The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-03-14

A desoa,e island without any friend or any means
| of communication with the outside world, except
| through the person Of very genfiemany ana So
perior being, who first makes them awe 70 their
abject dependence on his pleasure by coy ne.
gect, and then, by ministering TO their wants at
the last moment appears TO them IN tne hght OF
deliverer. Ii takes deal of study to learn how
10 awe the public and make the pubic feel It's IN
feriority and 70 know the exact moment to ex-
change your policy Of neglecuul indifference for
one of condescending readiness to oblige before
sggravstion sets in. But once make the public
feel It's obligation, the public, If gentlemanly, will
part" freely. II not so disposed land you can
tell in two minutes after they come in the house,
you abandon them to the second waiter, or third
if refractory, and never deliver them from his ig
Dorant inattention.
II worked my way on till was appointed club
waiter. got young hand TO take the public
room, billiard, and reading and, as knew
pretty well the average takings for gratuities in
these rooms, ! was able to keep sharp eye on
him. When i thought he robbed me less than
usual, would give him a shilling or two for his
honesty. These rooms brought me pound
week. My own attention was confined to the
eard-room that was good for four to five pounds
a week, certain-not every week alike, mind you,
but one week with another. How So III tell
you, and you will know why never missed the
card-room bell.
1.-The members would sit card playing In per-
feet silence-not word spoken for hours. When.
ever / saw an empty glass filled 1t, never asking
for the money lest i should disturb the play:
made 1t my business to know what every member
drank, and so supply him with that. IL was my
duty to tell them when 1t was twelve o'clock.
would respectfully do 30, when rubber was
over. Draw the curtains, Henry, so that the
light don't shine through those cursed shutters
put out the gas all over the house, lock the front
door and go to your pantry
down would go, and sleep till three or four
in the morning, when my gentlemen would always
wake me up, so that shouldn't get into scrape,
Al. .osI kalf and lima
a crown apiece, for waiting for them. The win
Ders las is generally the case with gamers at
cards, light come, light co. you know were
particularly generous. Thus my perquisites as
club-waiter would run to two hundred and fifty
per anuum, and my wages another fifty.
81 might have done very well at that but 1t
was not improving myself in the profession Of
watering in the higher branches OF ciotn-lsying
as / could wish. So, when the head.wsiter was
compelled to leave, owing to misunderstanding
with one of the ladies of the kitchen, took his
place. In that position / devoted myself to the
requirement of every trick and wrinkle which
could place me on level with the most eminent
walters In the kingdom. l have never grudged
guinea to q Frenchman or German who could
show me how to do new figure in napkins, or
novelty in arrangement of fruit and flowers. BY
dint of study and judicious feeling, and practice
l have gained the reputation of being the first
waiter in all the counties south of London. You
may talk of the beauties of scenery, of handsome
pictures, of fine statues-I never could see any
thing In any Of them to compare with the beauty
of cloth well laid or grand dinner-lden't care
whether It's my laying on or another mans;
can give others credit for artistic ability when
see 1t. II any man who has got glass, and silver
and flowers TO arrange on snow.white linen, and
can put the dessert ons the table at the same
time, can't make q picture out OF his work, he
has no soul for the highest walks of art. would
recommend him. as friend, to go into the
church, or to take to painting or literature. or
TO any Kindred employment which may be con-
genial to bis intellect.
After the dessert has been removed, and the
walters are dismissed to their pantry to wash the
silver IL the head waiter, remaining with his one
or two assistants behind the screen, in case any
thing is wanted, lay his hand on his waistcoat
and say he has not been asked for single thing,
he is proud and happy man. Such has been
my blissiul lot for many years. With that hendish
invention. Attendance charged in the bill, the
palmy days of the profession may be said to have
departed. 1t Is most monstrous infringement on
our ancient rights and privileges. gentleman
comes-as il may be yoursef-stays eight days at
our hotel, sees the bill f: Attendance at three-and-
sixpence per day, twenty-eight shillings.' Real.
", waiter, he says. can't give you anything in
the face OF this charge No, SIR 81 have
piled it isn't to be expected; and l am so
ashamed Of the practice, would scorn to take q
fee from you; though feel it right to state, the
waiter never receives farthing of the money
charged for attendance This is mostly good for
a crown, and, besides, Is really true. We don't
get the money, so we have to make 1t up In other
ways. 1t was partly from feeling that should
have to descend to many unprofessional means Of
eking out my salary, and partly that felt was
wasting my abilities at an hotel, that made me
leave the Golden Lion, and set up as q profession
al man on my own account.
"0ur town is q large one, aud great upon pub
lie dinners. The neighboring towns are also
large, and likewise great upon public dinners.
had become SO well known in the town and neigh
borhood as the waiter par excellence, that had
no fear of dinner going into other hands. No
one else could lay dinner fit for those who had
once been accustomed to my laying. l was not
disappointed. Engagements fell In on all sides,
30 that soon made about four hundred year.
Dissatisfied with this pittsnce, bethought me Of
the scheme by which | raised my income to its
present amount, which, as tell you, Is eight hum
bred per annum.
81 caused it to be known by private intimstion
through q dozen counties, that the only thorough
ly qualified professional man as waiter in the
south Of England was prepared to attend all pub.
lie dinners, with staff of competent assistants,
entirely free of charge. The only stipulation
made was that should have the care Of the gen.
tlemen's hats and greatcoats. This privilege is
worth 10 me five of the eight hundred year, all
expenses paid, of which speak. You may stare,
but it is true. Take the average OF the year. at
tend as many as three dinners a week in the
twelve counties in question. Every gentleman
who comes into dinner has his hat and grestcost
respectfully taken from him by one of my assist
anus, ucketeQ, anu plhceu on inc Odh pegs WHICH
form part of my movable stock In trade. He re-
ceives duplicate ivory ticket. AT the conclusion
of the dinner his hat and coat are courteously re-
turned to him on delivery Of the ticket. No charge
whatever is made for the accommodation. find
by careful study that If 1t is left entirely to the
generosity of gentlemen to give what they like,
the average amount SO given, take one with an.
other, at public dinner, for the care of hat or
coat, amounts to eighteenpence per head. If
were to charge this for the service, they would
complain. II they were forced to psya fixed
sum before dinner, sixpence would look dear (;
but find eighteenpence so accurately represents
the appeal TO the generosity of gentleman after
dinner, that can tell TO very close shave If my
assistants rob me. Shillings preponderate, Of
course ; but the halfcrowns tell up. About one
person and half give shili Tgs to one who gives
ahaif.crown, snd shsss aaowss for one Or two here
and there who meanly remark: NO charge oh,
thanksr and sneak of without giving so much as
a copper.
ii was at the banquet to her msjesty's minis.
tiers at X. Thirteen hundred sst down. took
hundred and line pounds hats and coats.
1.-The balance Of the eight hundred per snnum
is made up by an extensive private practice
among the nobility and country gentry. where my
name is sufficient guarantee that the table will
be an artistic display. And, as you have seen.
| occasionally attend dinners In a private capa'
city, to keep myself informed OF the latest novel