Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-11-21
WAITING As 4 TRADE.
The Difficulty of Pleasing a Hundred
Different Persons Zach Ray.
Elves aud Prospects of Walters Ia
Restaurants ~ Girls Get Less
wages and Work Harder
Than Men.

tChicapo Nrws1
MANY people think the vocation Of a
waiter is one that can be- acquired by ialf an
hours observation aud by simply slipping on
aitapron and a JACKET" remarked tin" man
aser of large restaurant the other dry TO
Daily News representative. Now the fact
is" he continue l, 'that the trade of waiter
i, a very difficult one The man who serves
at a public table has from twenty-five TO 80
different individuals to please every day he
is ON duty. Each of these persons ha, his
or her distinctive caprices and tastes which
they expect TO he grltiied exactly.
They are intolernnt of the slightest
failure on the part OF the waiter 70 do SO.
Further, he get, the abuse which should fall
10 the buyer and the cook for any deficiency
in the quality or the cooking of the food
TIL" waiter works on on average from ten to
fifteen hours, according to the lcugth of time
the house where he is employed is kept open
at night la the afternoon. between and
5 O'Clock, the majority are of duty. Usually
they live too far away to go home daring
this time. They have 10 place to 60 to sleep
Accordingly, too many of them congreCate
together in salJuns or gambling places to
pass their time. But as a whole they are as
soler and Industrious a class OF men rs al
most any other
"What i, the average pay Of a waiter!'
was a-ked.
From 81 to SO week and board. The
German walters, who mostly serve in Ger
man restaurants or for salo ms, are the most
saving Other walters do not save money rs
a rule The ,ervices of competent waters
are always in demand and, knowing this,
they are without the incentive to lay up
something for a iainy-day period Of no
work. The majorit, of the boys, too, are on
the outlook for something better to do, and
regard their present occupation merely rs
available till more lucrative employment
turns up
DO they always find it"
Not always. Part 20 into some small bust
ness as they grow older Some become
stewards. A few become successful restau-
rant or hotel proprietorS. One Chicago citi-
zen, who even so late as since the great fire.
occupied the position of waiter, has a.
quired wealth as hotel keeper and although
he i, not now in the business his name is
familiar one in the city
do the same men usually remain with one
house continuouslyf'
No; they are. as rule, a fluctuatiug
class There is little incentive for them to
remain n one place long at a time, and
many things TO discourage them from
so doing. There is scarcely a
chance of promotion In the house
| MANAGE we have made and followed
a rule of advancing the most capable men
from the walters corps to positions of trust
There is not a position in this house below
my own which has not been filled by taking
some one from off the floor. All the men
know this and that promotions will be made
- D- a. oT n M "a
OF bushes, demands more assistance As "A
result W. have the very bet service in this
house in the whole country, east or vest
How many hours day do you worl;f'
asked the reporter Of plump black-cyed
girl in a cafe where girls instead Of men are
employed to wait on the patrons
Fifteen said the girl. You see, when
we get off table duty there is the butter to
stamp. silver TO clean, glass to polish, and a
lot of other things to do. We get here at 8
o'clock in the morning and go off at Q o'clock
in the evening. Our wages From - 50 to
S, a week We do Just the same work that
men do and more, but girls can't get us large
wages aS men. They don't in stores or in any
thing else
Would you rather wait on men than on
women"
YES, | would Women, they treat us just
as if we wasn't fit for anything, but to wait
on 'em, but men are mostly right down So
ciable like
In passing ont the reporter met lady &C.
quaintance. II do not patronze restaurants
where girls serve the table" said this lady.
In my experience, wherever girls are EN-
iloyed for that purpose, either in Chicago,
New York. or in Europe, it j. impossible for
lady to get good service, or any, some
times, If any men are to be attended No,
long ago | ventured into "A newly-opened and
showily appointed restaurant ON the North
side. After entering | observed that tht
walters were girls. One finally con
descended to ask for my orler In the
middle of it she broke away to receiv,
that of "A gentleman who had just come in.
waited for three-quarters of an hour. Gem
temen came in and seated themselves al
about me and We're served. At the end OF
that time arose and passed out without
eliciting attention or inquiry. 10, indeed
the rirl is not a success as n waiter.