The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-09-02
BILL ARP is DEAD.
Sketch of the Distinguished Geor-
gian Who Passed Away Last
Week.

Major Chas. W. Smith, better known
as Bill Arp" passed away at his
home at Gainesville, Ga. His death
was brought about by the infirmities
incident to old age.
At the time of his death Major Smith
was II years old, having been born in
Gwinnett county, Georgia, in 1925.
The father of Major Smith was a
Massachusetts man and his mother a
South Carclinian.
The father of Major Smith settled in
Savannah when be first moved to
Georgia. He taught school, afterwards
marrying one of his pupils. The father
never returned to the north.
Charles, as he tells US, grew up as
bad as other town boys, went to school
some and worked some" He entered
Franklin college at Athens, but did
not graduate. Later he studied law.
Major Smith married Miss Mary
Octavia Hutchins of Lawrenceville.
They have ten children,
Major Smith was merchant at one
time When the war commenced he
began to write rebelious letters in a
humorous way which attracted atten-
tion. This was due not so much to
the humor contained in them, but from
the fact that all that he said was so
good naturedly said, and SO much to
the point that every southerner felt
that "Bill Arp'' echoed his own
thoughts and feelings From the time
that he asked "Mister Linkhorn for a
leetle more time'' to the present day,
all have looked to him to express what
they feel. At first these letters were
written in the Josh Billings style Of
spelling, butithis was afterwards laid
aside.
The nom de plume "Bill Arp was
adopted in this way: "When President
Lincoln called for volunteers at the
outbreak of the war, Nj. Smith, who
was living at Rome, Ga, wrote ludi-
crous criticism on the call. he read
the article to a group of friends on a
street corner, and after hearty laugh
they begged him to publish it, but he
said he was not willing to have his
name signed. In the crowd attracted
by the reading was country wag name
Bill Arp, who suggested that his name
be put tc it. At once the signature
became popular.
The Courier-Journal said of his let
ters to Artemus Ward in 1865, that
''it was the first chirp of any bird
after the surrender, and gave relief
and hope to thousands of dropping
hearts, Another paper said: His
writings are a delightful mixture of
humor and philosophy. There is no
cynicism in his nature, and he always
pictures the brightest side of domestic
life, and encourages his readers to live
up 10 it and enjoy it.
Bill Arp told much about himself
and about his family in his letters,
which he sent out for thirty years.
They were talking LETTERS as Cole
ridge would call them.
He bought farm at Gainesville,
Ga, in 1878 and there he lived and
wrote until within the last few years,
when he moved to town. His late
home, "The Shadows is situated on
Erwin street, and has large sloping
lawn studded with giant oaks. His
description of the conditions of a
home without the mother showed how
helpless be felt without "Mrs. Arp. 4"
He said:
s.The clock run down. Two lamp
chimneys bursted. The fire popped
out and burnt hole in the carpet,
while we were at supper, and every
thing is going wrong just because Mrs:
APPS gone. I'm poking around and
hunting for consolation. I've half a
mind to drop her a postal card and
say Carl is not we'll and then go to
meet her on the first train that could
bring her. It does look like woman
with ten children wouldn't be so
foolish about one of them, but there
is no discount on a wonan's anxiety.
I wonder what would become of chill
dren if they didn't have parent to
spur 'em up? In fact it takes a couple
Of parents to keep things straight at
nv house. x It's mighty still
and solemn and lonely around here
now. Lonely amt the word, nor how
lin wilderness. There amt any word
to express the goneness and desolation
that we feel. x y x The dog goes
whining around-the Maltese cats are
mewing, and the children look lost and
droopy. But we'll get over it in 3 day
or two, maybe, and then for a high
old time. I"
Bill Arp wrote letters to The Con-
stitution and the Louisville Home
and Farm for many years. He publish
ed history of Georgia