The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-03-07
TEN MINUTES IN A HOTEL OFFICE.
New York GraDhic


l stood near the Office of one of our
large Broadway hotels few evenings
since for exactly twelve minutes. Be
sides being intently engaged in regula-
ting a mass of books and bills, the clerk
attended to the following programme of
business.
Ting-a ling goes bell. Clerk-"John,
go up to 2S0.'
Man with small red satchel apparently
just departing-"Can l leave this in
your care few minutes: ?"
Clerk--"Certainly, Mr.. Jones'" and the
valise goes over the counter.
Another guest-"Will you favor me
with a pen and ink >" Guest accommo-
dated.
Gent Tin great haste Mr.. A. in?"
card 10 800" Ethiopian flies upwards
three steps at time.
Ting-a-ling, ting-a-ling. This bell pro-
duces negro and coal scuttle again.
Clerk-"Lyman, make fire in 234''
Messenger boy approaches, For Mr.,
A." laying down letter.
Ding dongl
Clerk-'1ake this to 442" Ethiopian
vanishes up stair case.
Messenger BOy-"Please sign for this,
sir" Clerk signs.
Gent Gin long ulster)-"Mr. Whiting
has gone, hasn't he?"
Clerk-"Just left two minutes ago."
BrOad-chested gent with cigar approach
es. Clerk-"Letter for you, Doctor"
Doctor receives letter.
Ting-a-ling. Clerk-"Two hundred
and three" Another Ethiopian disap-
pears in the intricaeies of the staircase
above
Another guest-"I wish the key of 300"
Clerk hands over key.
Ding dong! Fireman's bell again.
Clerk-"Lyman build a fire in $780,
Large imposing guest with gray nous
tache, army hat, distingue in appearance
IF any one asks for me tell 'em I'm
in No. 49," Clerk-"All right, Mr.. B."
Man in check ulster-"Win you put
this card IN Mr.. AS bOx?' Card goes
in one of vast system of small pigeon
holes holding keys.
Boy from the cigar stand in Festau-
rant-"Change a so bill, Sir" Clerk
changes bill and never ceases checking
bills and adding up figures.
Boy places a large bundle on the office
counter. Clerk to waiter."Take this
bundle to No. g.
Another messenger boy with letter.
Ding, dong. Clerk to waiter-"Take
this to 402." Messenger boy-"4O cents
on this, sir" Clerk pays. Boy leaves.
Small man in large ulster-"I'll pay
my bill, if you please" Clerk to assis-
tant-"Make out Mr. C.'s bill.'
Stout young man-"My key, please,
$685." Key handed over
TIng-a-ling! Clerk-"James, 290r'
Ethiopian flies upward.
Enter traveller, old patron of the house
hands heavy valise over the counter.
| Clerk-"How do you do, Mr. Varnum ;
just got in ~ Mr.. V. glad To see clerk.
Mr.. V. mods to the walters, shakes hands
with the barber, registers his name, and
then goes to interview the bar.
The zen minutes are up. The omnis-
cient clerk is inspecting his books and
bills as serenely as Emerson would write
an essay in the retirement of his study.
He is not disturbed. He is at home lie
does this sort of thing all the time 1t
will go on in the same way for hours, one
steady string of questions, answers, keys,
bells, fires, messenger boys, bundles, and
fresh arrivals. Within thirty feet of him
fifty guests are talking and tramping
about porters are staggering under
trunks, ladies are going down stairs on
their way to the theater, children are
spinning tops on the marble floor, the front
door opens and shuts and shuts and opens
unintermittlngly, a telegraph indicator
Is checking, man behind a newsstand
is selling papers, another cigars, the run
on the bar is steady and constant, people
are eating in the adjoining restaurant
walters are coming and going, and amid
all this busy concentration of life in
nutshell that hotel clerk keeps as coo,
as an iceberg adding up figures, answer
ing questions and giving orders.