The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-25

signed by Mr.. Davis to judicial duty with
Judge Eugcnlus A. Nisbet,f Of Macon.
who was at the head OF a. commission I o
try treason cases. He was thus pa rtfally
instrumental in convicting three brothers
from Columbus for completely with the
enemy, and they were incarcerated in Sa-
vannah until released by Sherman n, with
other prisoners upon his entrance Into
the city. The court OF .Iacon was dis.
solved by the Federal General Wilson,
when he entered the city on raid. Ma
Jor Smith then journeyed toward Law
frenceville, where his wife was stopping
with her father. In crossing Yellow River
he heard that the enemy were ahead OF
him, so tying the records OF the treason
court UP with cord, he attached heavy
rock to tho bundle and they sank forever
from sight In the engulflng waters. An
other incident OF these days was the trip
Major Smith took with President Davis
from Mllen to Macon, during which he
nursed Mrs. Hayes. then a very young
girl.
The quantity humorous letters abound
ing with hou,ely philosophy and UNIQUE
observations on men and events, were
flrst evolved from the pen OF Major Smith
in 1861. being written principally to amuse
the soldiers. These letters proved every
where quite popular and after the war
the author developed his skill as a writer.
He contributed frequently to the Southern
Confederacy, published in Atlanta by
the late George Adair and Il. Y. Clarke.
and continued them until the war closed
After the momentous struggle had been
brought to a close, "Bll Arp" led the way
In phllosophic acceptance OF the result
and Discriminate to make the best Of
1t, and his letters were tuned to the
note OF refreshing optimism. With a
smile he uncovered shams and wrote the
truth with hand so firm and Judgment
SO true that he diverted the minds Of the
people from Individual mlsfortunes while
he urged constructive policy upon the
stricken country.
Perhaps no writer ever represented so
truly the temper OF his people, and It Is
certain that none over had a moro
sympathetic class OF readers
In January, 1865. Major Smith got back
to Rome, with his wife and six children.
and Tip. the old family servant. He ac-
cidentaly got a chance to plead for q
fellow III Selma arraigned on a charge
for embezzlement whom he got out Of
prison or, a $4,000 bond and pocketed q
fee OF SO 900 Confederate money. Five
thousand dollars Of this he invested in
cotton cards. which he packed Into one
side OF his vallse. and the other 5000
in opium. He returned as he had gone.
in a hack overland, and with the addl-
ton to his Selma investment Of n box Of
tobacco and q bolt OF ROSWELL shifting.
he took Bob Hargrove into partnership.
and they had the biggest stand In Rome
He practlced law in Rome with Judge
Branham, and also with Judge Under
wood, each for long term of years
He moved to the Fontaine farm In Rnr-
tow county in 1877, where Nabor FT0s.
man, noble friend and good fellow.
figured in his letters. "Cabe" was .
supply font for his quaint philosophy.
Major Smith contributed regularly to
the Atlanta Constitution for quarter
Of a century, No other writer In the South
was better known or had wider circle
OF readers. From Virginia to Texas his
letters have been copied, and the articles
have become popular features N many OF
the leading southern daily papers as We'll
MS in most Of the weekly news publlca-
tions OF this section
THE humor in Bill APPS letters has
been termed quaint and home|y. i Ia
that and something more. It Is rich and
mellow. It Is honest and untainted,
breathing the fragrance OF q we'll re1u-
lated life, There is no synlcsm IN his M
ture to mar the effect Of his work, and
his letters are without bitterness, Though
for the past year he had been racked
almost constantly with physical pain, and
he has spoken OF his sufferlngs and OF the
aggressive and aifectionate eiforfs Of his
devoted wife and children TO care for
him and make him com1oFtaple, the
sunny nature of the cheerful philosopher
could be detected underneath his show; Of