The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-02-21
COLORED WATERS.
Why TheyArc Preferable to tho eSvhito
Hind at Hotels and Restaurants.
fChicago Tribune

Why 1hcyArc Preferable to tho Svhito
Kind at Hotels and Restaurants.
[Chicago Tribune.l
"Colorcd men are the best walters;
they ore walters by nature, and aro
peculiarly adapted to servitudc," said
tho proprietor of one Of Chicago's most
prominent hotels to Tribune reporter.
"Colored people arc not ambitious, like
Caucasans, and they are not always
schoming and planning for better posi-
tions No matter how incapable
white man may DO for any other occu-
patton, he always considers that he is
above being waiter, is never content,
docs not take proper interest in his
work, and is generally looking out for
q better position. On tho contrary, tho
colored man is satisfied-he has
reached the height of his ambition when
he has been employed at frst-class
hotel and can wear steel-pen broad
cloth coat and white vest"
DO they get good wages?"
"Head-waiters get from $50 to $75 o
month; second walters, $40; third wait
ers, $50; general walters, $25, ond cap
talns get So month ezra. Board is
included, but not lodging. A frst-class
head.walter can always got $75 month,
which, with our excellent board, is al
most equal to n bank clerkship. The
trst'class restaurants pay walters 81
day ana there Is our greatest trouble;
their hours are twelve or fourteen,
while ours average ten, with very little
10 90 during late supper hours. Tho
colored waiter will como to tho office
and say that he wants to visit his sick
mother III Cincinnati, or go to soc his
! Wl1o IN st. Louis, and must quit. Ho
| prefers to tell this lie rather than tho
truth, yet he knows we do not boliovo
1t, and that if he really were to tell tho
truth we would suspect something clso
anyhow. If we discharge q colorcd
waltcr 1t does not affect him in tho least.
Ho will take it philosophically, really
appear as If ho wcro relieved, and in o
tow days will turn up at some of tho
other hotels as a waiter in all his as
sumed dignity. A whito man will bo
indignant, then desponlent, and per-
maps not find q situation for q month,
but the colorcd man always gets III
somehow.
mo; they rarely go to second-class
hotels or cheap restaurants" continued
the race dclincator "Dignity is every
thing with them. Tho average African
must be in q tirstclass hotel, where he
can wear white vest; otherwise ho
Will act as chief bottlewasher in bar
room or work for private family at
much less wages than he could get in n
second-class hotel or cheap restaurant.
Ihls he considers i'll q measure retire
ment from public life. And, again, the
cheaper restaurants and hotels largely
employ white labor, somo Of which is
very cheap. White and black walters
cannot work together in dining groom.
1T is something like an oil and water
mixture. There is a feeling Of su-
perlorlty on ono side, and while the
blacks feel their inferiority as to whito
people they assert their equality in this
instance. But separately tho colored
walters arc undoubtedly tho best in the
world, and really arc the only people
qualified for walters"
Another reason why colored walters
prefer tirst.class hotels or none is, that
1T gives them social prominence among
their own race. The standing of tho
hotel or restaurant as superior resort
lmparts to the waiter certain degree
OF responsibility, and, because of it's
social eminencc, places him on plano
above his perhaps oqually-talented col
orcd brothers who may be so unfortu-
nate as to occupy less aristocratic
places. Should the position of the
walters be reversed, the code Of ethics
would also be changed. The social dis,
tinction of walters in each hostciry
varies with the establishments. The
waiter of the tirst-class hotel or restau.
rant, whether whito or black, holds
himself entirely aloof from tho waiter
in q cheap restaurant. He considers
that his wages and position arc tacit
admission of his superior ability and
expertness, and perhaps he is right.
Waiting on table looks to be very easy,
but it requires q good memory, and,
although it is Il menial position, there is
an adaptness in it almost approaching
to art; and, above all, aflability and
politeness are necessary. But, with tho
colorcd waiter, it is his innate humility
as born servant that especially fits
him for a waiter" concluded the propri-
otor as he turned to hear the story of q
sleek looking man with n ST Louis oE-
preston on his ebony face.