The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-03-04
Bill I've on Etiauette a. Hotels.

MAS Deen DuL llShbly treated upon Oy
our modern philosophy, and yet it is
a subject that lies very2near to every
heart Had not already
more reforms on hand tlan can pos
IDLY successfully operate, would glad !
ly use my strong social influence and
trenchant pen in that direction. Et-
iquette at hotels, both on the part Of
the proprietor and his hirclings, aud
the guest, is matter that calls loud
ly for improvement.
The hotel waiter alone would well
repay a close study From the tardy
and polished loiterer OF the eltete East
TO the off-hand and social equal Of the
budding West, all walters are desely-
ing OF philosophical scrutiny | was
thrSwn in contact with n waiter in
New York last summer whose man
ners were lar more polished than my
own. Every time | saw him standing
there with his immediate pantaloons
and swallow-tail coatand the far-away,
chastened look OF one who had been
unfortunate, but not crushed, felt.
that was unworthy to be waited up
on by such y blue-booded thorough
bred, and 7 often wished That we had
more such men in Congress And
when he would take my order and 20
away with it, and after the meridian
Of my life had softened into the mel
low glory OF the sere and yellow leaf,
when he came back, still looking quite
young, and never having forgotten
me, recognizing me readily, after the
long, dull, desolats years, | was glad
and felt that he deserved something
moro than mere empty thanks, and ]
said to him: "Ah, sir, you still re-
member me after years OF privation
and suffering. When every one else
in New York has forgotten me, with
the exception of the confidence men,
you come TO me with the glad light OF
recognition ia your eye. Would you
be offended if gave you this trifling
testimony Of my regard" at the same
time giving him my note at thirty
days.
/ wanted him to have something by
by which to always remember me,
and guess he has.
Speaking OF walters reminds me of
one at Glendive, Montana, We had
to telegraphlahead in order to get a
place to sleep, and when we registered
the landlord showed out an old doub-
le-entry journal for us to record our
names and postoffice address in. The
Office was the bar, and before we could
get our room assigned us we had to
wait forty-tive minutes for the land
lord to collect pay for thirteen drinks
and lick n personal friend. Finally,
when he got around to me, he told me
that could sleep in the night bar
tenders bed, as he would be up all
night and might possibly get killed
and never need it again anyhow. 1t
would cost me "a cash in advance to
sleep in the bar.tender's bed, he said,
and the house was so blamed full that
he and his wife had got to wait till
things kind OF quieted down and then
they would have to put a mattress on
the 15.ball pool table and sleep there
l called attention to my valuable
valise that had been purchased at
great cost, and told him that he would
be safe to keep that behind the bar
till l paid, but he said he wasn't in
the secondhand valise business, and
20 paid in advace. II was humili-
ating, but he had the edge on me.
AT the tea table noticed that the
waiter was young man who evidently
had not always been thus. He had the
air Of one who yearns to have someone
tired on the tail OF his coat. Weakness
with me 10 one Of my characteristics.
1t is almost passion. 1t is the re-
suit OF personal injuries received in
former years at the hands of parties
WHO excslled me in brute force and
who succeeded in drawing me out in
conversation, as it were, until made
remarks that we're injudicious.
So l did not disagree with this wait.
er, although / had grounds. When
he came around and snorted into my
ear, "salt pork, antelope and cold
beans" at the same time leaning his
full weight on my back, while he
evaded the revenue laws by retailing
his breath to the guests without L.
cense, thought would call for what
he had the most Of, SO ! said il he
didn't mind and it wouldn't be too
much trouble. / would take cold
beans.
I will leave it to the calm, impas-
sionate and bipartisan reader to state
whether that remark ought TO create
i'll feeling. I do not think it ought.
However, he was irritable, and life to
him seemed to be cold and dark So
he went to the general delivery win