TWO CORRECTIONS.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTAT011.1
Srn,—In a recent issue of the Spectator you quote from "Federalism and Home Rule" by " Pacificus"
"It is true that there was once a Tammany 'Boss' who won a pro- digious victory in the city of New York upon a single sentence which he spoke from megaphones by day and night, pasted up on hoardings, and flashed in letters of rosy light upon the clouds and the sky-scrapers : To h---1 with reform !'—that and nothing more !"
" Pacificus" is mistaken ; his account is hardly oven ben trovato. The remark was made by a speaker of interesting personality, but no great importance, who had been himself " reformed " out of office by Governor Roosevelt. He has never since held political office. The Tammany "Boss" of the day made no such use of the remark as described; nor any use. Indeed, it much annoyed him.
While weird language may of course be heard during cart-tail and street-corner harangues, political meetings in New York are not often undignified. Speakers are rarely interrupted, though suffragette bad manners are being imported to some extent. A candidate of considerable ability from " up-State " once made a blunder that cost him dear, while addressing an East Side audience of men only on a very hot night, in taking off his frock-coat. The act was instantly resented—quite reasonably, since the speaker would not have dared do it elsewhere—and for years has not been forgotten or forgiven.
The East-Sider expects office-holders and office-seekers to look the part, usually by wearing what he calls a "funeral coat," though a neat dark business suit will answer.—I am, Sir. lac.,
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