The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-18
BIOGRAPHY.

ANDREW GREGG CURTIN; His Life
and Services. Edited by William II.
Egle, NJ. ID. Philadelphia: Avil Print
ing company.
The experiment has been tried in this
large and handsome book OF getting
eminent men to record from their per-
sonal recollections those aspects of the
career Of Pennsylvania renowned war
governor with which they were, during
General Curtins lifetime. most fami-
liar Thus instead of a single portrait
of the man. rejecting its authors in
evitable limitations of vision. we have
portraits of him from every conceivaple
point of view. which, taken together.
give a true idea of the subject as he
was. DIR. Egle has confined his pen to
a short biography of Governor Curtin,
together with papers on his first ana
his second administrations. The re-
manning chapters in the books are as
follows: Curtin and Free schools" by
Henry &. Hickok; Curtin Elected Gov
ernor--1S60," by Colonel A. X. Mcclure;
.Curtin Re- Elected Governor--1s63," by
Wayne MacVeagh; Soldiers Organized
by Curtin" by Ex-Governor Pattison;
'"The Pennsylvania Reserves" by Will
lam Hayes Grier; Curtin and the Sol
diers' Orphans" by C. Harry Davis;
'J,urtin and the Altoona Conference
by John Russell Young; "Curtin's Early
War Trials" by FitzJ ohm Porter; Cur
William Bender Wilson: "Curtin's Care
of the Soldiers" by Senator NJ. s. Quay;
curtin and the Private Soldiers" by
Thomas V. Cooper: 'Curtin's Personal
Attributes" by Governor Daniel II.
Hastings; Curtin and His Home Com
munity," by Ex-Governor Beaver; Cur
tin and the State Credit" by j. Z. Bom-
berger; Curtin and Clement X. Bar
clay" by Craig Biddle: curtin as Min
lister to Russia" by Titan j. Coffey;
"Curtin's GubernatOrial Battles. by
Thomas NJ. Marshall: Curtin as Civil
Administrator" by William II. Arm
strong; Curtin and Pennsylvania at the
Bebnning of the War" by Galusha A.
Grow; and Curtin in the Constitutions
al Convention" by Harry White. OF
each of these authors a half-tone por-
of portraits of the subject, taken at
different periods of his eventful and
varied career.
One Of the most readable chapters In
this list--to our notion the most inter-
esting one, because touching those hu.
man qualities which in any study of a
great career give the sense OF kinShtp
and tap the springs OF sympathy--is
that wherein Governor Hastings con-
siders "Curtin's Personal Attributes"
In the other papers. Curtin Is studied
es the executive official and master of
affairs: here he Is presented to us as
Curtin, the man. Governor Hastings
first recollection of the war governor
was In the fall Of '67. Mr.. Curtin had
just returned from a trip to Cuba. and
was standing upon the corner of the
public square. In Bellefonte. conversing
with a dozen neighbors to whom, in
spite of official hOnor.s past and antici-
pated, he was just plain Andy" II re-
member" says the present governor,
that he closed his talk with the asser.
tion that the peopl" of Cuba ought tc
be as free as those of the United States.
would be-" This Is General Hastings
description of Curtin at this period:
The personally Of Governor Curtin wa.
admirable. II II were possible to leave
out OF sight the lawyer. the war governor
the diplomat, the orator, the statesman.
and to consider only his personal character
istics, their charm, would have been suffi-
cient to make him famous In his genera
tion. In his youth his personal appear
ance was most marked and captivating
Several inches above six feet In height,
broad shoulders. perfect symmetry o:
figure, smooth shaven face, black hair
perfect teeth, blue eyes. large. well-shapeo
head smooth and symmetrical features
and an unsuai grace and dignity Of man
ner. he was the distinguished inIividua
in every assemblage In which he ap-
peared. In him the quality of personal
magnetism was largely. developed. per.
haps In a more marked degree than ir
any other public man of his time. There
was a charm abou; his presence, a quail.
ty In his voice. something In his bearing
that seemed to attract all classes to him
unusually. 1t was frequently said that
when Andy Curtin appeared on the
gtrppts In Rpllpfnnfe ssQvprv child lad
upon him. and every dog wagged his tail. y
OF Curtin as an orator, particularly
before juries, In days when the law and
evidence in case were usually of SUBJ
ordinate consequence to the foresenic
ability of the opposing attorneys, the
governor speaks in terms Of profuse
praise. His command over the sympa.
thies of judge, Jurors and auditors is
described as Incompatible in the circle
in which he moved prior to the accept
ance Of political responsibilities. And
spropos thereof. this story Is given:
A father denied the parentage of child
and witnesses were called In large num-
bers TO establish a seemingly impregnable
alibi. To clinch the proof. a daguerreo-
type was offered in evidence to show that
he was in another place at the time of the
alleged offence. "Daguerreotypes!' said
Curtin, establish this alibi with a daguer-
he carried 1t before the jury and in a
voice Of thunder said: Gentlemen of the
Jury. here is Gods daguerreotype, which
no one can mstake" The effect was
electrical. The jury rendered a verdict fol
the plaintiff without leaving the box.
In the public affairs of Bellefonte
Curtin took. from the first, an active
part. He was the chief officer of the
volunteer fire company and captain OF
the state Fencibles." the first military
company of the town. The latter or
ganiaati0n was, as could be expected
the pride Of Bellefonte. and member
ship in 1t was prima facie proof OF dis
tinction. General Hastings recalls a
divertlng circumstance which bears on
this phase of Curtin's popularity:
The funeral Of member of the F'erci.
bles was an important event and attracted
great crowds. A fife and drum corps fol-
lowed the minister ana preceded the
hearse, while the Fencibles, with solemn,
tread, preceded the immediate members
Of the family Of the deceased. Thus SOL
emnly marshalled, they proceeded 10 the
village graveyard, where the ceremony
was closed by the firing of volleys of blanl,
cartridges over the grave. Upon one occa-
sion the procession halted In front OF the
RED Lion Tavern Ton the site of which
IL now the home Of the writer) to adjust
some difference that arose between the
sergeant Of the company and the bass