Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 September 1892 — DEATH OF GEO. WM. CURTIS. [ARTICLE]

DEATH OF GEO. WM. CURTIS.

On© of the Greatest Writers of the Present Ajre Passes Away. George William Curtis died Wednesday morning at his home in Livingston, Staten Island. He was conscious to the end and suffered no pain. Dr. Frank G. Curtis, his son, was in attendance, and Mrs. and Miss Curtis were present. Mr. Curtis became ill about two months ago, when he began to complain of pains in the abdomen. His.ca c e has been a puzzling one to the physicians. They were of opinion that there was n tendency to dropsy, with other complications, one of which was a cancerous condition of the stomach. A Sketch of Hit* Career. George William Curtis was born in Providence, R. 1., Feb. 24, 1824. The early years of his life wero spent in New York City, where he was clerk in a mercantile house, and in West Roxbury and Concord, Mass., where he worked as a farmer. In 1846 he went to Europe and remained there four years studying and traveling. Returning to Amerit a, he became one of the editorial staff of the New York Tribune and a regular contributor to Putnam’s Monthly. Mr. Curtis was a special partner in the firm publishing the magazine, and when it be amo involved in financial difficulties he sunk his private fortune in an attempt to save the creditors from loss, in which ho finally succeeded. In 1853 he began in Harper’s Monthly the series of papers entitled “The Editor's Easy Chair.” When Harper’s Weekly was dMablished ho became its leading editorial writer, a position he held until recently, when illness compelled him to retire. While engaged in these labors he also attained distinction as an orator and a lecturer. He took a keen interest in politics and was one of the most ardent advocates of civil-ser-vice reform, being chairman of the commission appointed by Gen. Grant to draw up rules for the regulation of the civil-service. Mr. Curtis was several times offered foreign missions but declined them. He was a Republican, but in 1884 supported Mr. Cleveland in preference to Mr. Blaine. Among th 9 books written by Mr. Curtis “Potiphar Papers,” “Prue and I,” “The Howad.it in Syria” and “LotusEating” are the best known. They are compilations of his essays and letters. Mr. Curtis was generally conceded to be one of the most accomplished and graceful writers of his day.