The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-31
"Bill Arp"

Bill ARP.
In the death OF Bill Arp" a golden
link between the old and new south
is broken. His passing reminds us
that the one is a glorious heritage OF
memory-the other a splendid fulfill
ment OF the prophecy Of labor. He
was of both.
Charles II. Smith, known only by
his bluff pen-name wherever memory
loyal hearts thrill to Dixie" typified
and portrayed i'll life and writings all
that has made his beloved southland
individual and picturesque. From
the Uncivil War to Date" to borrow
the title of his last popular book, his
pen was busy with ideals of the past
and idyls OF the present The Ideals
rang true to the modest side OF tfadi-
tional southernism, and the idyiS
were sweet with the simple, homely
pleasures of unperVerted southern
life today What his gentle pen de-
lineated was not SO much the patfi-
elan south as the homespun SOUTH
Ii was his labor of love 10 portray
and eXtol the JOY of living in the
cool, sequestered vale He was the
prophet of simplicity-the philoso-
pher of the home-folks.
Perhaps Bill Arp was best known
to the world through his regular let
ter to The Constitution, correspond
ence covering more than a quarter OF
& century. These letters were re
fex. not alone of the rural south, but
of the active, thinking, rehabiltated
south-a delightful admixture of I'M
affected wit, droll humOr. sharp
satire, common sense philosophy
reminiscent gossip and realistic de-
scription. The good gray Sage of
Barlow" was of the old school, and,
therefore, in the political sense, an
irreconcilable, but only with respect
to the south's few dearest preiudices.
He was not repiner. AS much as
he loved yesterday, he met the oppor-
tunities and obligations OF today half
way. with CHEEKY heart and clear eye.
His counsel was wise and safe. His
viewpoint OF life and affairs was
healthy. He was never a reaction
airy.
But more than aught else, Bill
Arp was a hum0rist and will longest
be remembered ia that pleasant role.
He was the Nasty Of the south,
but. without the OHIO war humorist S
bitterness. During the war he re-
fected the ideas OF his section with
an appeal to the risibilities of his
compatriots that won him a wide
reading in periious camp and at des-
olate hearthstones. His humor was
of the quaint. unconscious sort, and
it found the weak spots OF whoever
or whatever he assailed He could
pierce a coat of mail with laugh.
After the surrender he recOnciled the
south with laugh, too. He accepted
the inevitable with drOll humor, not
unmixed with pathos, calculated to
make war-wOrn. impoverished "reb-
els" take a fresh grip on life with
the courage OF hope in their hearts.
Always an optimist, the post-bellum
gloom could not withstand the radi-
ance of his quizzical smile. II re
constructed" the secession states.
Aside from his newspaper contribu-
tons. Bill Arp" was the author of
a number OF books embracing his
most characteristic work, among
them a history of Georgia. Not a lit
tie of his fame was acquired on the
lecture platform. where his genial hui
NOR and rough and ready wisdom at
tracted a host Of auditors. His mind
was versatile and well-rooted educa-
tionally Next to the book of nature
he loved the tones of the great in
literature. His writings were full of
classical illusions and illustrations,
but never pedantically interjected.
He knew his Petrarch and Plato as
he knew his Bible The mythology
and history of antiquity was familiar
to him. He was student and a
scholar-self-taugh but. neverthe-
less. student and a scholar. The
gentle graces of his pen were those
of the man. He lived and felt what
he wrote. Withdrawn in large de-
gree from the sordid, material as
pects OF the world, he dwelt with his
hooks, his garden. childhood and
flowers. Nature he loved passionate
IL. but none the less his fellowman.
To his neighbors he was not The alb
StracIo1, SeIi-GSuleleu IScIuSS, DuL d
lovable, clever neighbor. Nothing
was too small or commonplace to en-
list his interest and sympathy. His
was the universal heart.
We shall miss bill Arp" in the
south. and particularly in Georgia,
the state of his nativity, home and
genius. His spirit and that which is
most natural and sweetest in the
spirit of Georgia are one. We, south
erners all. loved him as we love the
.'old home pIace"-for did he not
write from the soul of him about as
sociations, memories and loves dear
est to the Utmost heart of US? The
ages ambitions may drive us away
from the quiet, shady paths. but our
secret ideal of contentment, pleni-
tude and clear conscience is there.
We love him because he himself has
held fast to that ideal and warmed
it in our breasts.
The great heart of the south and
Georgia goes out to those near and
dear to the gentle dead by ties of