Evening star., 1933-06-16

Cyrus H. K. Curtis, magazine and
newspaper publisher, dead at the age
Of 83, Is remembered as one who rose
from poverty to great wealth through
his ability to understand the average
taste of the American people and his
Judgment in selection of writer's and
editors who could most brilliantly meet
the public demand. Success through
character Is placed in his epitaph. and
his service in molding public opinion
his advocacy of high standards are
lauded by the press.
He will be remembered as great
publisher and as great public bene-
factor" declares the Philadelphia Even
ing Bulletin, with tribute to his <im-
portant service in stimula ting the ma
tional spirit of individual development, u
and the estimate that "his great bene-
factions were conceived with the def
mite purpose Of advancing welfare
cultural as well as material, and OF
widening the opportunity for individual
advancement and achievement" That
paper mentions especially his "endow-
ments Of the Drexel Institute, of Tenn
development"
Mr.. Curtis talent In proving that
there are romance and charm in the
everyday business world, and that the
average American family is interested
in reading about them," Is attested by
the Jersey City Journal, with the
thought that "he unquestionably had
much to do with the molding of public
opinion, and, to the lasting credit of
his name, he never abused his influence
by STOPPING to the morbid or the SEN
sationa1."
The lexington Leader AYERS that "the
truly significant thing In the story of
his life Is the simple fact that his sue
cess was due to hard work, great in
dustry, imagination, foresight, the Ca
pacity to gauge public opinion, and
those qualities of character which gave
him the trust and affection of all who
worked with him in his creative ef-
forts" The Rutland Herald credits him
with high ideals. and q strong sense of
public responsibility" while the Osh-
kosh Daily Northwestern holds that his
publications had a deep and lasting in
f1uence on the lives and habits and Gus
toms Of the millions Of Americans who
read them" To the Miami Daily News
"the best Of all his gifts is the example
OF life that was successful, even as
measured by the standards of the
money-worshiper in the days of fabu-
lous fortunes, and was untouched by
so much as q breath of scandal"
His life proves" according to the
Salt Lake Deseret News, "the common
est Of all iessons-that ideas are and
always will be the best currency to buy
power and influence in the world" and
the Danbury News-Times says that he
lived longer, worked harder, made more
money and was more useful than most
have the privilege Of being" The San
Antonio Express offers the judgment:
Himself unschooled in books, he
reached millions Of readers, informed
them. and helped mold and direct their
thought. That service was kept up
through the half-century while the Ma
ton was being transformed from an
agricultural land into an Industrial en-
pire." The Houston Chronicle calls him
American to the core, a representative
Of the America that was and which may
never be again." and sees in him pub
Usher devoted to the interests OF that
restless and aggressive middle class
which was then in the process Of leav-
Industrial civilization Of the Nation"
Into his group Of publications"
states the Buffalo Evening News, "were
drawn editors and writers who fairly
may be said to have held and often to
have set the highest standards Of their
time. Mr.. Curtis was one of the most
noteworthy men that ever appeared In
the difficult field to which he devoted
himself" Others recognizing the tech
nical merits Of his work as a publisher
are the Lincoln State journal, the Hart
ford Times, the Baltimore Sun. the
Scranton Times, the Yakima Republic.