Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-26
THE HOTEL CLERKS TICKETS.
Spectators Who Make a Nice Income
in Quiet Way.
New York Herald.

ed and unjmpassioned face of an up
town hotel clerk were casting wander
ing looks over the register, the ink
stand ard the matchbox when O.
Herald reporter came up in the meek
and apologize way that all mortals,
except hall boys, are expected to as
sumo in front of hotel counter. The
clerks teeth were spelling a toothpick
after the meditative manner of a COW
with her cud. He seemed to be drift
ing with the tide of his reflections ia
the very deepest channel of thought.
Presently his look wandered out to
the reporter, who seemed to as a sort
of reef he went aground upon. After
a mental struggle to bring himself
back 10 the things of this world, said
he:
"Ah; bow are yoa?" The tone so
thoroughly indicated that ne did not
care the snap of his finger how the
reporter was, and perhaps would rath-
er not be burdened with knowing, that
the reporter refrained from telling
him, and remarked that he seemed
sad.
''Why shouldn't I? Should I look
happy when the good times that hotel
clerks reveled IN so many years, are
gone, when this idi0tic check system
is being put on everything? Why,
do you know [ really believe they will
put checks on the boot chair next. a
clerk can't make anywhere near as
much money as the proprietor now.
That's a fact. Here it is, too, just as
the races are ended and no more
Doodle for tips. The salaries have
not gone up either. [ tell YOU, a fell
low has got just as much right to look
sad though be went down and bought
a dog license for 1t. Thanks to an
amusement-craving public, there are
lots of theatres left"
''Theaters2" with rising infection.
The clerk looked across the marble
counter, and down, as though there
were at least three miles between him
and the questioner. The pity In it
reached that distance even and made
the reporter feel so bad that he want
ed to apologize for presuming not to
understand.
Eyes, theaters; the only resource
we have left to dress on. To their
credit let l. be said that they pay well,
too"
But do you think of going on the
stage?'
'5My boy, hope you are not a fool,
but you are beginning to force the
conviction on me that you are. No,
1 am not going on the stage. Not to
any alarming extent. At least only
as far as the dressing rooms. when [
can get there. But I am going to make
my little commission of ye unsuspect-
ing play goer."
THE KINGS OF SPECULATORS.
''Be little more explicit, please"
''You have heard of such things as
ticket spectators. Well, know then
that the fly hotel clerk is the king of
them all, only he doesn't yearn to be
called SO nor have it trumpeted about
the market place and shouted from
the housetops."
''HOw do you work lt?'
Simple enough. There are sever
al ways. The most common snap is
the transient who is coming to the
city for day or two. There is some
play that he wants to see, and SO he
sends me word to get him good seats
for such night. If the play is hav-
ing good run, why its all right,
and there is money IN it for me. If
it's not, then have to do it TO oblige
him, and may make something out of
it III the end. So [ send over the regu-
lar price to the box Office and get
some very good seats. When the visi-
tor comes charge him so cents, 81 or
81 so advance on each seat-more
than the spectators are selling them
for, even"
Doesn't he make row when he
finds it out2"
But he doesn't find it out. I tell
him the house was all sold out and I
had hard work to get good seats from
the spectators even. When he goes
to the theater he walks right in With
out paying any attention to the specu-
lators and doesn't find out what thew
are charging. Sometimes he gives
me an extra commission for 10y
trouble. And the couple on their
wedding tour. They are the people
we like to get hold of. Such lambs in
their guileless happiness.
''Then, he continued, as ne reach
ed for another toothpicK and began to
reduce its, end to pulp, "tbere is the
regular city resident who come in
late and want to know If I have got
any tickets or can get any. [ tell him
yes.and slide boy over TO the theater
for them. OF course, he has to pay
SPECTATORS price, and he expects to.
The best of all are the complimentary
tickets that have given me, and sell
for their face value and sometimes
good deal more. That's all clear gain.
1t makes nay heart bloom like the
flowers in spring when they come in
thick"
HOTEL DEADHEADS.
But do you get many of those9"
BLESS you! | should say so. The
hotels get more deadhead tickets than
any one supposed. Why, most every
night get couple of seats from
some theater, and often from two or
three"
rs there any trouble in selling