose family were early
and devoted members Of the anti-sIavery
parry u LIZ ihhdNISCo. Va tAlS CpuucC-
tion became very marked in the brilliant
battle which Mr.. Curtis afterwards made
OH the lecture platform and as journal
ist against the slave power. This advo-
cacy of the cause of freedom brought
Mr.. Curtis into politics; and he became
chairman of the Republican committee
in Richmond county. Later he was de-
posed from this position by faction who
were jealous of him as the one main
power in the disposal of patronage!
Mr.. Curtis was a delegate to both the
National conventions which nominated
Lincoln, and took prominent part.
as he did in succeeding conventions.
the memorable one of 1884.
His position as editor of Harper's Week
~ gave him a commanding influence in
political matters; and kept fresh the
fame that he had won as lecturer. MIR.
Cary has portrayed Interestingly how, as
the years went by Mr.. Curtis turned his
eloquence from the cause Of
in the public service and the reform of
civil service. OF that reform he was
the great champion; and the faithful
ness and ability with which he wrought
is best attested by the onward progress
Of the system, through all political vics-
STUDIES both of parties and of Mr.. Curtis
In this enumeration of the salient facts
Of Mr.. Curtis's career space does not al
low the reproduction of the varied and
fund of anecdote, reminis-
cence and historical statement with which
Mr.. Cary has made his work one of the
most entertaining contributions to re-
cent American history.