New-York tribune., 1878-04-18
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
TWEEDs BIBLE READING.
THE EXPLANATION GIVEN BY ONE WHO WAS INTI-
MATE WITH HIM.

W
THE EXPLANATION GIVEN BY ONE WHO WAS INTI-
MATE WITH HIM.
To fke Editor Of The Trtouhe
SIR: Much emphasis has been laid upon the
fact tDat Tweed read his Bible regularly three times
day. Miss FzsimmOns gives this as PROOF that there
can be no question about his religious feeling The Kew
Mr. White others. reported In tO1ays TRIBUNE
speak OF this fact showing that his conscience re-
buked him." while yet others find in this fact equally
clear proof Of other still less logical deductions. Ii
seems important that character so conspicuous as that
of Tweed should be understood especially II every incl
dent of his life to be made to point moral or adorn
q tale"
Iknew Tweed somewhat intimately, aud know from
his own lips and from personal observation the history
and the character OF his Bible reading The morning en-
wi ich he left NewYork fugitive from justice about
two years and half ago, his faithful wife, VINO
Is n devoted Christian and member OF 81 Paul
Chngh ma m ts c3Sy e Pir ,e Golden co or
similar book, the exact tito OF which dnuDllcs
Miss F!tasmmOns could give, have 10 question that
il continued 10 occupy 10 the last moment OF MS Ire
its place on TWtCds cable, SIDE the Bible and prayer
book As Ars. Tweed placed these IN MS h'hu thi I
morning she eXacted from Tweed the promise that lie
would read them regularly every day no matter where
he might bc wnat might secn 10 binder DURING he
perod O his exile the fugitive kept this PROMISE ana so
formed the habit Of daily and regularly Leadins the
Bible, the praycrbook and tue " golden tex rom tns
Treasury" In this practice he found diversion aud
interest and relief from the monotony OF solitude
Moreover, Tweed became specuailNelY lheres'eu W ie
Bible, and regarded 1t rs " most curious ana wonder
tIl compilation lls hOSfdpnlCd bhtiCutS WI.
pcruscd ny him with kceuest interest, and
most especially snch rs were very extraordinary as
those of Abraham. David, Solomon John the Baptist
the Saviour, and Saints Peter and Paul. The prayer
book ho also spoke OF as very beautiful complatioh
aud the golden text" OF she "Treasury he committed
to memory every day the year, at first IN purely
pcriunctory way, In obedience to the promise ne haI
given his wife, who seemed ever to nave sort or
magn tic influence him, and afterward as pleas
ant pastmc =,
Ny intimate acquaintance with him never discovered
the antcst evidence Of conscience anywhere III MS
moral nature, ana very rant eVdehcr OF moral 'uao
OF any kind. | think Miss FitzsmmOns must ne
mistaken about his having been member OF
the Episcopal Church, be expressly told me that ne
never had had time inclination to consider the SUB
nrctol himself with any communion. Tweed phe-
noncuOn and could be understood by those only WHO
studied him as such. In some respects he was su-
prpmry generous in his impulses and charitable IN his
Judgments ia others he was the impelsonation OF con;
tenptbie mcanucSs, low cunning, and sharp trckery.
UnguIty than inquity was characteristic OF
tn man. RcspcctiulIy, j. D. b.
BUriU1tOH, y. j., April ID, 1878