The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-08-28
"BILL ARPn

MAJOR Charles H. Smith ("Bill Arp")
died at his home in Cartersville. Ga,
on Monday. His pen is stiled forever
the pen which so truly framed in words,
homely though they were, the scnti-
ments of the great masses of the South
during the stress of fratricidal strife,
during the dark period of reconstruc-
ton following, and in the later days
during the building of a new South
loyal to the Union and at the same time
true to the old traditions.
bill Arp was writer for the
masses. His writings fivst attracted
attention in the early part of the war,
and during the progress of the war he
| became widely known. During that
time and up to the time of his death
his letters were looked forward to
eagerly and read with great interest
thoroughout the South. There was
hothingi brilliant about them. Very
o1ten there was nothing original. Bill
Arp's fame grew out of his ability to
reach the heart through the printed
column. His sentiments found ocho in
the hearts of the Southern people.
Ills first widely read letter was his
answer to Lincoln's proclamation in
the early stage of the war advising the
Southern army to "dispersc. Arp
told Lincoln that he had gone out and
tried his "darndest" to "dispersc" but
just couldn't. This letter, though it
was written some forty years ago,
sui holds place in the memory Of
many men who have aged with the
flight of the years since then, and in
talking over those troublous times with
thclr companions of those davs and
slncc' and in recountng the glorious
story Of brave deeds and Of patient
suffering to their children and grand
children, they still tell what Bill Arp
told Lincoln when be advised the South
ern army to dispense. How ridiculous
the advice sounded to them tn cn
Such was the character of Arp's
writings during the war. In the dark
days which followed, when starvation
pressed upon the heels of war, when
laws was in chains and the South had
passed into the hands of the ignorant
negroes the tools Of Northern Garnet
baggers, when all was lost save honor
ana hope, Bill Apps letters were read
TOR the courage and the patience and
the 1orbearance which they inspired
Ana even then his quaint humor helped
10 lit many heavy burden Of des-
pair.
During these later years Of peace his
pictures Of his own home life have in
Splrcd to contcntment and happincss in
the path of duty, however humble, if
honorable. In Mrs. Arp he has pic
turcd thousands of women throughout
the Southland happy in the love Of
home and children. His philosophy and
ms humor were quaint and homciy, but
were such that they touched the great
masses and were appreciated by them.
lie has pleaded for a reunited country,
but not at the expense Of the traditions
which the old South held dear, not at
the expense Of a failure on the part Of
a later generation to honor the mem
org of their fathers who fought for a
cause which was just.
Thousands throughout the Southland
have laughed with Arp and have wcpt
with him. He loved the South and her
people with passion which knew no
failing. Many an old Confederate sol
dIcr will wipe from his eye the unbiddcn
tear when he hears that "I'ill Arp" has
passed from his labors here below,
and their children will honor their
fathers when they mourn because
"Arp' is dead.