As usual last summer the gorgeous yacht Lyndonia dominated the crowded little harbor at Camden, Me. But for the first season in many years the yacht's owner, aging, ailing Publisher Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis, did not dominate the Camden social scene. He remained at home, out of sight. Steam was kept up for 24 hours a day; but the Lyndonia and her crew of 38 made only occasional trips to Portland, Publisher Curtis' birthplace, so that he might go to the dentist. Maine folk and summering Philadelphia socialites alike spoke kindly of "poor old Mr. Curtis."
Comparatively inactive in Curtis Publishing Co., snowy-bearded Publisher Curtis, 82, became more quiescent following the death of his wife last May (TIME, June 6). He, too, suffers from a heart ailment. Although he did take himself to Joseph Early Widener's "millionaire dinner" last month (TIME, Oct. 24) he spends most of his time aboard the Lyndonia, much of his shore time at the Downtown Club, which he helped to found, in his own Philadelphia Public Ledger building. Such small time as Publisher Curtis has for business, he gives to the Curtis-Martin newspapers (Ledgers, Inquirer, New York Evening Post) of which his stepdaughter's husband, dapper John Charles Martin is active chief.
It was not surprising when aged Mr. Curtis resigned last week as president of Curtis Publishing Co. (Satevepost, Ladies' Home Journal, Country Gentleman), accepted the board chairmanship. So unsurprised was Philadelphia by the news that no newspaper there mentioned it—not even Curtis' own—except the tabloid Daily News, which he once tried to put out of business.
Son-in-Law Martin, whose life is insured for $6,500,000, is "crown prince" of the publishing family, but there was no surprise in Publisher Curtis' choice of his successor, Editor George Horace Lorimer of the Satevepost. Son-in-Law Martin has plenty to do running the newspapers. Many years ago Mr. Curtis turned the management of all three magazines over to Editor Lorimer. Neither man was present in the oak-paneled board room overlooking Independence Square last week when the resignation and election were effected. The directors issued a statement that "Mr. Curtis . . . wishes to be relieved of the cares and details of active management and believes that the younger generation should assume them."
"Younger Generation" Lorimer was 64 last month but he still has the bristle and bustle that he had in 1897 when, aged 29, he read that Mr. Curtis of Maine had acquired the Post, a 16-page sheet of 1,800 circulation. Lorimer, a Boston newshawk, lately stenographer in the office of Chicago Packer Philip Danforth Armour,* telegraphed Mr. Curtis for an appointment, after ten minutes' conversation had a job on the Post.
Soon afterward Publisher Curtis became dissatisfied with the Post's first editor, William George Jordan. He put Lorimer in charge until the right man could be found, then sailed for Europe. Promptly Lorimer posted his own name at the magazine's masthead. Mr. Curtis cabled an order to remove it. Lorimer refused. By the time the publisher could get home to fire him, Lorimer had proved he was the man for the job.