Evening journal., 1912-06-06
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
The Literary Celebrity Who
Refused Many handsome
Offers
By Holland

Shortly after the death of George
William Curtis, in 1892, I spent an
hour with his friend and intimate
business associate for many years,
the late Parke Goodwin, son-in-law OF
William Cullen Bryant. Mr. Curtis,
Charles s. Briggs and Psrke Goodwin
/ were the editors of the brilliant Put
nam's Magazine for about four years
in the mid-ffties. With Mr.. Goodwin
Mr Curtis discussed many of his poll
teal and business affairs, and It was
to Mr. Goodwin that Mr. Curtis con-
fessed that Notwithstanding an over
sight in the drawing Of papers where
by he became a general instead OF a
special partner in Putnam's Maga-
zine. nevertheless he felt that he
should not take advantage Of this mis-
take and thereby save himself from
the responsibility which is upon a
general partner for meeting all OF the
debt Of a partnership.
1T was a matter which Mr.. Curtis
did not care 10 talk about very much,
said Mr. Goodwin. but there was an
other matter associated with his pro-
fessionai career upon which he could
be prevailed to talk only 10 his most
intimate friends. | suppose there is
no harm now in my saying that [
think George William Curtis declined
more high Offices and more advantag-
eous professional associations than
any other man Of his time-and this
was the matter he most OF all never
liked to talk about
I'm the first place. Curtis could
have been nominated for governor OF
New York in 1870. His party orgsniza-
tion at that time was very anxious 10
nominate him He told me that he
was compllmented by the informal Of
fer that was made TO him but that his
journalistic work precluded his ac-
ceptance He was strongly Of the opin-
ion he added that II was a mistake
for an acting journalist to accept po-
litical office ,
after Henry ]. Raymond. editor OF
the New York Times. died. Mr.
George Jones. then the publisher or
tho paper. asked Mr.. Curtis to be-
come the editor of he Times, going
so far as to say that Mr.. Curtis
might fix his own salary. He de-
cIined that offer; and although he did
tell me why. yet 7 felt certain that It
was because he thought he was better
fitted for the journalistic work be was
doing upon Harper's Weekly ana
Harper's Magazine.
"ATr Curtis intimated 10 me that
lust before the inauguration Of Presi-
dent Hayes, he was informed by
friend who came to him from Hayes
that IL would please Mr. Hayes 10
prominent foreign missions ihis
offer. however, was declined
A short time later President Hayes
communicated again with Mr. Curtis
saving that II MI Cuprtis would ac-
cept the president would be GLAD 70
appoint him minister to the court OF
ST James. I am certain that this was
the one offer made 10 Mr. Curtis
which he was strongly tempted to ac-
cent. He would have achieved very
great success as American minister
10 the court OF st. James and think
no felt sure Of that himself NY prl-
| vate impression was that Mr.. Curtis
felt compelled to decline this oner
solely for money reasons. To serve
! four wears as minister to Great Bril-
tain would break up all Of his pro-
fessional associations He was then
getting along in years He did not
know whether. after having served as
minister to Great Britain, he could
take up his journalistic work More.
over. there still remained the ma
pavments to be made upon the den'
which he had as one Of the genera
rsrtners Of Putnam's Magazine
Curtis did accept one oner. am
that was the nomination for memoel
of congress from the Staten Island
that he would he defeated, as he was
He accepted that nomination as
matter of party duty and personal re
sponsihility.
Most men would have been glad u
let the fact be generally known ina
they had refused this. that the othe
handsome offer" continued Mr.. God
win "but not George William Curtis
and 50 only a very few Of his friend
ever knew that these various mana
some professional and political OF
fers were made to him
Copvrieht. 1912. by +. J. Edwards
All rights reserved
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell 0
"A Famous Dancers Last HON