The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1882-11-08
A Universal German Custom.

1nlS tT1fl6getu business prevails every.
where anS under al circumstances. i
have frequently seen passengers in the
street cars give the conductor little
remembrance when he collected their
fares, and they did not expect anything
in return for it, either. Nor was the
money bestowed in benevolent spirit,
for the donor always sank back in his
seat with a self-satisfied expression, and
received the touch of the conductor
cap and his murmured thanks in man
ner that gave one an unpleasant sug-
gestion of patronizing. Nor can the
bestower of trinkgeLd under such cir
cumstances refrain from stealing hur-
ried and almost supercilious glance
around the car at the other passengers
to see if they have observed his liberal
ity and appreciate it. l have been told
though have had no personal ex-
perience-that it is customary to give
the ushers in the churches couple of
cents, or so, when they show you to
your seat. 1t reminds one of the ''mon-
ey-changers in the temple" A German
is brought up with the sound of tri1ab-
geld always ringing in his ears. He
sees it on all sides; "every gale that
sweeps from the North brings to his
ears the clink of resounding pfennings."
He is not to be blamed, then, if he gives
way to the national custom and gives
and expects to receive it under any and
all circumstances. But, at the same
time, it is mighty aggravating 10 an
American who is used to treating serv-
ants as if they were, at least something
a little better than slaves to whom one
tosses few pennies in spirit of pity.
Even after one has gotten the run of the
walters, and is perfectly certain tl>lt
each and every one of them, even if he
is an unfortunate nobleman, will take
few pfennings and return due measure
of bows and scrapes for the same, one
has yet several little tricks to learn, and
must pass through several other similar
experiences. He must learn that each
and every man who has anything to do
with the public in any underling capac-
ity is always ready to take small sum
of money, be he ever so distinguished
looking and clad in the brightest of uni
forms.
One must not allow himself to be
caught in the way Chicago and / were
when we were green in the trinkgetd
business. We went out to the tomb of
the Emperor's father and mother one
day and were directed to enter by
very intelligent, distinguished-look
man, dressed in very impressive uni
form. We went in and looked at the
really beautiful effigies of the King and
Queen, and, under the influence of the
soft, mellow light streaming in through
the beautiful colored-glass windows, and
the natural solemnity of such place.
we unconsciously fell into that frame of
mind in which one always is ready to
Judge his worst enemy rather leniently,
and to ascribe to him some good mo-
tives. In this state of mind we debated
in whispers the probability of the dis
tinguished-looking attendant expecting
fee. And it was unanimously agreed
that he did not look like a man who
would receive an offer of this kind in
the right spirit. So we concluded to.
simply thank the gentleman and not run
the risk of offering an insult and tTF1a6-
geld at one and the same time We
passed out, simply saying: ''Dalake
Lh1seu,h as we passed the distinguished
one. But that individual followed us
out and, with a touch to his distin-
guished-looking cap, said in that dis
Notwithstanding voice of his: 1.-The
gentlemen have forgotten the attend
ant" There was nothing left us to do
but to apologize and give him a couple
of cents and receive in return the bows,
scrapes and thanks of a very distin-
guished-looking man. And L don't
know but what the investment was
good one. One cannot get bows and
scrapes half as cheaply in America. II
had the money to spare. l think l would
try and hire that man by the month to
puff me up little with self-esteem-I
know of no surer means to that end
than the bows and scrapes of a distin-
guished-looking man.-Berlin Cor. San
francisco ChrOnicLe.