Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1882-11-24

Fees at Germaa Hotels.

cannot better give an idea Of the
manner in which strangers are fieeeed
by the hotels than to give an experiences
of myself and friend in Leipsic re-
Gently. We put up at frst-class ho-
tel, and took rooms ON the second floor.
1t was very chilly evening when we
arrived, and rang for the waiter. and
told him | would Ike to have fire in
the stove. He bowed and retired. My
friend was visiting some friends in the
city, and was left alone. After wa t.
ing to hear something about the fire -or
about fifteen minutes | rang again, and
the waiter appearing asked him if it
was not possible to have a fire made
this evening. or must | wait for some
other evening. He told me that the
houseman was very busy. but he would
see This was a plain bid for fee. SO
] gave him mark and tod him to hur-
ry up with the fire. Three minutes later
the houseman appeared, and inside OF
ten m nutes there was a blazing fire
in the room. The houseman stood at
the door before retiring, and limited as
broadly as he could that he wanted
fee. but paid no attention to him He
went out and returned in a few minutes
when he deliberately carried of the
hod of coal which was intended to re-
plenish my fire. l rang aga n and the
waiter came. / told him must have
coal. The houseman returned with the
coal, stood in the doorway and limited
for fee. aud this time was compelled
to comply with his demand. ! was
afraid that If ] refused to ice him he
would carry off the stove. Before we
had ietired that night We had feed the
chambermaid for bringing in Il lamp in
stead of a candle. we had feed two wat
ers, and we had feed the houseman.
Next morning as we descended the
stairs we observed 'portier" pulling
a bell string. He detained ms in the
hallway for few seconds, and in the
meantime nearly all the employees Of the
house gathered around rs. They want
ed some more fees. and the "portier"
had pulled the bell-string so as to cal
them together. We gave them trihe
all around and left. MyAriend. who
was born and bred in Leipsic. told me
tn N, what l have since learned from
actual experience, that this beg yarly
system OF doing business Is common
throughout Central Europe. Why the
proprie,ors tolerate 1t is something ] do
not know, unless the fees divided
with them afterward The native Ger
mans are as thoroughly disgusted with
the fee business as the strangers, and
almost as often vietimized
II may be thought by those who have
never had any experience OF this kind
that II would not be very diflieult
matter TO refuse to pay fees unless you
wished 10 do so. 1t Is not difficult.
You can refuse to pay fees unless you
feel inclined to do so. You can walk in
Chicago. If You do not care to hang ON
BY your eyebrows TO the roof Of
Chicago II You do not care TO run the
risk of being shot You needn't live In
Chi ago II you don't like the streets.
You can be just as independent in Ger
many as you are in Chicago. You can
order the walters around, and tell
hem they are already paid for their
services or you can tell the "portier"
the biggest nuisance around Eu-
'opcan hotel. and almost as insolent as
he hotel clerk in America-ilafly. that
iou win not pay twice for everythipe-
hat you will not give any fees. You
nay disappoint the ''portier" and the
walters. and the rest oil them. but in the
ong run you succeed only In making
otirsclf miserable.
There arc two kinds OF fees, the
and the injudicious fee. You
must learn TO put your money where II
will do the most good. The judicious
&c will sometimes secure you tho
'reatest comfort; il will always assist in
making your stay in a hotel agreeable
he iniudicious fee may occasionally-
ave a good effect. but usually IL only
'rotects You from annoyance without
living YOU any other satisfaction. Cen
rally Americans are in,udicious in the
distribution Of their fayors. They usual
y give too much and too often. FIRE.
uenlly they give large fecs TO per-
ons who do not expect them. and
mall ones to those who do. The result
dissatisfaction. and YOU viii see il in
our beefsieak. ia your coffee. In your
ea. in your cigars or in your wine.
hen there are people who give fees as
matter Of course. They are taken as
natter of course, and 10 benefit Is de-
ived from them. Others give fees In
n improper spirit. They allow the re-
ipient 10 see that the fee l. not given
heerully. and the services which are
iven in return for Il are not given
hcerfully either.
The experienced tourist or traveller
i'll always find out. in the first
lace. the persons upon whom he
ill be depen lent for the numerous
tile comforts SO essential TO ones
appiness in European hotel.
Ie will give them a little at iirst-just
nough 10 make them chcerful-and
roDiis- them more II he makes the
ght kind Of promise his attendants
i'll do their hest to earn his good win.
! is much bet er 10 allow them 10 live
/ hope Of future reward than 10 pay
hem before they have earned anything.
they think that you have given them
I YOU intend 10 give. they soon forget
nat YOU have given them anyfh ne. and
ccome carele regarding your happi-