Union Square at the Broadway Bowery by Artist Albertus Del Orient Browere painted it from memory in 1885
The Expectant Hand
One of my favorite articles from yesteryear…
This story takes place right in present day Union Square in Manhattan, NYC. Next time your visiting the beautiful Square remember, Cannabis once grew right under your feet!
“I never sells it,” Mr. Brevoort replied, “because if I takes money for Inidan Hemp, it weakens the vartoo.”
– The Columbian, May 20, 1909
The Expectant Hand
No charge made, but a present of money not refused.
In recording an illness of his grandfather, Gen. John Watts De Peyster tells an amusing story in connection with Indian Hemp. It is printed in his biography by Mr. Frank Allaben.
Indian Hemp was recommended as a remedy during my grandfather’s illness, but where to get it was the question. Finally some one said it was grown in the garden of old Mr. Henry Brevoort, who owned a large plot on the east side of Broadway, extending through to the Bowery above Tenth street. Grace Church stands on part of this ground.
Doctor Bibby gave me some money, told me to jump into his gig, drive up to Brevoort’s old low-storied cottage house on the Bowery, and tell the owner that I wanted some Indian Hemp for my grandfather, John Watts. I was to use diplomacy if necessart, but not to return without it.
I trotted along briskly, roused Mr. Brevoort from a nap, stated my case, found no demur, and got the Indian Hemp, which he dug up with his own hands.
“How much am I to pay?” I questioned.
“I never sells it,” Mr. Brevoort replied, “because if I takes money for Inidan Hemp, it weakens the vartoo.”
I stated that I was ordered to pay and we discussed the matter, walking across the garden toward the gig, which I had left on Broadway.
I had made up my mind that I had met with a disinterested Christian, had replaced the money in my pocket, and had my foot on the gig step, when I felt a brawny, sunburnt, freckled hand restraining me, and heard these words whispered in my ear: “I never sells Indian Hemp, for that weakens the vartoo, but if I gives it, I never refuses a present.”
I extricated the money confided to me, placed it in the expactant hand, hurried home and related my story, and I have heard it laughed over many times.
– The Columbian, May 20, 1909
Photograph of Union Square, Manhattan, New York City c.1870