The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-02-07
BILL ARP AT HOME.
How he got his Nom de Plume.

Having seen several inquiries recently,
from some of onr people respecting the
domestic life of Bill Arp, the great
Southern humorist, I think it probable
that what little information I can give
may interest our readers.
Just before and during the war, I was
attending School at Rome, Georgia, and
was on visiting terms with the family of
Maj. Charles II. Smith, CBill ArpO then
prominent lawyer of that city. A
more lovable family than his, it has
never been my fortune to know. Mrs.
Smith was at that time a bright and
beautiful little matron of about thirty
five, surrounded by six or eight hand
some boys and girls, of ages ranging
from one and two years to fourteen; and
it was one of the greatest pleasures of
my school-days to visit cousin Tavey,"
AS we called her-in her magnificent
new home and elegant surroundings, and
hear her laugh and repeat the quaint re-.
marks of Charlie. They were wealthy,
refined, and cultivated people enjoying
the goods of this life as good Presbyteri-
ans ought to-not boarding them in a
miserly fashion. But the war came on
and disturbed the happiness of this fam.
lily, as it did thousands of others in our
sunny South. Major Smith volunteered
with the Rome Light Guards, company
composed of the best young men of
Rome and vicinity. OH the sadness
and weeping of that day when parents
gave up their darling boys; wives their
husbands, and young girls their lovers !;
but saddest of all, fathers left families of
little children with only the protecting
care of the weak mother. Those noble
young martyrs whose faces l saw for the
last time, wet with tears, can never
forget. The crowd that had assembled
to see the last of those who had hidden
the dearest ones "good bye" at home,
was filled with sobs when the order to
"fall in line," came, and forward
march |" was the signal for the company
to file Gown the dusty street out of sight; /;
next the whistle of the engine, the
hoarse yell as they left the depot-and
they were gone. Two of those who left
large families were Maj jor Smith. and
Bill Arp,-a poor Ferryman of Floyd
County, who was very witty, but wholly
unlettered, yet withal o true patriot
They went to Virginia, and while camp
ing on Bull Run they heard of Lincoln's
Proclamation, ordering the. Confederate
Army to dispcrse. This was laughed at
by our men, and Maj. Smith wrote a
humorous answer to Mr.. Lincoln, saying
that he couldn't get the boys to even
think of dispensing, and having despaired
of doing so he had gone off to himself
in an old field to calm his patriotism,
and try to disperse, but he found that he
couldn't disperse worth cent He
read his letter to some appreciative
friends, and Bill Arp was one of the lis.
teners When he had finished, Bill
came forward and asked: "Major, are
you gwine ter have that printed ?" He
answered, II think so, Bill" "Well,
sir, eff it is all the same to you, | wish
you would put my name to that paper,
cause them's my sentiments, adzactly."
Thus it was by the rightful owners re.
quest that Maj. Smith adopted the name
and exact style of Bill Arp, and over
that nom de plume has become world re
nowned, as much to the pride of the
poor Ferryman as if he had earned the
reputation himself. Bill Arp, the Fer.
ryman, was killed by fall from wagon
several years ago, but his name will ever
be linked with the great humorist of the
day, and descend to future generations.
After the war, Major Smith gave up
the practice of law, purchased a fine
plantation in Barlow County, Ga, and is
now progressive farmer. His children
are scattered from Maine to Florida, and
grandchildren are numerous in the fami.
". we'll remember "Hines," the boy
soldier, who went with his father to the
army when only fourteen, and Hattie,
whose infant dress Mrs. Arp dug up
from the bottom of that old trunk some.
time ago, and "made it over" for Hattie's
first baby; and the dear, sweet old moth
er-to whom he SO often alludes in his
letters-was once my ideal of a noble
wife and mother. I have not seen her
since the war, but the nice strawberry
parties which she used to give her chill
dren of my age, and to which was
often invited, is still fresh in my memory.
She wonId often reward our good be.
havior by relating to US some of the 70.
mantle incidents of her childhood, Of
which we never tired, but we're always
greedy to hear more. l always listened
with wonder at the real romance that
was finer and fuller of pathos and telling
than any fiction.
Pardon me, Messrs. Editors, for the
length of my communication. There is
so much in this family to interest me
that forgot the length Of my letter.
Georgia in LaurensuiNe Herald.