The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-03
STORIES OF TWO MEN.
Frank III. Smith, Contractor, and F.
HOpkinsOn Smith, Artist and Author.


Cromwell Childe,, in New York Times.
In q small Office in the most crowded cor
ner Of downtown New York there sits
daily the greater part of the year, light
keen man who knows the value of each
fraction of dollar, and has a genius for
specifications" Even the national gov
eminent meets its match when it undertakes
to cross words With him over technical mat
tiers. This energetic business man goes by
the name Of Frank H. Smith, or. even more
frequently, as plain r. III. Smith. Uptown
in picturesque study in the upper story of
a comfortable house near the avenue
there is to be found o evenings a littera-
teur. artist, lecturer, after-dinner speaker,
and bon vivant whose fame in varied fields
of art and letters is widespread. People
speak of him as F. Hopkinson Smith, and
the public know the name when they catch
a glimpse Of it in the corner of canvas, in
a catalogue. or on the title page of one of
the newest books.
Somewhere-it must be at about Tenth
street-these two men blend into one for
by the time he has reached Union square,
with the Century Company's office looking
down upon him. Frank II. Smith. the light
house contractor, is Hopkinson Smith, au-
thor and artist. You ride down town with
Hopkinson Smith the following morning,
and long before the elevated guard calls out
Rector street" you find yourself seated
next to, an individual who is thinking only
of mathematics, ard has no idea in the
world about color, chiaroscuro, or the ele-
ments of fiction
1t is all very confusing, the saving quality
kinson Smith have probably never heard of
Frank H. Smith, and vice versa Once in a
while the office desk in that building far be-
low the postoffice is shut down hard aid
fast-the last payment on a big contract
having been made-and Frank H. Smith
vanisheS from view for q time. Then z.
Hopkinson Smith is visible during the day
and he tours with his white umbrella. to
Mexico, or lags with a gondolier in Verice.
ranean where there is blue of the Hopkinson
Smith fades away and the art and literary
worlds cannot say, as they do of most au-
thors and artists, that he is here or there,
co,ecting, data gathering IimprtesSIions or
is abroad, in Washington, in the West or
East, managing the contract he is con-
-Four travelling men were seated Some time
ago in the smoking compartment of Pull
man. being ,whirled through the Western
country. All had avowed themselves drum
mers," and they were swapping stories"
What was then the wretched state of BUSH
ness formed the staple of conversation, and
trouble they had in getting orders. why.
gentlemen" said one. the other two having
that amt nothin'! I'm goin' to get the
sack for sure. expect II within twenty
for a week" The fourth man OF the party
crossed his legs nonchalantly. Well,
haven't made a sale for two months, he
said The others looked at him aghast.
The fourth drummer nodded. Heavens
and earthr broke in another (only he did
not use. precisely that expression). What
in the name of conscience are you trying to
SELF" Lighthouses, said he fourth man.
This was Frank H. Smith, commercial
traveller. in full swing on the road. AT times
Hopkinson Smith accompanies him, or rath-
er Frank III. Smith goes with the author
artist on one of his lecturing tours. At
night on the platform in a far away city
there is Hopkinson Smith in evening
clothes immaculate, witty. fascinating The
next day the business men see a 1.-THE. en-
ergetic man whose face is familiar, and the
cut of whose clothes is very commercial,
among them. He is F.. II. Smith. the au-
thority on structural iron. labor disputes,
and trade in general and they wonder II
he has just arrived In town by an early
70 Once. the story goes. r II. Smith came