The New York herald., 1871-01-08
TEE CHARITABLE RIVALS.
WHAT MONEY CAN DO.
That $4,000 Donation, and Why and How
the "Boss" Made Twas 1t for Political
Capital i-Jimmy 0'Brien Went Talk
on the Charity Question, but
Gives HIS Political Views.

Westchester chicken feel like full grown rooster.
Everybody felt good--that is, everybody who hadn't
sided with the ConkIing faction previous to the
caucus Hank Smith was IN his glory and kept open
house for all who came along. but the brightest
looking room in the Delavan was the parlor on the
opposite side OF the hall from Smiths quarters
from which every now and then were heard loud
peals OF not over musical laughter. 1t was large
elegantly furnished apartment. cheerful fire was
burning in the ample CRATE, and chandelier, with
dozen gobed jets, hooded the room TO Its remotest
corner with warm light which made every piece OF
furniture shine from the big sofa against the wall
to the sideboard glstening with tumblers ready to
be fled, as though 1t had gone Though years
COURSE OF HIGH POLISHING.
The irrepresslble McGowan and the gorgeous
Clancy were iittng about from the bedrooms ad-
Joining the parlor spiritual comforts intent, with
glasses in hand, every few minutes, as legislator
after legislator found his way in and made directly
Tor the centre table, where in battle array stood
number OF glasses brim full of sparkling cham
payne. The New York "thunderbot," that went
crashing into the ranks OF the faithful" year ago,
soaring even the stoid Peter B. almost out of his
wits, was standing, glass IN hand. talking gliby
with the ubiquitous Nelson. Scattered here and
there about the room were several Of the New York
delegation and q few republicans, and on the sofa,
with one leg crossed over the other in careless
sort Of way sat the "Boss' himself. He looked
more than usually good.humored ana laughed and
joked as freely as the freest the champagne
went round and The cigar boxes became lighter and
lighter IN point OF weight Every one Of the county
members who had an axe to grind endeavored to
get the "Bossn all to himself, but the "Bossu not
being much
GIVEN TO SOLITUDE,
could not see 1t, and acted accordingly by dispens
uIltt INV Aao
way. In fact, one could almost have pointed out
every man IN the room who held public Office
which the "Bossn could upset IN twinkng
Of an eye, by the tone OF voice in which he ad-
dressed himself to his lord and MASTER Or course
the HERALD correspondent was on hand to see
what all the fun was about. He had exhausted his
entire stock OF political pumping in the other room
across the hall way, and was at loss to know what
to talk about he took seat beside the lion OF the
occasion. The room by this time had become un-
comfortably full, well good many persons In
It, and the "Boss'' made dive into a near by pri.
vate room. BY invitation your humble servant dove
in after him. Now, it was the correspondents In
tention 10 find out, by hook or by crock, what the
Boss had to say about his
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLAR DONATION
to the Seventh ward poor; bur how to bring the
thing about without putting the donator on his
to solve. country newspaper lay on the table,
and on picking 1t up he espled an advertisement OF
o crockery store headed THAT $4,000 donation.n
This was his cue, and he took It,
81 see advertisers are making use or that $4,000
you gave the Seventh ward, Mr. Tweed" he re-
marked, as he held the paper in his hand.
The nold man" turned suddenly about and, LOOK
Ing the correspondent straight In the face, bus
tered out,
advertisers making use OF it, eh2"
He then took up the paper, and on seeing the
crockery stere's bid for custom laughed outright.
The ice was broken, and the interview began.
"By the way, Mr.. Tweed, that donation has made
q great fuss hasn't Yn
The smile LETT the .Boss'r face as suddenly as
though the ghost OF ola Peter Cagger stood before
HIM. Turning slowly toward his interlocutor, he
eyed him steadily Tor a moment, ana thea throwing
himself back on the sofa, so as to get better ooS
at him, he exclaimed
''Fuss, sir! l should think 1t had. Why, never
woudn-
Here ne came to a dead stop, and, rising from his
seat, took few strides across tue room, back
to the sofa and sat down. Then turning again
toward his questioner he exclaimed, meanwhile
looking quite agltated,
rather not speak about. 1t has already given me q
good deal OF trouble. don't want to talk about 1t
a. all. ! would rather nothing were published
.It has occasloned good deal OF newspaper COM
menl" persisted the tormentor.
matter how dsagTeeable the subject might be to
talk on, that he mad already laid himself open TO an
interview; SO he made the best of
BAD BARGAIN
"A great deal OF newspaper comment, indeed,
much more tnan was necessary, AMI much that
uncalled Tor. But you know, as well as do, thai 1t
Is quite impossible 10 Please everybody. no matter
..You certainly did not Try 10 do that with the
$5o,0Oop"
hcV
could draw me to that amount Tor the benefit OF
the poor that my intention was to be made pubic
than have OF tins house going TO Niagara Fails on
Its own account"
.'rhen 1t was the fault of the committee that the
''lt was made public by somebody who was TOO
thoughtless to do as ! would have wished. Now,
IN tell you contidenually all about it, :,
The "Boss'' put himself into comfortable sitting
posture, wound his watch chain about his fore
nngcr, crossed his legs one over the other, threw
back his head that The ceiling came directly unuer
the line Of his vision. cleared his throat and be-
gam
greal deal buster than during previous years, ana
found that could not attend as well as Ia former
years to certain matters. such as helping people
along when knew they were IN want.n
the kindyn
made 1t practice since have been any way COM
Portable 10 give little OF what had to others
whom donation could benefit. or course, have a
natural Iondness for my own waro. and always
tried never to forget 1t when could make any poor
person in it happy with relief; buL have not con-
lined myself TO 1t by any means. Only a few weeks
ago gave $1,000 to each oi SIX oil the city wards
for their poor, and have made arrangements to
find out about the needy in other wards, as to
give them helping hand. Fortunately, the papers
didn't get wind of THIS and 50 some OF them
LOST A CHANCE
TO abuse me. But all tins, mind you tell you
ddeDialy just TO show you how the merest occasion
has given rise to q hullaDaloo, when many otner
occasions OF like nature would have been seized
upon II the persons with whom i had to
deal were as indiscreet as some others have been
latey.n
alt was, then, not your desire that the $4,000 do
nation should be made matter OF pubic noticeYu
alt was my desire that 1t should do COED, and /
placed tue Whole matter IN the hands OF parties
whom felt would make good use or the money. 1
had no idea whatever tnat the thing would be made
matter OF public notice. Indeed, mad l known it
was 20 have been so would have hestaed long
while before offering the donation, Knowing. as do
that nothing would be more pleasing TO certain in-
dividuals than to abuse me even Tor
SAVING A MAN FROM STARvATIoN.o
The Boss vas quite agtated during this part OF