Year: 1878

| In the spring of 1872, Tweed was in
the zenith of his power In the city.
The Legislature had passed his Water
bill, the Two Per Cent. Tax bill, and
numerous other measures that gave
him the control of a large amount OF
patronage, and the spending of i'm
mense sums of money. His office was
daily thronged with distinguished
politicians and business men, all anx-
ious to be on good terms with the man
who ruled the city, controlled conven-
tions, and made and unnade men
financially and politically at his own
pleasure. Political strikers, and poor
men looking for work on the numerous
public Improvements that Tweed was
then pushing, also f1ocked about his
Office from early morning, waiting
until the Boss should come down,
most of them remaining until he had
gone away. 1t was Tweed's custom to
fret dispose of the distinguished callers
who might be waiting his coming,
and, after them, the politicians were
given audience. The rapidity with
which he would turn them off was
wonderful. Every one admitted to a
private audience was made to feel,
without being told, that time was
precious, and his business was con-
densed into the fewest possible words.
Tweed's response was also short aud
to the point, and it was seldom that a
caller went away without feeling satis-
fed as to what the result of his visit
would be. These disposed of, Mr..
Tweed would seat himself at his desk
in his middle Office with a clerk at his
side, order the doors to be thrown
open, and the throng of poor men look
ing for work would file in ut one door
and pass out at another. On one Of
these occasions the writer occupied a
scat in Tweed's Office and witnessed
his reception to these men. AS rule
they were tOugh>looking lot, men
who evidently desired to get a job on
the public works, because they believed
the pay was good and the labor light.
AS each stepped in front of the desk
Tweed, in the short, crisp way which
was always q marked feature of his
talking, would say, "Well, my good
fellow, what can do for you ?" The
reply was almost invariably an ap-
plication for work. Just at that time
there was not much work being done,
large improvements. Nearly every
applicant attempted to tell a tale of
his suffering and necessities in con-
nection with his application, but Tweed
generally cut them short with "Well-
well-I-am-s m-sorry-for- you but we are
doing In-tWO-Or-three-
Weeks-I-shall have work for yOu-all.
Leave your-name -and-address with
the-clerk -Over-there-and when Lam
ready-We-will send for-you." In this
way he would dispose of the hundreds
of applicants in an incredibly short
time. Upon this occasion among the
applicants was Il pale, sickly-looking
man. AS he stepped in front of the
desk Tweed said:


"Well, my poor fellow, what can l
do tor you ?'


'sGive me work ," he replied. IL am
have had nothing to do, and my wife
and two children are ON the point of
starvation. 1 do not know where we
shall get mouthful to eat tomorrow,
and it is very little that we had for
weeks past.''


The man spoke rapidly and earnest
ly. Tweed looked at him closely and
said: "But, my dear fellow, what
can you do? You are not strong
enough to do a days work."


"Oh, yes can," he replied, ssif you
will only give me chance"


"Come and see me next week and I
will find something for you to do"
said Tweed.


The man turned to go away, and as
he did so Tweed noticed that he was
lame. In fact he had a wooden leg.


"Hold on there" he said edo you
mean to say you can do a mans work
when you haven't but one leg ?''


ayes, Mr.Tweed," the man replied;
elf you will only give me II chance I
will prove it.''


elbow did you lose that leg p"


"At Antietam, sir.'


"Shot off?''


"Wounded by a mimic ball and cut
off by the doctors in the hospital.
can show you my discharge, sir, if
you doubt my word"


"And you say you and your family
are suffering for food ?''


eyes, sir, indeed we are," replied
the man.


"Hand me that check bOOk,' said
Tweed, turning to his clerk and seiz-
ing pen he filled out check upon
his bank for 800, and handing it to
the man, said, "There, that will keep
you until / can find something that
you can do. Come and see me again
before it is all gone"


The grateful man attempted to ex-
press his thanks, but Tweed cut him
| short with ss'Thore fhare fhat'll do :