Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-11-13
THE HOTEL BELL BOY.
ODD WAY IN WHICH He 10 RE-
GARDED BY THE GUESTS.

bered tag that dropped at tho same instant
indicated that tho call came from a room
away up in the hundreds and presumably
proportionately far up in the hotel The
clerk, nterrupting his perusal Of the evening
paper be had bought five hours before and
was just finding his FIRST opportunity Of read
ing, swung around In his chair reached ont
his hand for his own sharper toned bell to
summon a boy, and instinctively Gxod his
lips 70 call shrilly;
'Frontr
Before his hand touched the bell or a sound
had left his lips one little bell boy put an
eager face over the desk and four more swung
up in line almost 1T the same moment, every
one with a br gilt and hopeful look on his
face that seemed to show that for them at
least, work was a pleasure. Tho clerk looked
at tho one who had got TO the desk FIRST,
glanced back at tho number on tho tag, and
said:
Ten, 90 SEQ what's wanted in three
'YessirW and without waiting for the rest
of tho sentence the boy was Off, his compan-
5ons slouched discontentedly back to their
soats, and the clerk, turning and twisting the
crank Of tho annunciator, sat down TO his
paper again. tho numbered ting flying back to
its place with an almost imperceptible click.
A minute or two later there was another tang
from the soft toned bell, and tho clerk again
reached around for his own bell, and twisted
his mouth TO say:
"Frontr
This time he had to tap the bell not only
once, but twice tho second Tins with very
| vicious touch indeed, and to call "Frontn in
| his very shxrpest tone before even one bell
| boy dragged himself up before the desk. Ono
OF the other boys had suddenly noticed that
his ahoOstring needed tying, another had TO
stop TO button his jacket and the rest seemed
TO BE- tagging behind on general principles.
'Go ses what Is wanted at 80"
"fo-essir;" and the boy lszily dragged
himself away as slowly as good fortune pui.-
suing an unlucky man.
Before the boy was fairly started tho an
nuncistor bell rang again for the same num-
Der. The clerk calmly gave the crank a
twist and restored the tag to its place When
he had TO do the same thing a second time in
less than half a minute there was a little en-
phasiH in this twist, and for the third repeti-
ton Of the rim. he had muttered execration
OF that boy" but he let the tag hang down,
and any subsequent attempted rings by tho
occupant OF 30 interested she clerk no more.
Somebody asked the clerk why bell bows
were 50 qlict and spry ons moment and SO
They know what they are going to getn
Pressed furtsor, ho vouchsafed tho inform
alton that the first ring had come from a
room whore tho bell boy was pretty certain
70 set tip, while the second was from
room the occupant Of which did not believe
IN encouraging the cigsretts habit by giving
boys nickals
The little rsScsls see the number on the
nnnunciRtor before / do,n he said, "and
they're Sharp enough in getting to ths front
II tie call Is from room where they think
they are likely 70 cot anything
ihe clerks explanation was confirmed by
tho appearance about this time OF the boy
sent out OH ths flrst CALL with something In
his hand that lac rubbed bright on his Jacket
sleeve aud thsn held up tantalixineiy before
the other boys before be put il In bis pocket.
The boy ssnt on the second cal may have
died ON the way, or merely have beon over
taken By old age and broken down. but he
failed to put IN an appearances 50 long az a
casual observer who took an interest In bell
boys waited, and repeated Agisations OF the
dropped down tag OF room $50 seemed to in
dicats that some ons there was in a frantic
state Of mind over sonlstkina or other.
At most hotels the ball boy business nova
days has been reduced to 80 much OF a science
that this sort OF thing could not occur. Tho
EFFORT OF the clerks is to reducs the boys TO
machines, and they have to hop lively when
the bell ringa, and 60 and come quickly, no
matter whose i ths call or what the pros
poets OF tap. 1t u good deal easier for a
hotel to get a new bell boy than for bell bow
to get q now hotel, and the boys risk their
situations az little as possible. The idea Of
bell boys as machines ia not confined TO the
hotel clerks, however The guests whom tho
boys serve, especially the women guests re-
gard them IN much the same night.
IL bell boys ever told tales EXCEPT nnonr
themselves, a great many women who live
at hotels would be inexpresslbly shocked
Op!unl, whisky, rouge, morphine beiladonna
ana Inc toilco Gazette are only few of tile
things that bell boys IN any Of tho big hotels
arc sent after by the female guests almost
daily, while the carriage OF note to such a
looking gentleman on such ana such a corner
or the caring for Of epistles to 10 called for
by tail, handsome man with black mus
tache-and incidentally with a quarter for
the boys an everyday matter. 1t mover
seems 70 occur to a woman that bell boy Is
a good deal Ike anybody else in noticing
things. putting this aud that together, ana
drawing conclusions. Occasionally women.
and men too for that matter have their at.
IGNITION lnpleasantly drawn to this fact by |
the appearance Of an unexpected hotel en- |
ploye with a missing Link in the evidences ia |
Q divorce suit; but generally the condolences |
put IA the boys seems TO be pretty wen |
founded, fer they arc a closo mouthed lot. az |
any one who hiss over attempted TO ret them |
TO tell some OF thair experiences will admit.
Family quArrels arc another thing with |
which the bel boys in the big hotels become !
extensively AequAintod BY actual observa- |
tion. The average husband and wife soem |
to think that bell boy doesn't count when |
they arc having thoir lttle differences Of /
opinion and the boy waits In tho room until |
It is settled whether carriage shall be |
ordered At for tho theatre or at 10 for tina |
ball; whether the bridal tour shall end RIGHT /
hero as the nasty meAn old thing wishes.
or shall Be kept up for week longer as tho |
wife desires. Aen who would be shocked at |
anything approaching slight to their wife |
before ''folksp call her little fool before /
bell boys without oompunction, aud the wife.
who is always a picture Of humility when /
folks" are around, refers to her better half /
ns a wretch and brute when the bell boy is /
present, without thinking twice about it
New York Sun.
a..