Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-07-09
Our british Cousins.

A loyal American lady, writing from
London, thus gives her opinion of the
system of tips" on the European plan:
In addition to the ordinary expenses
of bed and board in London must be
reckoned a large tribute paid to the in
iquitous European system of tips" 1t
is strange enough to an American, won't
ed to the lavish liberality of our theatre
cal managers, to be obliged to pay for
the programme he uses at the theatre or
| opera. And also so strange, that proba-
bly, he will not at first comprehend it,
is the daughter. of-the.horse-leech look
which the usher who shows him his seat
at the opera or theatre give him if he
does not voluntarily slip sixpence into
said usher palm. You cannot inquire
your way in the street, that, in all proba-
bility, the Intercepted will not reply,
Il can't describe the way, but I'm just
going there, and will show you" That
means shilling-thirty cents in Ameri-
can currency, although only twenty-four
cents in American coin. You see one
can take cab almost as economically
as to inquire the way. The waiter who
brings me single cup of chocolate in a
cake shop hangs about my presence as
if responsible for the one spoon with
which sip the beverage, till bethink
myself that am in the land of leeches,
and give him his expected tip" If
cross the street, filthy wretch darts be-.
fore me with stump of broom, and,
stirring up all the dirt possible in so short.
a time, to make my passage triumphal
march of dirtiness, and my raiment like
unto the raiment Of the confederate
army in color, stands whining for his tip.
| cannot call a cab that another loafer
does not dart forward to open the door
for me, and stand with a mouthful of
curses ready if fail to render him trib-
ute of penny or two. One cannot go
into many Of the city churches on week
days, that some one, verger or pew OPEN
er, does not force companionship upon
you, to the tune of sixpence.
1t is astonishing that even the low-born
Britisher land he is among the very dregs
of civilized humanity is not ashamed of
this everlasting lying in wait for tips"
like q NANCY cur sneaking after every
wayfarer to snap up whatever may fall
from his store. 1t is depressing to ones
optimistic views of the dignity Of human
nature-quenching to ones faith that all
character is the evolution Of Divine
/ idea-to live weeks in this mighty Baby
Ion, and to be bled at every pore as only
| the base-born Briton knows how to bleed.
The cab system of London is quoted
abroad as the very climax and acme OF
public vehicular perfection. But one
doesn't realize, till he tries the system,
that these quotations don go far enough
4 to exhaust the subject. 1t seems exceed
ingly reasonable to be charged but shil-
ling a mile for cab fare; but it must be
borne in mind that for every English
shilling that we Americans possess, we
have paid thirty cents of our currency;
and, moreover, that an English cabbys
mile, when an American is his passen-
ger. measure several furlongs less thana
surveyors. And, moreover, the London
cabman will never touch his finger to
your baggage ard you are compelled to
nav one porter sixpence Fifteen cents),
or shilling, il you have more than one
piece, for putting it on the cab, and
/ another the same for taking it of, while
cabby, like a sweet little cherub sits up
aloft, severely Indifferent to your pangs
as you pay out your money for what an
American Jehu would consider part OF
his obligation.
When one leaves house in which ne
has been either guest or boarder, the
servants gather about his exit as vultures
about carrion, that no one may miss
probably tips"
An indianapolis editor says grace
fully of a retiring brother; his olun-
g. 49, nnnnred him, and he was