The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-09-22
College Students as Walters.

Ny DEAR GEORGE: Here am fairly
settled for the season as table waiter in
the spacious dining-room of the Dash
House. Itseems quite change after
our college life at Dartmouth; but
think that on the whole | shall like it.
The work is quite hard, and some parts
of it disagreeable, but that expected
My companions in the dining-hall will,
think, prove very pleasant acquaint-
ances- About seventy in number, they
are gathered together from all parts OF
New England. Several ofthese gentle.
men are from Tufts College, one being
a member of the class which graduated
this summer. | am the only represent
ative of Dartmouth here. Among the
young ladies who are walters are stu
dents from both Vermont and New
Hampshire normal schools. One lady
is from Wellesley College and two 9TH
ers from a well-known institute of in
struction in Central Massachusetts. 1
might go in this way until nearly every
one of the seventy is described, but it
is enough to say that probably half of
the help necessary tor the working of
this huge hotel is composed of students
and teachers. If you find a book tucked
out of sight underneath a side-board,
and wonder who is reading on the sly,
open it, and 10! copy of Shaks-
peare or Milton, perhaps Virgil, or
even Homer, in the original. Most
people accept with a good grace hav-
ing their steak and coffee hand
ed them by a waiter who can demon
strate a proposition in Euclid if neces-
sary. Others regard it as something to
be ridiculed. Among this class is Miss
E. S. Phelps, who touches lightly upon
the subject in chapter Of her
Friends, - concluded in q recent num-
Der of the Atlantic. A few allow them
selves to appear ridiculous. Here is an
instance: | heard lady at table near
mine ask her waiter in a patrOnizing
manner, "Can you read, my grip"
Considerably astonished, the girl an
swered, Yes" She might have an
swered truthfully that she did read not
only English, but also Latin, Greek and
French. .,
1t may be asked why such person
can be induced to come as a servant in
hotel, where she can not but be
obliged to put up with many disagree
able things. Many come because they
wish to pass their vacation away from
the city, and still be earning something
instead Of spending. Some wish to be,
for at least few weeks, independent
of their parents or friends who support
them for the remainder Of the year. A
few come because they expect a jolly
good time, with little work. These
usually go away disappointed. Of this
kind were two nice-looking girls, who
recently came here from town in
Maine, expecting to do table work.
They expected 10 work only six hours
day, to have room carpeted and
lighted with gas, and so forth. When
told that, among other things, they
would be expected to help wash the
dining-room floors, they exclaimed in
great surprise: "Why, we do not know
how to do such work Mother always
did it at home" After staying two
days they left in great disgust. To all
such persons, and, in fact, to every one
who is thinking Of coming here, | would
say, don't come unless you expect to
work hard and are willing to do SO.
Sincerely yours, DONALD
Boston Courier.