The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15
TAMMANY GOT THE SWEATER.
He Didn't Win the First Prize, but He Knew
How to Get 1t.

He Didn't Win tho First Prize, but He Knew
How to Get It.
Tammany is not his name. but that's what
every one calls him from ono end Of Park row
to the other. This isn't to explain how he got
the name-that he hardly knows himself-but
to tell how he got the heavy blue sweater which
he has been wearing during the cold weather.
and which has made him envied by his less
warmly clad companions. Tammany has worn
the sweater before. but only on those special
occasions when he goes to prize fights. bicycle
races and football games. He goes to all OF
them. and whether the price OF admission Is 81
orS10does not worry him. He gets past the door
keeper on one plea or another. usually as copy
boy for the sporting edition. sometimes as a
personal friend OF the main guy OF the show"
and. as a last resort, as programme boy or
chewing-gurl salesman. though these things
are distasteful to him. Tammany usually has
a small bet on the result. and the fact that he
seldom picks a winner does not disturb him
much. He can usually make up his losses in
one or two sessions OF the crap club which
meets ut the base Of Horace Greeley's statue
before the first editions are printed.
Tammany's sweater cuts some figure with the
gang. because it really Is a good one. not at all
like the 30-cent. hand-me-down. cotton kind
that some OF the kids bought on the Bowery. and
which pulled to pieces after ono or two scrim-
IMAGES. Tammany got his sweater on the Bow
cry. but like most Of the things Tammany gets
it came easy.
TT sweater" he condescended to explain
the other day. came from the Kids Aid
Society. and it was an easy graft. l don't very
often patronize the Joint, because 1 can make
my own living. and more too. and have all the
sport I want besides. But just before Christmas
l hears that they're going. to have a spcllin'
ma has up there with PRICES zesd tor the guys thatd 2
says at once; g Joined and stood up in line
stayed in the die't crap "a ga game. They had some
sort OF a chance there. They started us on
sqSg o %9ras The Out dag 5ae vent e1aS hr 9sG'a Some nc
OF them couldn't a spelled cat. Then they ran
Usn 9R TO i snd s1c SoF and li the s fSns bessn 1 to fe .eI
the gafT.. Iknowed 'em all right. fur I'd seen
'em In big type in the paPe often enough. and /
working at full speed. but there was, another
kid that trotted me nose to nose. and he wasa
two alive. Then the guy that was running the
show springs a word that takes my, breath
away, I cant just remember now what it was.
""RlPhtbsTts" suggested some 0ne .,,.
ends !Pe iIhs 6IE9yR%chitis' only 1t isn't that"
Yes, that's It., People usually die with It.
s sSAn snf z on MEL me-. / fES ad my 3 a aeGS T Il Pha ns
fbh1 Sf.s BIT ! kr e Si \ was G %p q fhen II L S %as | uP P to th q
coon. The gang was dead sore on me for
falling down. but when the Niger KID went up
tn,e the t sIr too S2s snsy give at tb me x sas gl sdd hand Gna,d Hs
bit 1t. I had another chance then. but
I knew my limit on peri-whatever it Island
my business. The guy was agreeable and led
with another. What was III Don't ask me,
to pass and the other kid did the trick. HA
spelled that word without ar effort; Then they
PRO- out the prize &, The fiTst prize Wa
cents. And that's the last spellin' match I
but, what has that to do with your sweaterH"
We'll this is the sweater"
How did you get II 2"
and he gave me the sweater. Was 1t worth
more than that2 OF course. Was he satisledf
had to take the so cents or take a licking when
we got him outside and he took tho 30 cents