New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-05
HINTS FROM MANY READERS.
ExTORrION THROUGH CHRISTMAS FEES.
YOUNG CLERK RELATES HIS wOgs-A BUSY

YOUNG CLERK RELATES MS wOrs-A BUSY
WAITER AND Willy CHAMBERMAID.
70 the Editor OF The Tribune.
sIR: I wish TO voice tho misfortuncs Of . largo
number Of young in this city and not few old
ones, caused by the system in vogue Of Christmas
feeling. best explain by relating my recent
experience, mInc Is only average case.
/ brought up west of the Ohio River, where,
strange II may seem, it not considered neces
sary TO pay the people about you to keep them dc
Gently polite have been In Ecw-Y0rk ten months {;
clerk downtown and receive . salary OK Slo
a week On Friday last found myself with Sl6
clear, the savings OF month. Expanding SO Tor
holiday presents purposed to use ~ additional In
spending Christmas with relative In neghDorng
city, and still possess 81 for incidental expenses
While dressing Saturday morning there was gentle
tap at my door and my washerwoma appeared. She
informed mo that the following day would be Christ
mas. l admitted It. She then inquired whether she
had not done satisfactory work for me. admitted
tnat also, and seemed to manifest greater aacrity
with my hair brush than my pocketbook, my visitor
delIcatey suggested that some trIfing remembrance
would be very acceptable / was surprised, but l
gave her fifty cents This was tho beginning OF .
distressing day. On going down to breakfast the
waiter greeted mo efrusvey and said that he thought
Christmas was very close at hand. paid no at
tention, however, to him, nor TO tho chambermaid
vino lettering about Starting out o messenger
came up with package for me and fingered to make
O pointed reference to tho season- l gave him
quarter. Downtown the elevator boy asked me to
remember him, and held out his hand. gave him
quarter Also
At noon found tho table Ia the restaurant where
I dine decorated with couple Of hags and some
red berries Tho In attendance was all smiles
With SINKING heart / realized what the smiles and
berries
IL suppose you know he said, significantly,
that tomorrow will DO Christmas" l said had
heard it mentioned and gave him fifty cents. This
took In two dollars and half While was at ms
table, and myself had but fifty cents left.
reached tho ONCE Just In time to lind tho Office
boy taking up q collection for Christmas testimonial
for the janItor. Lie SAID no hoped would give
twenty-five cents. l handed him the money and
used my other quarter to telegraph my relative that
l could not come.
As went uptown congratulated myself that tho
worst was over. 1t not That night, creeping
into bed, discovered that 1t had been made UP with
q shortage of sheet at the bottom, and my feet pro-
truded three inches l remade the bed. In doing
this three Stats out that had evidently
been put la loose Intentionally. In the morning l
found al a critical moment that was without toweis
my slippers had been paced on tho top sheu on INC
Closet and all my clean collars had oeoh sen. ~ .o
wash ! dressed myself in hannel shirt ana con
ciuaed that one must arise in tho very early a. W.
to beat boarding house shanDos s,1 dda anor0ior0
At breakfast tried poiiteness with the wafer
said please when wanted ANYTHING. tricd 10
less My coffee was all grounds, a buzzsaw could
not have clipped tho steak and waited twenty min
for the sugar. l was humbled bcckoned 10
him, pressed dollar into has hand and wished MN
a merry Christmas. An hour later l heard a step
on the stairs. then knock at my door 1t was hoy
who does odd jobs about the house. lie said " Merry
Christmas, sir" and then assumed a receptive at
ttude aud waited.
Well what arc you waiting for,n asked savagely.
81 thought he said, seeing It's Christmas, you
might remember-' . -
Get away from here,' said. this Isn't Christ
mas. Fast Day. IL you Christmas to me
I'll break every bone I'm your body. Now get OUT
Ho did | heard a messenger boy yesterday, Mr.
Editor, singing:
trust ! shall offend ones feelings when Il
express tho hOpc that tho period OF daily Christ
mas viii not arrive until the funeral rites have been
performed tho mortal remains Of yours truly,
Neu- York, Dec. Is, 1887. r.