Charles Francis Smith, for half a century a leading figure in the business and social life of Montreal, was born in Aylesford, Hampshire, England, in 1841. He had reached the psalmist’s allotted span of three score years and ten when death called him in Montreal on the 30th of September, 1911. His position was one which gained for him not only the respect but also the admiration and love of his associates. Important and extensive as were his business enterprises, they constituted but one phase of an existence that was largely devoted to charitable works and civic affairs and he was no less esteemed for his generosity and unfailing kindness than he was admired for his business acumen. His residence in Canada covered a period of forty-eight years. He came to this country as a member of the standing army. The shed in which he and his fellow soldiers slept the first night after landing at St. Andrews, New Brunswick, is still standing near the beautiful summer home which he afterward built for himself there. His entrance into commercial circles in Montreal was made as proprietor of a shoe store on St. Mary Street. He afterward entered into partnership with the late James McCready and upon the latter’s death became sole proprietor of the business and so remained for almost one-third of a century; yet in order to give his employes the opportunity of sharing in the profits of the business he formed a limited company nine years prior to his demise. In April, 1911, the business was sold to D. Lorne McGibbon, although Mr. Smith retained an interest in the new company,--the Ames, Holden, McCready, Limited,--of which he became a director. [Illustration: CHARLES F. SMITH]