The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-08-08
Good Walters Spoiled.


Nobody seems to know" said the
head waiter OF a fashionable uptown
restaurant, chow much more difficult
1t is to keep walters cnder uontrol and
IN proper training here than in Europe.
| have been over here two years. |
was imported especially to take
charge of the walters in this restau-
rant, and have had sixty of them
under my control ever since | came
here. During the first six months of
my stay here | changed men constant
ly. | did not realize what Ihave since
found out, that American diners are
the best-natured men on earth. This
refers to swells OF the highest rank as
well as the ordinary guests who drop
in from time to time. Americans are
satisfied with attendance that would
drive Frenchmen into Mysteries, and
they take everything with an easy
going air that nothing can rufile. The
result Is the walters become lax and
familiar. Ii don't watch them very
closely they lOsetheir manners and be-
come careless. 1t takes a remarkably
short time, you know, TO spoil good
waiter. | have often watched them
man from Paris he is conspicuous here
as soon as he puts on his apron. He
assumes attitudes OF humbleness and
respect, is polite to a fault, quick,
deXterOus, and shows a desire to
please in every movement. HegetS out
OF these habits IN Just about a month.
Not only do the other walters spoil
him by their example and their talk,
but the guests themselves, by there
leniency and good nature, soon teach
MIN lazy habits. A very good illustra-
Cion OF how some of our guests treat
our walters occurred here to-day. Two
well-knOwn club men make it a point
to breakfast here every morning at -
O'Clock. They have table by one of
the windows, and are waited on by a
careful and conscientious man of Ger
man extraction. One Ofthegentlemen
got here this morning a little ahead of
the other, and following out the pres
ent custom o. Americans, he grOwled
out a few agreeable remarks to the
waiter. ThereupOn the waiter joyful.
ly unfolded his heart to him, and told
him that his only ambition was to
leave the occupation of waiter and
own somewhere up on the road. The
young swell pretended to take a great
interest in the walters ambition, and
when his friend came in they went to
work very earnestly to assure theman
that a very rich friend OF theirs, a lead
ing banker in the Union club, had set
up four or five men in large beer
saloons, and so they each wrote out
long letters OF introduction on the
spot and signed them with the names
OF some other club men, on whom
they occasionally play Jokes. Probab-
ly neither one of them knows the banker
to whom they introduced the waiter
They have told this poor Dutchman
to insist upon seeing the banker at 7
O'Clock next Sunday morning. The
chances are that he will be thrown out
of the house when he calls. This may
be a very good practical joke, and
probably the young men will ease the
walters feelings by presenting him
with a So note when the exposure
comes. | know all about it, but |
won't tell the waiter, because | want
him to learn by experience. You can
readily understand what an effect
this has on the best kind of walters
This is the sort of thing that goes on,
though, half the time under my very
nose, and | am pOwerless to prevent
it."