University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-05-11

arose, folded his arms, and waited un-
til he could make himself heard. He
spoke eloquently and so persuasively
that in a short time the crowd was
completely in sympathy with him and
the motion re-stated in almost the
same way, carried with with as much
enthusiasm in its favor as had pre-
viously been expressed in opposition
to it.
Votes for Women had an advocate
in Curtis He was less successful in
this cause than in the others but he
was not less serious and earnest. In
an address on Fair Play for Women"
he said: The question will swell loud
er until it is answered by the ballot
in the hands of every citizen and by
the perfect vindication of the Amer
can fundamental principle, that the
government derives their just powers
from the consent of the governed.
Though the question has not yet been
answered, there is no doubt that it is
swelling louder and louder
Another cause which he supported
at first almost singly but in the end
successfully. was that of Civil Service
| Reform. He was made chairman of
the first Civil Service Commission by
President Grant i'm 1871. Although
the commission wa given up in 1873.
still Curtis did not lose hope, but he
kept hammering away and lived to see
it put on definite and firm basis.
So well known and so trusted was
this man that he might have had
nany other important political hOnOrs
had he consented to accept them.
President Hayes wanted to make him
Minister to England and again Minis |
ter to Germany but he preferred his
editors Easy Chair
A beautiful testimony to the pleas |
ant compai6nship of Curtis is paid |
by one who knew him well-the Rev. |
John w. Chadwick. Chadwick tells |
how, when Curtis coming to Brooklyn |
to lecture in his church, he made the |
greatest preparations he could afford |
and found his entire stock of pre-
paratiOns left on his hands. And lie
goes on to say that I'VE had never
felt as much at home in our house
before" Curtis was friendly and
courteous to all with whom he came
in contact even in the most passing
way. No decent letter, no matter how
stupid it was, went unanswered.
1t is the opinion of some critics that
the name of George William Curtis as
a writer would be more distinct and
lasting if he had not devoted himself
to other interests. But Curtis did not
consider literature as an end within
itself, but rather "a a means whereby
he might accomplish better things for
his fellowcitizens and fellow-men.
His editorials were written to arouse
public opinion and sentiment and not
merely TO constitute elegant bits of
composition
The great conserving power and in
fluence for good to be found in poetry
and art and music are conspiciously
set forth in the life of the man. He
was man of discriminating taste in
books, music, drama, and in every
thing that his artistic temperament
took delight. His interest in things
cultured was live, for he says of him.
self that he kept in touch with the
world in all its phases.
and we know he was a man who talk
ed about himself only in the most in
ay.
We must not think of Curtis as an
all-worker and nO-player. when he
worked, he worked; when he played,
he forgot, for the time being that
there was any work to be done. He
was fond of Out-dOod exercise and
hardly day passed that he did not
take walk of several miles in the
woods and fields.
AS parting word, it might be well
o remember what he said about edu-
alton, which was so well borne out in
lis own life and in the way he lived
md worked. 1t was at a banauet
It Brown University. 1T is a Door
believe me. that gives us
accuracy of grammer instead of a love
If letters, that leaves us masters of
he integral calculus and slaves of
ordid spirit and mean ambitions.
Fl. II. X.