The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-08-31
A SPECULATIVE I

40
nation-Frank Blair and / decided that
when we first made his acquaintance
years ago, and have never changed our
opinion. We were then two young ge-
muses. who hyped to soar to fame on the
wings of art, the most Imaginative art of
all, figure painting, and we knew and
were glad to hail Imagination wherever
we saw it. Besides, as Blair truly re-
marked, Hopkins was a man whose vo-
cation it was to make money, somehow,
on the stock exchange; SO one might as
well look for Imagination in a model en-
gagged at a shilling an hour. Then,
again, the mans face was sufficient to
assure you that he was not blessed with
any such quality. 1t is a large face,
rather fiabby, and sprirkled with
freckles; the nose is short and thick and
lip. chin and cheeks quite destitute of
hair. Hopkins body, too, is almost in
clined to corpulence; he dresses in a
commonplace manner, his fingers are
short and thick; SO 1 think we may safe
ly settle, to start with, that HOPKINS is a
very ordinary man, and has no imagina-
ton.
1 scarcely remember how we first
foregathered with Hopkins. He was
hardly the man we should have chosen
for an intimate friend yet, at one time,
we saw a good deal of him. In those
jolly old days Frank and I lodged in
modest rooms together and shared a
studio. l think Mr.. Levi Solomon, the
picture-dealer, to whom when hardly
pressed we would sell a picture or two,
brought him to us as a gentleman who
desired a personal interview. 1t was, of
course, against Solomon's secret wishes
that the Introduction took place, as the
worthy Israelite did not approve of direct
transactions between artist and collector,
but Hopkins was doubtless a good GUS
toner and stood firm, so one day Solomon
conducted him to our studio. We must
have been in funds at that moment, for
/ remember we treated poor Solomon
rather cayalierly, and as for Hopkins, we
looked upon him as a being from another
sphere-a Philistine a creature whose
presence in the world could only be
tolerated from the stern necessity that an
artist must sell his pictures to some one
in order to live, Our ideas of the gran
deur and Importance of the true mission
of art were very lofty in those days, es-
pecially if we happened to have a few
pounds in our pockets. Hopkins to us
was n of a class of men who buy young
artists pictures, solely with a view OF
realizing hundreds per cent. on the in.
vestments when fame comes to the
painter.
However, whether from mercenary
inclinations or for the many good quail
ties that adorned us, Hopkins took a great
fancy to us, and sought our society from
that day. OF course, he had the usual
commercial faults, and not a few defects
of education; but he had a great and
properreverence for genius, and delight
ed to do it homage-at least so we I'M
derstood the meaning of those little
dinners he gave us at his own chambers
and various other places. As artists,
after all, are but mortal, and, when
young and struggling, not too highly fed,
we accepted Hopkins attentions in the
spirit we fancied they were meant, and,
after a bit, tolerated him; indeed, ever
began to think he was a desirable &C.
quaintance-so moved by a feeling Of
gratitude for his civilities, only doubled
the market price of the pictures we could
at times induce him to buy.
Weenjoyed the dinners he gave us very
much, but am sure Hopkins enjoyed
himself more when we were kind enough
to condescend to invite him to spend an
evening at our lodgings. He gave up
Latte and choice cigars; we only placed
pipes and whisky upon the table; but
then, as he said, our rooms, if humble,
were the abode of art, which he honored.
Altogether Hopkins was not a bad sort,
and those were merry old times.
If Hopkins did not himself take 6
leading part in the conversation during
these evening entertainments, he was
ut least, a capital listener, and, some
how, when Frank Blair and l, as wa,
our wont, got into a lively discussion OF
things in general and art in particular
VIC had contracted the habit of address
ing our remarks to our guest, much il
the same way that honorable member
address their words to the Speaker. Hop
kins would sit in the crazy armchair ant
listen with a sort of stolid impartiality
but rarely ventured to make a remark
on his W account. Occasionally
fancied his face during our talk woult
wear an expression of content, blu
should not like to be rash enough to as
sert ven that much. He would si
smoking his pipe or cigar, but the near
est approach he made to entering int
the discussion was by giving an occa
sional grunt, which might be either O
appreciation or condemnation, as thos,
who heard chose to construe it. Some
times, for want of better amusement
Frank and L would join our forces to
gether and chaff our friend numerically
He bore our sallies of wit very well, an,
seemed y like us none the worse tina
We made fun at his expense. Yet Their,
was little fun in it after all, and we de
cided that, except to keep our hands in
it was scarcely worth while to waste on
fine passes on a man who was so unre
sisting and knew SO little of fence. Blu
one unlucky evening he brought upol
himself a regular onslaught.
We had been dilating upon the charm
of an artists life, and asserting its mora
superiority to that of any trade, whel
our friend sighed deeply and said:
Sometimes, do you know, 1 thinl
had l learned to draw when a boy,
might have done something in your line
But now l am afraid it is too late"
This idea was so presumptuous tina
we felt it demanded instant and sever
punishment, SO Frank said, gently:
my dear fellow, you draw som
things very nicely now, even withou
an artists education-checks, for in
stance"
followed NOR severely:
'.Mr. Hopkins. allow me to warn yo,
against falling into the error of that gen
eral public which you so well represent
in thinking that the execution alon
makes the artist. An artist, as 1 under
stand the word, must have many quail
ties besides manual dexterity. He mus
have, in ad %lition, many of the gifts O
the poet, and among them that creates
gift of all-imagination. Now you, m,
dear sir, l am afraid, are not very grea
ut that"
peor Hopkins said nothing, evidentl,