OBITUARY NOTICES. 
385 
finish and argument it would have done credit to one of much 
maturer years. 
He had a keen appreciation of humor in others, but pos¬ 
sessed little in his own constitution. Not precocious, though 
gifted, he was conscious that success demanded the best use 
of all his energies. His school friends say he never had 
time for anything but work. 
Early in life he became a Christian and member of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. During his residence in Wash¬ 
ington he was a member of the Congregational Church. His 
bright and sunny disposition brought him many friends. 
In college he was very enthusiastic in his work and took 
the first prize in mathematics in his sophomore year, as well 
as the first mathematical prize in his senior year and the 
prize for solution of astronomical problems. A good student 
in all subjects, he excelled in mathematics, and graduated 
with honor in 1882, twelfth in a class of 13 9. In 1887 he was 
granted the degree of A. M. in recognition of his advanced 
work. 
About the year 1880 the National Weather Service, then 
known as the Signal Corps of the Armjq was reorganized by 
General Hazen, thus opening up a new and attractive field 
of activity for young college men with a taste for meteorology. 
In March of 1883 Mr. Curtis enlisted in the service and en¬ 
tered upon his new career with enthusiasm. He came well 
equipped for the physical problems to be dealt with. He 
was at once assigned to duty in Washington with Mr. C. A. 
Schott, of the United States Coast Survey, who was engaged 
upon the reduction of the magnetic observations of the in¬ 
ternational polar stations at Lady Franklin bay and Point 
Barrow. After the completion of this work Mr. Curtis was 
for several years associated with Professor Abbe in the general 
scientific work of the Weather Bureau. His work during 
this period called forth high praise from Professor Abbe, who 
recognized in Mr. Curtis a man of excellent abilities and one 
well equipped to do original scientific work. 
In 1884 Mr. Curtis published his first contribution to 
