The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1874-12-25
HOTEL CLERKS.


though this is perhaps too sweeping,
for those persons who, by some fortu-
nate fate, have made the acquaintance
of those officials, actually know them
intimately, and do not hesitate to call
them by their Christian names to even
abbreviate the latter, cutting ttThomas"
into tfTom" and alexander" into
"Ahck, or to slap them on the back
with, =" How are you, old boy ?" that
fairly makes the blood of an ordinary
traveller curdle with apprehension. We
once knew man who had q philosophy
about hotel clerks. ''Now, mind" said
he, if you want attention in a hotel,
never try to play the mild and good-na-
tured gentleman. Be gruff. Speak in
loud tone and as if you were accus-
toned to command regiment of slaves,
and of speaking so that the whole bat
TALON could hear you at once and dis
tinctly. We. never quite agreed with
that man, and yet it was surprising how
attentive everybody about a public
house became when he entered and
opened his mouth
There is deal of difference between
the hotel in America and in France. In
the latter country, as a writer very truly
says:
"Your ightest wish is a law to your land
lord. Your whim is made as much of as
though it was the most important matter in
the world. Your landlady, the concierge, the
femme de chan,bre, Jean. who waits on you at
%aTI r-1,,o ,.sJ,1o
all seem to exist for no other purpose than to
anticipate your slightest wish, to see only that
you are supremely happy. Nothing that you
may want seems extravagant. You come home
at o'clock in the morning, and there is wait
ing for you the smiling concierge, and may
haps the buxom hostess herself, who rush to
the door to meet you, to assist you to descend
to side with you and explain, if you have any
difficulty with the cocber and then who are
ready with the lighted candle and half-hun-
dred pleasant good-nights for you as you
ascend the stairway to your room"
An official of an American hotel who
behaved in the above manner would be
looked upon as a lunatic, and would
probably be discharged on the spot. OF
course, in our vast caravansaries, we do
not expect that the hostess will be
around looking after guests but how
about welcome word, cheerful good
night, or a nod of recognition, to show
traveller that he is not exactly regard
ed as an alien enemy taking up quarters
in the house Ui ct 0rnais ? Here is about
the way it goes in one of our American
establishments
Time, 11:3O p. m. Scene, Office of
hotel. Enter dusty, worn and weary
Clerk, with pen behind his ear, hair
freshly curled, mustache waxed, spot
less linen, and strong odor of musk.
He is talking to the bookkeeper. Hear
ing the bag and umbrella deposited on
the counter, he turns, after lingering
moment for word or two more, and
faces the traveller, reversing the register
as he does so, and looking bored.
Traveller Did Mr.. Panhandle ar
rive to-day, do you know?"
CIerk-(Who at the moment the trav-
eler speaks has had his attention di-
rected to the wine man at the other side
of the Office, and has stepped over there,
but returns.) "What dye say? 2"
Traveller" Is Panhandle, of Louis
vile, here p
Clerk-CTo the wine man, who hae
said something.) "Well, let it b
then till tomorrow. (To the traveler).
: '' Mr.. Hammill? Where's he from %
Traveller "Mr. Panhandle, of
Louisville ?''
Clerk-Iooks over record) "No."
Traveller (Registering) ''What's the
first train over the Alton and st. Louis
in the morning 2"
Clerk" Nine a. m, sir. Wish to go
to your room ?'
Traveller Yes.'
Clelk-(Snaps his finger and whistles
to the bell-boy) ''Show the gentleman
to 19, ,04O."
The traveller has an impression by
this time that if he should die in the
night he would slumber for ages in that
vast house, leaving his friends ignor-
ant of his mysterious fate. In the
morning he goes down to take his leave,
and the following colloquy occurs:
Traveller" What's my bill ?"
/ OaS01GT- WuA L49 uA1A0
Traveller Jenkins.
Cashier Four-ffty."
And this ends the communication be-
tween Jenkins and his hosts" So
dalled. Altogether, 1t has been as cold
as an icicle and as heartless as sledge-
Hammer. OF course, the above de-
scription does not apply to all hotel
clerks. There are those who know the
Value of urbanity, and are discreet, if
not naturally amiable enough to be
polite and affab1e to guests, and give
an air of welcome and hospitality to the
hotel, which pays abundantly in the
end. We are having schools estab-
1shed for the training of servant girls,
and housekeepers, and journalists, we
believe. Why not have college which
shall turn out model hotel clerks
THERE has just died at Paris sur
utvo, of the battle of Trafalgar His