The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-09-01
A SPECULATIVE SPIRIT.

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 6e-
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 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 large face.
rather ilabby. and sprinkled 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
commonplace manner. his fingers are
short and thick; so l think we may safe
" settle, to start with, that HOPKINS is a
very ordinary man, and has no magma
ton
/ 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 | 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 n 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 cavalierly, and as for Hopkins, we
looked upon him as 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 few
pounds in our pockets. Hopkins to us
was one of n class of men who buy Young
artists pictures, solely with view OF
realizing hundreds per cent on the in
vestments when fame comes 10 the
painter.
However, whether from mercenary
inclinations or for the many good quail
ties that adorned us, Hopkins took 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 a great and
proper reverence for genius, and delight
ed to do it homage-at least so we UNI
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 bit, tolerated him; indeed. even
began to think he was desirable ac-
quaintance-so moved by 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 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 bad sort
and those were merry old times.
If Hopkins did not himself take a
leading part in the conversation during
these evening entertainments, he was,
at least. capital listener, and, some
how, when Frank Blair and |, as was
our wont, got into a lively discussion on
things in general and art in particular.
we had contracted the habit of address
ing our remarks to our guest, much in
the same way that honorable members
address their words to the Speaker. Hop
kins would sit in the crazy armchair and
listen with sort of stolid impartiality,
but rarely ventured to make a 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 as
sert even that much. He would sit
smoking his pipe or cigar, but the near
est approach he made to entering into
the discussion was by giving an occa-
sional 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 would join our forces to-
gether and chaff 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 de-
cided that, except to keep-our hands in.
1t was scarcely worth while to waste our
hne passes on man who was. so unre-
sisting and knew so little of fence. But
one unlncky evening he brought upon
himself regular onslaught
We had been dilating upon the charms
OF an artists life, and asserting its moral
superiority to that of any trade, when
our friend sighed deeply and said:
Sometimes, do you know, think
mad 1 learned to draw when boy. /
might have done something in your line.
But now am afraid it is too late,
This idea was so presumptuous that
we felt it demanded instant and severe
punishment, SO Frank said. gently:
my dear fellow, You draw some
things very nicely now, even without
an artists education-checks, for in
stance"
/ followed more severely:
Mr. hopkins. allow me to warn Won
against falling into the error of that GEN
eral public which you so well represent.
In thinking that the execution alone
makes the artist. An artist, as under
stand the word, must have many quail
ties besides manual dexterity. He must
have, in ad iition, many of the gifts of
the poet, and among them that greatest
git OF all-imagiRation. Now You. mv
ut that" s'o"s
Foor Hopkins said nothing, evidently |