Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1866-05-25
From the Metropolitan Record.
GRILL ARP so CALLED.
LETTER FROM THE AUTHOR.

long silent friend, Hon. Cnaries II.
Smith, or '.Bill Arp" the name by
which he is more familiarly known
This letter explains itself and we have
only few words to add.
AS to the request of the distinguished
author in regard to the reconstruction Of
the photography, we have only to say
that we have done our best, but il We
have not always succeeded. it must be
attributed to the rebellious character Of
the language. We have tried hard to
make It .1harmonize" with the strict
rules laid down by Messrs. Murray and
Webster, and trust we shall be acquitted
from any completely in the design against
"Her Majesty's English" If in some in
stances the "spell" has not been alto
gether broken
TO THE PUBLISHER.
Yours, requesting copies of my humor-
Gus letters for publication, is before me-
l have thought that they were hardly
worthy Of being placed before the public
in book form At the time they were
written they we're appreciated, because
the minds Of the people needed relaxa-
ton from the momentous and absorbing
interests of the war. The fountain Of
thought was tired. and these we're its rest.
The humor that is 10 them was enter
tanning then, for it was pertinent to the
occasion that provoked it, and very i'm
pertinent to those it held up before the
public eye.
do not think that such humor will
bear the wasting severity Of time. II was
once considered sparkling and exhilira-
ting, but, like good wine, it has become
stale, from having been too long un-
corked.
Nevertheless, these letters may be wor-
thy Of preservation, az illustrative of q
part If the war--ns a side show to the
Southern side of it-an index to our feel
ings and sentiments, and for this reason
only place them at your disposal. !
must request, however, that in compil-
ing them you will thoroughly revise and
reconstruct the photography. When !
began writing under the signature OF
Bill Arp, / was honestly idealizing the
language and bumor of an unlettared
countryman that bears that name. /
tried to write as he would, could he have
written at all. His earnest. honest wit
attracted my attention, and be declares
to this day that have faithfully ex-
pressed hiH sentiments. Those who
know him can see more of him in my
letters than they can of me, and in this
view of my labors may be suspected of
playing Boswell to an uneducated and
humorous man, whose name is not John
son but Arp.
Reflection bas, however, convinced
me that while good taste would not con-
denim one or two letters for numbering
her Majesty's English, yet frequent
REPETITION of the offence can hardly be
justified. It's domoralzing to language.
The truth is. no wit is good wit that
will not bear to be corrected, and |
therefore direct reconstruction of the
photography, even at the peril Of Mr..
Apps reputation.
For the sentiments that pervade these
letters, have no apology to make. AT
the time they appeared in the press OF
the South, these sentiments we're the
silent echoes of our peoples thoughts,
and this accounts in the main for the
popularity with which they were re-
ceived Ofcoursc they contain exaggera-
tons. and prophecies which we're never
fulfilled but both sections were playing
brag" as we'll as BATTLE" and
though we could not compete with our
opponents in the former, yet some of us
did try to hold our own. At both games
we were whipped by overwhelming
forces, and we have given it up. Con-
quered, but not convinced, we have ac-
cepted the situution. and have pledged
ourselves to abide by it. We have sworr
to do so. We have declared it most
solemnly in convention. We have as
serted it in every act and deed ant
Southern honor. which our enemies can
not appreciate, but which is untarnishec
and imperishable, is the seal Of our goot
faith. Whoever testified to the cxistenc'
amoung us of an association designin,
the renewal Of the rebellion, is eithe
the victim of his own cowardice, or els
the author of selfish, beartless lie.
say this with feeling and Indignation
for we see in such testimony a willing
ness, nay, a desire on the part of on
military rulers, to retain over us thei
power and their tyranny for malicious
or ayaricious ends. We have long felt.
and we still are feeling their insults
their black mail, their robberies. Ours
is the stranded ship, and the Federal
officers among MS are the wreckers; ours
the carcass, and they the yultures ", VINO
are picking our denuded bonos. Inc
little that was left our people is se'zea'
and released on paying part INTO PR
vate pockets. They get rich ana a.. res y q
and fresh corps Of vampires take their
places. 70 renew the operation ! hare
ever known them 10 steal BY night, aad