The New York herald., 1874-07-26
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

the Mayors Answer-Why 1t Was Not
Forwarded to Governor Dix-The Old
knfckcrbOcker ssTfme.o
There was charming seance at the Mayors Of
Nee In the City Hall yesterday. The descendant Of
Rip Van Winkle had his answer to the charges pre-
sented to lie Governor all ready, but it was nee
essary 10 have the engrossed copy OF the original
answer read over, 80 that an ''r' or ''but" or
Notwithstanding" should not render passage
obscure or q sentence incomplete. For this pur-
pose there was an assemblage OF the best brains Of
the municipality in the Mayors private office, there
to revise, suggest amplify, elaborate or extract
from the ponderous Answer" all antiquities or
doubtful phrases, in order that the dun brain OF
HIS Excellency Governor Dix should not be
mudded stfl further by prepositions-wbich
couid by no possibility be proposltons-so that he
might reach by quick mental process the ultl-
mate OF all this elimination and recliminatlon,
and render his gubernatolial judgment accord
lngy. At the witching hour Of high noon, when
lunch bummers rejoice and tle Chatham street sa-
looms give up their mob the Mayor announced to
the reporters In waiting-curious equerrles,
Knights without spurs and spurious knights--that
he would send the famous document to the Gov
ernor at halfpast three p. NJ He thereupon retired
70 the sanctuary and was lost to the eyes Of men.
NOW nice discussion sprung up between the
reporters. One bet q fine tOothplcK against rub
Der comb that the document would not be ready;
another wagered that the Mayor was a hastlsh-
eater and was cOnst tanty dreaming OF 'AbOu ben
Adhem" and the paradise OF the Faithful;" still
another volunteered the remark that the Mayor
was believer in the occult science OF the stars,
and was having his horoscope cast by q Sixth ave-
nue. seer, and mad seen therein his ipse dirtt. At
all events 1t vas agreed that His Honor had availed
himself OF ''the laws delays" but that the time
had come when the grave charges had to be met,
and that clrcumstantlaly and FULLY the great re-
former must ansM er 10 the tribune OF the people
i0r incOmpetency IN office or trusts betrayed.
At three O'Clock ana fifteen minutes appeared
one OF the Secretaries OF the MayUr-a benign
smooth headed man, who sad, ''The document Is
nearly ready"
Chow viii it be sent to the Governors asked a
Herald reporter; ''lor example, by the pony eX-
pr ess 2''
"On, nop' said the Secretary. "by the express
traln and In charge OF special messenger
"HOw can that beY' queried the VIDE awake re-
porter; "there are only two trains day to West
Hampton Nhe only station on the Sag HarDOr
prancn OF the Long Island Railroad near to the
Governors residence), and the last one il about
leaving"
'NO no ~ replied the Secretary mildly, "There's
train every hour TO Hempsteadr
"Hempsteadl echoed the reporters IN chorus
"Why that's stewards new city; It's forty miles
from West Hampton"
The official disappeared within the sacred por-
tails OF the private office, with Long Island rail-
road time table In his hand. In few moments he
reappeared his brow dipping with the honest
dews OF official perspiratlon. He simply gasped,
"Ihe - document-wlll not be sent Tolls EX.
ceency-until Monday"
The old KnickerDOcker slipped out OF a back
door, and escaped the reporters by going up town.