The Denver star., 1916-08-26
Notable Work of Minister
Curtis at Monrovia.
aOxoRS HIS PREDECESSORS
Leadership Of Our Representative at
capital Of Little West African Re-
public Has q Bsnsfiesnt Effect Upon
the Nativss-Mrs. Curtis Interested
In Social and Educational Affairs.

Monrovia, Liberia.-The Hon. James
L. Curtis, american minister here, is
succeeding admirably in his work at
the American legation. He Is q man
of broad and constructive ideas and is
giving the habitants of this little re-
public the benefit Of his experience
and knowledge of human affairs. Min
lister and Mrs. Curtis are both enjoying
good health and are active in social
service work among the people
Mrs. Curtis volunteered some time
ago to teach corset and dress making
in the college Of Liberia, and her ef-
forts have been highly successful. Be-
sides teaching regular classes Of STU
dents, Mrs. Curtis gives instruction to
teachers in other departments Of the
institution. She is woman of splen-
did tact having had considerable ex-
perience in club work among the wom-
en- Of America.
Minister Curtis has endeared himself
to the people Of the west coast by his
patriotism and zeal for the cause Of
his government, whose interest he at
0AA SAL4AN' StShS W SLuduSS. oh S1eluC-
rial day the exterior Of the American
legation was literally covered with
American flags in honor Of the ma
lions dead
The American colony In Monrovia
observed Memorial day with elaborate
ceremonies, which began with a march
to the new cemetery, which was led
by q detachment of the Liberian from
tier force under command Of Lieuten-
ant Webster.
Arriving at the cemetery. the Amer
ican minister led the way to a spot
through thick underbrush, recently
cleared, where he pointed to the REM
nants of two dilapidated headstones,
not more than fifteen feet apart,
which he told those present marked
the graves of Henry Highland Garnett
and W. A. Hopkins. American minis
tefs. who died and were buried in
Monrovia in the early eighties and
whose graves had been SO neglected
that their location was unknown to
the Oldest inha bitant.
Minister Curtis exhibited an age col
ored map which, after a search Of sew
a tree and a path which made certain
the Identification of the graves. Mr..
Curtis then asked that every one join
In singing America after which he
spoke Of the life and character Of his
deceased predecessors.
He spoke with great feeling of Hen
ry Highland Garnett, who, like him
self, was a graduate Of Lincoln uni
versity, Pennsylvania. and concluded
his remarks by reciting Bryant's
"Thanatopsis.
wife OF former Minister Ernest Lyon;
Captain Newton of the Liberian from
tier force and James G. B. Lee. the
late Brooklyn surveyor. were also pro-
fusely decorated with flowers. and at
the head OF each grave a small Ameri-
can Tag was left flying to the breezes.
Beautiful copper headpieces. proper
ly inscribed. donated and shipped by
Major Charles Young. were placed at
the graves Of Captain Newton and Mr..
Lee After the ceremony the huglers
from the Liberian frontier force blew
taps" and the firing squad fired
taps" which brought to a close the
ceremonies Of the day.
Minister Curtis. 1t is said, has Sc
cured the necessary consent and in the
near future proposes removing the
bodies of the two dead ministers to the
spot recently conveyed to the American
legation by Major Charles Young.
which is the most conspicuous as well
as the most desirable spot in the ceme-