More years ago than he likes to remember one of the authors of this book - it doesn't matter which - returned for a brief visit to his native town with all the weight of a very recent college degree upon him plus the sophistication acquired from twelve whole months in the metropolis. To this youth a shrewd old judge imparted information that has stuck, although much else has been forgotten. "Boy," said he, "don't tell me that Tammany could teach us many tricks. Our small town politicians know them all. But the paving supply men do tell me our town has an honest council. When one of our Council-men contracts to deliver his vote he stays bought even if some late comer offers to raise him."<br><br>The obvious moral of this tale is that we are not holding up New York City in this book as a sinner above all other American communities. Indeed, we suspect that the point of our story is that in essence it is typical.