# Mr. Smith — Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town character guide > Mr. Smith in Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town by Stephen Leacock. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Smith, la Smith, the Smith, Josh Smith, Josh **First appearance:** 0001-sunshine-sketches-of-a-little-town ## Snapshot The genial, scheming hotelier of Mariposa who runs the hostelry and later runs for Parliament. ## Who they are Mr. Smith presides over the Mariposa House, where commercial travellers, local drinkers, and the town's gossip all pass through his doors. He is a man of expansive gestures and Florida water, forever pressing drinks on guests and nursing quiet political ambitions. His hotel is the social engine of the town, and his eye for advantage makes him both indispensable and faintly suspect to his neighbours. ## Relationships ### [Billy Rawson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/billy_rawson) _professional_ Billy Rawson is the hotel clerk who works for Mr. Smith at the Mariposa Belle hotel. ### [John Henry Bagshaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/john_henry_bagshaw) _social_ John Henry Bagshaw is a local politician and frequent patron of Mr. Smith's hotel, maintaining a cordial acquaintance. ### [Mr. Gingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/mr_gingham) _friendship_ Mr. Gingham is a regular customer and friend of Mr. Smith, often seen at the hotel bar. ### [Peter Pupkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/peter_pupkin) _friendship_ Mr. Smith, the hotel owner, is a friendly acquaintance and occasional confidant to Peter Pupkin. ### [Jefferson Thorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/jefferson_thorpe) _friendship_ Jefferson Thorpe and Mr. Smith are friends and fellow businessmen who often share stories and gossip. ### [Rev. Dean Drone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/rev_dean_drone) _social_ Mr. Smith and Reverend Dean Drone have a cordial relationship as community leaders, though their worlds differ. ### [Henry Mullins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/henry_mullins) _professional_ Henry Mullins and Mr. Smith have a professional relationship as local businessmen who cooperate on town affairs. ### [Billy Rawson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/billy_rawson) _professional_ Billy Rawson is the hotel clerk who works for Mr. Smith at the Mariposa Belle hotel. ### [Mr. Gingham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/mr_gingham) _friendship_ Mr. Gingham is a regular customer and friend of Mr. Smith, often seen at the hotel bar. ### [Billy Rawson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/billy_rawson) _professional_ Billy Rawson is the hotel clerk who works for Mr. Smith at the Mariposa Belle hotel. ### [John Henry Bagshaw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/john_henry_bagshaw) _social_ John Henry Bagshaw is a local politician and frequent patron of Mr. Smith's hotel, maintaining a cordial acquaintance. ### [Peter Pupkin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/peter_pupkin) _friendship_ Mr. Smith, the hotel owner, is a friendly acquaintance and occasional confidant to Peter Pupkin. ## In the story ### [Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/chapters/sunshine-sketches-of-a-little-town) Introduced as a prominent local figure and hotel owner. ### [The Hostelry of Mr. Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/chapters/i-the-hostelry-of-mr-smith) Proprietor of Smith's Hotel; stands on the steps in a chequered waistcoat; receives a telegram ordering him to close down; defiantly builds a 'caff' to avoid closure. ### [The Speculations of Jefferson Thorpe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/chapters/ii-the-speculations-of-jefferson-thorpe) Hotel owner; regular customer at Jeff's barber shop; initially skeptical of mining investments. ### [The Marine Excursions of the Knights of Pythias](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/chapters/iii-the-marine-excursions-of-the-knights-of-pythias) Brings a large basket of provender and later takes a bet to reach Mariposa before the lifeboats, disappearing below deck with a mallet and marline. ### [The Whirlwind Campaign in Mariposa](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/chapters/v-the-whirlwind-campaign-in-mariposa) Donates $200 conditional on lunches being held at his hotel, but the money is consumed by lunch costs. ### [VI: The Beacon on the Hill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/chapters/vi-the-beacon-on-the-hill) Takes command of the fire brigade, wielding an axe on the roof to cut down the burning shed, despite not being a known member of the brigade. ### [XI: The Candidacy of Mr. Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/chapters/xi-the-candidacy-of-mr-smith) Conservative candidate for Parliament; uses bluster, cigars, and inflated statistics to win over farmers. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters/mr_smith - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/sunshine_sketches_of_a_little_town_se/characters