Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-26
a SPECULATIVE SPIRIT.
IAN the Year Round

was a man entirely without imagination
Frank Blair and I decided that when we
tirst made his acquaintance years ago, and
have never changed our opinion. We were
then two young geniuses WHO hoped to soar
to fame On the wings of art, the most i'm
aginative art of all, figure painting, and we
knew We were glad to hail imagination
wherever we saw it. Besides, as Blair
truly remarked, Hopkins was man whose
vocation it was to make money, somehow,
on the Stock Exchange so one might as
well look for Imagination in a model en-
gagged at shilling an hour. Then, again,
the mans face was sufficient to assure you
that he was not blessed with any such
quality. 1t is large face, rather fabby,
and sprinkled with freckles the nose is
short and thick, and lip, chin and cheeks
quite destitute OF hair. Hopkins body,
too, is almost inclined to corpulence he
dresses in commonplace manner, his
fingers are short and thick so 1 think we
may safely settle, to start with, that Hop.
kins is very ordinary man, and has no
Imagination.
l scarcely remember how we first fore.
gathered with Hopkins. He was hardly
the man we should have chosen for an init
mate friend yet, at one time, we saw
good deal of him. In those jolly old days
Frank and l lodged in modest rooms to-
gether and shared studio. / think Mr..
Levi solomon, the picture dealer, to whom
when hardly pressed we would sell pict.
ure or two, brought him to US as gentle
man who desired personal interview. 1t
was, of course, against Solomon's secret
wishes that the introduction took place, as
the worthy Israehte did not approve of d.
rect transactions between artist and col
lector, bat Hopkins was doubtless a good
customer and stood firm, so one day Solo
mon conducted him to our studio. We
must have been Ia funds at that moment,
for | remember we treated poor Solomon
rather cavslierly, and as for Hopkins, we
looked upon him as being from a lower
sphere Philistine creature whose
presence IN the world could only be toler-
ated from the stern necessity that an artist
must sell his pictures to some one IN order
to live Our ideas of the grandeur and i'm
portance OF the true mission of art were
very lofty in those days, especially if we
happened to have few pounds in our
pockets. Hopkins, to us, was one of class
of men who buy young artists pictures,
solely with the view of realizing hundreds
per cent. on the investments when fame
comes TO the painter.
However, whether from mercenary in
clinations or for the many good qualities
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 few defects
of education /; but he had great aud
proper reverence for genius, and delighted
to do 1t homage-at least we so understood
the meaning of those little dinners he gave
US at his own chambers and various other
places. As artists, after all, are but NOR.
tai, and, when young and struggling, not
too highly fed, we accepted Hopkins at.
tentions in the spirit we fancied they
were meant, and, after a bit, tolerated
him indeed, even began to think he was a
desirable acqualntance-so moved by q
feeling of gratitude for his civilities, only
doubled the market price of the pictures
we could at times induce him to buy.
We enjoyed 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 us
Lafitte and choice cigars we only placed
pipes and whisky upon the table Ibut then,
as he said, our rooms, if humble, were the
abode of art, which he honored. Alto
gether, Hopkins was not bad sort, and
those were merry old times.
If Hopkins did not himself take a lead.
ing part In the conversation during these
evening entertainments, he was at least
capital listener; and, somehow, when
Frank Blair and /. as was our wont, got
into lively discussions on things in general
and art In particular, we had contracted
the habit of addressing our remarks to our
guest, much In the same way that honora-
bic members address their words to the
Speaker. Hopkins would sit in the crazy
arm. chair and listen with sort of stolid
impartiality, but rarely ventured to make
remark on his own account Occasionally
| fancied his face during our talk would
wear an expression of content, but should
not like to be rash enough to assert even
that much. He would sit smoking his pipe
or cigar, but the nearest approach he made
to entering into the discussion was giving
an occasional grunt, which might be either
OF appreciation or condemnation, as those
who heard chose to construe it. Some
times, for want of better amusement,
Frank and l would join our forces together
and chsff our friend numerically. He bore
our sallies OF wit very well, and seemed to
like us none the worse that we made fun at
his expense. Yet there was little fun in it
after all, and we decided that, except to
keep our hands In, it was scarcely worth
while to waste our fine passes on man who
was SO unresistipg and knew so little of
fence. But one unlucky evening he brought
upon himself regular onslaught.
We had been dilating upon the charms of
an artists life, and asserting its moral gu.
perlofity to that of any trade, when our
friend sighed deeply and said:
Sometimes, do you know, think had
l learned to draw when a boy, l might
have done something in your line. But now
l am afraid it is too late"
This idea was so presumptuous that we
felt it demanded instant and severe pun.
ishment, SO Frank said gently:
"My dear fellow, you draw some things
very nicely now, even without an artists
ducation-checks, for instance"
followed more severely:
Mr.. Hopkins, allow me to warn you
against falling into the error of that gen.
erai public which you so well represent, in
thinking that the execution alone makes
the artist An artist, as understand the
word, must have many qualities besides
manual dexterity. He must have, in addi-
ton, many of the gifts of the poet, and
among them that greatest gift of ail-im.
agination. Now you, my dear sir, l am
afraid, are not very great at that"
Poor Hopkins said nothing. evidently
convinced by Franks sarcasm and my Don.
derous arguments that his case was a hope.
less one.
"Do you ever dream p asked Frank.
"Net very Often" replied Hopkins.
''only after curried lobster or crab, or
something of that sort. am very sound
.laapar -