Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-11-10
WHY JONES LOST MONEY.

Kept Everything EIse-A WcIi-toid
story. SNa
"They tell me Jones has gone
broke. but don't see how that can be,
for hes been running that big hotel
all summer and every time I've been
down there it's been chock full of
guests. with the bar and restaurant do
ing rushing business. HIS charges
are high enough heaven knows, and
if he hasn't made money this summer
it's because there's no money in the
business. WHAT'S the matter? Was
the rent too steep. or has he been
blowing ia his money al the race
track?'
This remark was uttered in the
presence of an old hotel man, and he
straightforward made answer as fol-
lows;
I'm not at all surprised to hear
that, and can tell you why Jones has
been knocked out although his rent is
small and he never bought pool tick
| eli in his life. He's gone broke for the
same reason that nearly every summer
hotel man goes broke at the end of the
season. He's been knocked out, not
| by cards, racing or high rents but by
his walters. and they're the strongest
1 combination TO beat you II find in that
I or any other business"
''How did they contrive to beat
/ him" asked one of the company.
''How2 In every way you can inn
/ agine," rejoined the other with an
1 emphasis which indicated that he had
/ ''been there" himself IL tell you, if
it were not for the waters man
/ could make money in the hotel bust
/ ness; but as il is, there isn't a cent in
l it, and there won be until some new
/ system is invented. Now Jones had
/ in his hotel about one hundred and
fifty walters, all of whom were en-
gagged by his head waiter and received
! $24 90 a month, besides their tips,
/ which usually amounted to larger
sum than that Each waiter had 10
pay the head waiter s.. 90 for engaging
him and 81. 90 a week as long as his
situation lasted. The head waiter paid
tribute to the steward, as did all the
other heads of departments in the
kitchen and store room. So you see
that Mr.. Jones maintained on his
premises an organized band of robbers
each one of whom paid tax of $500
per week for the privilege of plumber
ing him. You can bet there wasn't a
waiter in that hotel who did not get
his 81 90 back. and more, too, by the
end of the week"
''Well, but how do they do it?'' ask
ed the listener.
"In every way; by tricks that are
invented every season and by others
that are as old as the eternal hills, For
instance, water gets an order for
three portions of steak. He gets two
and collects for three, of course pock-
citing the difference. Then he gets an
order for two broiled chickens. He
orders one in the legitimate way and
steals the other. There is a man NJ the
kitchen door to check all the dishes as
they are carried out. When he passes
him he has the chicken inside his vest
or in one OF the big pockets which line
his jacket If the people only knew
how many choice articles of food are
brought to the table in the waiter S
clothes they would not eat them with
as much enjoyment as they do now.
Then, in ordering plain drinks. there
is a great opportunity for swindling.
II party order four glasses OF
whiskey the waiter gets three from the
bar and converts them into four for
which he collects from the customers.
Sometimes the waiter stands in with
the bartender and the two divide the
spoils Then, if an expensive brand OF
champagne is ordered By any one who
is evidently not a connoisseur, the
waiter brings in some cheap American
wine concealed in an ice-cooler, and
pours it out with such grand flourish
that the victim never thinks of doubt
ing its superiority. | tell you, those
, fellows will steal anything. and il
would not surprise me to hear thai
some ingenious rascal had invented s
walters Jacket with an india rubber
, pocket to put soup in.
"And that reminds me that a greaI
many years ago l saw old mar
Giovanni, who used TO keep Holborr
House in London, find a roast CHECKER
in waters overcoat which hung or
the wall Roast chicken is not GOOD
without white sauce, said Giovanni
so be sent to the kitchen for some sac
r completely filled up the pocket wiih it
of course it ruined the overcoat, but
! don't think that waiter complained o
: iL-Nes0 Yors Nal aud Express.