Vicksburg weekly herald., 1878-04-26
Mr. Tweed's Hanner of giving.

Mr. Tweed's danner Of Giving
New York sun
In the Spring of 1872, Tweed was in
the zenith OF his power In the city.
The Legislature had passed bis water
bill, the two per cent. tax bill, and
numei ous other measures that gave
him the control Of q large amount Of
patronage, and the spending Of i'm
mense sums OF money. His Office was
daily thronged with distinguished pol
iticlans and business men, oil anxious
TO be on friendly terms with the man
who ruled the city, controlled conven'
tionS, and made and unmade men
financially and politically ct his own
pleasure. Political strikers, aud poor
men looking for work on the numer.
ous public improvements that Tweed
was then pushing, also hocked about
bis Office from early morning waiting
until the Boss should come down, most
Of them remaining until he bad gone
away. II was Tweed's custom to first
dispose OF the distinguished callers who
might be waiting bis coming, and
sfier them the politicians were
given q hearing. The rapidly
with which be would turn them Of was
wonderful. Every one admitted to a
private audience was made to feel,
without bring told, that time was pre-.
cious, and bis business was condensed
into the feWest possible words.
TWeed's response was also short, aud
10 the point, aud It was seldom tnAt q
caller went away without feeling salts.
fed a. to what the result Of his visit
would be. These disposed of, Mr..
Tweed would seat himself at his desk
with q clerk al his side, order the doors
TO be thrown open, and the lhrong Of
poor men looking for work, would file
in at one door aud pass out at another.
On one of these occasions the writer
occupied 9 seat In Tweed's Office, and
witnessed hIs reception OF these men.
i AZ q rule, they were tOugh-loOking
e lot, men who evidently desired TO ge
II a job on public work, because they be-
lieVed The pay was good and the labOI
y light. As each stepped in from
i OF the desk, Tweed, in the sharp
crisp way which was always marked
feature Of bis talking, would ssy, swell
g my good fellow, what can | do fol
!, you p The reply was almost invaria'
A bly, an application for work. just a
that time there was not much work be-
: inE done, but Tweed intended soon Il
Q commence large improvements. Nearl!
Q every applicant attempted TO tell q tall
of his suffering and necessities in con
= ueclion with his application, bu
Tweed generally cut them short with
It "Well, we'll, my good fellow, am sor
J. ~ for you, but we are doing but littl
u now In two or three weeks | shal
have work for you ell. Leave you
name and address with the Clerk owe
Q, there, and when / am ready, we vii
If send for you" In this way he woul
d dispose Of the hundreds Of applicant
In an incredibly short time. Upon thl
= occasion, among the applicants was
L. pale, sickly-looking man. As he steE
IS ped In front OF the desk, Tweed said:
d "Well, my poor fellow, what can
" do for you"
" "Give me work." he replied; al al
suffering. For over three months
have had nothing to do, and my wi
Q. and two children are on the point
d. starvation. l do pot know where v
= shall get q mouthful to eat to.morroV
y aud It is very little that we have had f'
u weeks past"
or The man spoke rapidly aud earneS
d. ". Tweed looked at him closely al
said: "But, my dear fellow, what CT
- you do2 You are not strong enouS
~ u 10 do a days work"
IS "Oh, yes l Oan," he replied, "if u
V. will only give me a chance"
u "Come and see me next week, and
SHs Hs will find something for you to dc
ne said Tweed.
'es The man turned 10 go away, and
Ia' he did so Tweed noticed that he W
ry lame. In fact be bad a wooden leg.
ur Hold on there" be said; "do "
~ ~ mean to say yOu can do name wo
III when you haven't but one legI"
os, ayes, Mr.. Tweed" the man reptile
~ ~ "lf you will only give me chance
WHe W will prove It,"
ne "How did you lose that leg2"
Ee' "At Antietam, sir"
no "Shot ofFp
an "Wounded by q minnie ball and {
70 OF by the doctors in the hospital.
~, ~ can show you my discharge, cir, If y
''es doubt Tc7 word"
"And say you and your fam
stI are suffer. & for fOod3"
he "Yes, cir, indeed we are" repll
the man.
gee, "Hand me that check book" 81
At Tweed, turning to his clerk, and &c
ken ing pen he filed out q check upon
tak. bank for 500, and, handing II to
- man said: "There, that will keep }
luuS until can find something that you
hese TO. Come and see me again befor
Ibre, is all gone"
uins The grateful man attempted to
press his thanks, but Tweed cut
aS short with: "There, there, ihat'll d.
tnlns kawVUss1k H. nAAA H.,