Wichita eagle., 1888-05-01
SUMNER HOTEL EMPLOYEES.
What Becomes of Clerks and Stewards
When the Leaves Begin to Fall.

When the Leaves Begin to Fall.
"Papa, what becomes Of these hand
some hotel clerks after the season closes?"
asked bright young woman of her
father, pointing to a young man at the
Long Beach hotel recently.
MY dear, / don't know what becomes
Of them. That particular young man is a
depositor in our bank, and is altogether a
model young man. Many of them, how
ever, live in idleness and luxury as long
as their earnings last and then accept sit
uations in fur stores, where their exten-
sive acquaintance with fashionable butter
flies makes their services valuable. Some
of them find employment in large dry
goods stores as floor walkers.
''Many hotel bookkeepers find employ
ment in brokers' offices, where they dis
appear behind inclosed desks and are lost
to the public until the next summer. 1
know one bright hotel clerk whose winter
occupation is a very pleasant one. He is
the escort of wealthy but aged lady.
The pair may be seen almost every even
ing at one of the theatres. After the
theatre they go to Delmonico's, where a
sUmptuous supper is INDUCED in. A car
riage takes them to the lady's residence,
anu lie 1tdNeS il61 DIT luc uOOI- 1ulS eQu5
his nights work, but he must report for
duty at p. m the following evening
His salary is 5000 per month, out of which
he is expected to dress in the latest
fashion.
ga few of the summer hotel employees
find positions in city hotels here and in
other large cities, but at reduced salaries.
A clerk who has squandered his earnings
in poker or on horse races IS likely to ac-
cept the very first position offered him,
which at hotels is usually the position of
night clerk.
Many of them seek employment at
southern winter resorts and live in very
economical manner until these open. 9th
ers take the places of city hotel clerks
who are on vacations, while few collect
hotel bills on commission from guests who
fail to commune with bookkeepers before
leaving.
''The collector must be thorough gen.
tleman, well versed in the usageS of polite
society. His first move is to go to the city
or town where the delinquent lives, well
fortified with letters of introduction to its
prominent people. He participates in all
social events that occur, and becomes
quite intimate with the culprit and his
family before the business in hand is men
toned. He learns all about his private
affairs and his escapadeS when visiting
the city, and when he unbosoms himself
seldom fails to return with the amount Of
the bill or its equivalent well indorsed.
ga few become connected with the the
atres as ushers and ticket sellers, and
some of them 90 ON the road with travel
ing companies.
"Hotel stewards who fail to secure win
ter positions in their professions become,
drummers for wholesale houses. They
make the life of employed hotel stewards
a burden by persistent drumming. Nev-
ertheless they make good statesmen, for
the reason that they know the leisure mo-
ments Of their victims. Others are
secretly employed by wine houses. Their
business is TO boom a certain brand of
wine in such manner that their connec-
ton with it will not be discovered.
Zone prominent hotel steward, who is
also a good cook, makes quite respect
able living teaching wealthy but inexperi-
enced epicures the art of dining. His lot
is happy one. He dimes with his patrons
at fashionable restaurants; orders the vari-
Gus meals and explains the various dishes,
sauces and soups. He also interprets the
French names of the dishes, who their in
ventors were and when, where and why
they are SO named. When not otherwise
engaged he visits the houses of people
who give little suppers without the aid Of
outside caterers. He teaches the serv-
ants the art of salad making, and con-
verses with the housewife on the
food in season and the best and
most appetizing manner of pyparing
and serving it Children, and even
grown people, are taught the art of cary
ing by him, how the knife should be
sharpened, held and how cared for when
not in use Periodical excursions are
made to the prominent markets, where he
teaches the housewife and her marriage
able daughters ho~ TO select the best Of
everything at reasonable prices. New
York Evening Sun.