New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-14
F. HOPKINSON SMITH
His Enthusiastic Espousal Of the
Water Color Cause.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir; In reference to the work Of the late
F. Hopkinson Smith, in your issue Of the 9Th,
you say: after attaining fame as the au-
thor of Caleb West he turned his
attention with equal success TO the field OF
art" Allow me TO correct that by saying
he had painted a number of years before
he turned his attention TO the work OF writ
ing His first published work in this line,
believe, was in connection with series OF
his own pictures entitled "Well Worn Paths
In the '70's some time, a few men among
the painters feeling there was little known or
understood among our people of the posi-
bilities of the water color mediums, the
American Water Color Society was formed to
exploit work in that line. Most OF these
men knew little themselves Of the handling
Of the medium, and so called together all
those who were at all interested in it, with
the purpose Of developing a knowledge and
an understanding of it among our art low
ers here At this time +. Hopkinson Smith,
the engineer, had been spending his sum
mers in the White Mountains, amusing him
self painting in water color and sketching in
C0ATCOhl. he younB cHBihCNi HoS SWIM III
vited to become member Of the infant
society.
He was full OF enthusiasm and. being
man Of stirring blood, threw himself whole
souled, into the work; and work he proposed
10 make Of it as the only means of awaken
ing our people to an interest in the espoused
cause. He found the painters a dreamy, un-
practical lot of fellows, who were inclined
to get together and talk somewhat vaguely
on the subject in hand without achieving
such results as he deemed possible. At the
meetings there was seldom a quorum. 1t
seemed to need something stronger than
water as medium to bring about stirring
interest. A whiskey bottle was suggested
as a potent persuader, and pipes and tobacco
ad lib, whereupOn the interest in the meet
ings was naturally increased. AS this spir-
ituous uplift would cost money treasurer
was suggested, and Mr.. Smith was the man.
Mr. Smith was a talker, a good talker, an
amusing talker, convincing talker, and the
painter fellows soon found that the birth
Of a great idea could not be accomplished
without labor and pains. He fell foul Wig
orously OF their slow processes, and there
was a hot time at some of the meetings
My brother James was president of the So
ciety and could not follow Mr.. Smith in all
his revolutionary suggestions, and organized
defence against his oratorcal guns. They
were not dumdums that Smith used but
they cut sharp and deep, though after the
battle, with hats and coats on as the meeting
broke up, Smith would put his arm about
James and say: "Well Smilie time and
the gravediggers are after you old fogies
and will get you yet" l have no doubt that
this infusion of life greatly energized the
work OF the society, and it became very
prosperous, taking such firm hold of the
picture loving community that the exhibit
tons of the Water Color Society became the
art events of the season.
| remember after a little dinner at the
University Club a knot of three or four
were leisurely making their way homeward.
and Smith said, apropos of something: "Well,
fellows, my mission is to throw bricks" In
later days, when success and years had come
TO him, his bricks" were so well padded
with grace and his natural kindness of
feeling that they were always welcome Wis
ltants. He was ever generous apd hearty
IN his appreciation of the work Of other men
and ever alive to the new note" and a most
interchangeable worker in his chosen field
Each summer was devoted TO exploiting some
rich vein OF material for his brush, and he
would bring back from his quest portfolios
laden with charming transcripts in water
color of his travels. With his unbounded
energy and ardor he would accomplish more
IN volume of work than most Of US would do
IN whole year, and in dollars it Melted
him as much, sometimes, as a half dozen of
US would 90 in that time
Al the time of his death he was in nomi-
nation for membership Of the National
Academy OF Design, an attention which had
been deferred IN consequence Of his not ex-
hibiting in the academy exhibitions, the ex-