New-York tribune., 1888-08-26
DROP QUARTER IN THE SLOT
AND SEE THE DARKEy MOVE.
AND FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION
- -, ,,or,vr powrp OF HOTEL WATERS.


. PHILOSOPHICAL AND FINANCIAL CONSIDERATION
or THE MOTIVE POWER or HOTEL WATERS
When a man of largely African ancestry once sc''
thirst for the quarters and other smaller silver CONS
IN the rockets Of other people, 1t never leaves him
M habit is so dcadly-to tho other people moro
especially To the day OF his death It VIII cling 70
him: he cannot break himself OF IL, and IL Is saio
enough to say that he won't try.
have been confined for several days in one OF the
best summer hotels in Now England. know IL IL ono
Of the best because tho porers won't move any further
for quarter than they VIII in an ordinary ho'ei ior
ten cents. My waiter. colored man with gently
undulatlng brow IS very attentive. Sometimes as l
sit out on the piazza looking at the scenery, wich
IS highly recommended by the clerk, he Will steal softly
ont TO my side and stand silently holding out ono
hand TIL give him quarter. Again am awakened
at o'clock in the morning by gentle tapping on
my door, and hear him hoarscly whisper through the
kcyhoc and ask II 1 haven't forgotten something.
When among strangers It very pleasant to find that
there is somebody who will remember you and follow
you miles up the creek when you go fishing ana
call your attention tho fact that the quarter you
gave him has got hole in 1t and he can't take IL ior
more than twenty cents.
The negro walters hero tho most nicely balanced
financially that have seen. The first meal
sat down to- a darlcolorcd gentleman slid up to me
and took my order. him ten cents as starter,
and in to win his confidence He moved OH
across the dining room quite brshy, but when about
half way to the kitchen suddenly stopped made few
motions with hs legs like soldier on parade when he
wants to keep up appearances and not proceed any
further and then became motionless, gazing straight
before him. / watched him for time, and con-
Guiding that he was permanently side tracked spoke
to the head walter, whom they called Philadelphia
@Philadephia,' 1 said, al gave my order to that
stationary party there probably Louisville or
Pttsburg; why has he quit running on his regular
schedule timer"
Cincinnati, sab, is the geniman's name. Probly
you gave him bout ten cents sah!'
"That was all,' l replied, mcehly.
"Dat explains de cause Of dc delay, sah' returned
Philadelphia. "Can't move furder, sab, for jess
ten cents.'
went and gave him quarter and he started
of promptly and In the course of an hour or perhaps
an hour and half got back with something to eat.
| got acquainted tho other day with man who
| had begun serving his term at this hotel week be-
fore l did. He Of these explosive old fell
lows who Iabbed his cane into the floor when he
talked. "Why,D said he, " tho confounded darkeys
here are the worst saw First night was
here up IN my room and rang the bell Man
black as the ace OF spades responded and ordered
ice water Gave him fifteen cents-all the change
| / had ! heard him wander Off down the hall and
some time later In the evening heard him coming
back, way down at tho other end OF the hall He
| came nearer for couple of dozen steps perhaps
/
door and him standing perfectly still about half
way down the hall whistlng softly to himself. DE
nnoocncc OF dot fifteen cents has done ruined out,
Boss he said / didn't have any more change, and
so after making pretty warm remarks went
down the hall and got the pitcher and brought 1t
the rest of the way myself. That miserable col
ored pirate stood there whstllng little louder, little
louder all the time ill man came out OF the loom
he was before and gave him dime to stop and 20
away.
| "They'rc Just like these machines went on the
old gentleman warming up, "where you drop
nickel In the slot and the thing goes-only In this
case 1t takes least quarter to produce any move
ment that will do anybody any good. There ought
to be little hole through the breast Of the coat of
each one OF them connecting with inside pocket
with a sign sticking up reading like this: drop
q quarter in the slot and see the Niger go!"
1t IS no uncommon thing in walking about the hotel
or grounds to thoughtful, patentlookng
colored Individual run down and unable to take an
other step. When find one in this condition we
| know that somebody somewhere is waiting for him
and we have way Of helping one another out by
applying a little money to the stranded ono
and giving him another start The most economical
way is to give him nickel and then follow along
and If this take him to his destination apply
another five cents and so on. Inc Othef eVehihe
New-YOrk gentleman sent hall boy to the post
Office lie estimated that half dollar would bring
him safely back port and accordingly harded MN
that amount IL carried him TO the Office ali right,
where got several important letters for the New
Yorker, and brought him back TO just inside the
hotel grounds Tncre It's influence ceased and the
boy became motioness. That night there was a
heavy storm and the lightning struck around at
neighborng trees several times, but that brave ps
tient colored boy stood through 1t all, holding the
letters whero they would get their share OF the rain
perhaps little more. The New YORK man went
down where he after breakfast and by applying
nckcls and other small coins got him up to the hotel
by easy stages. There are gentlemen OF color scat
tered all around this country, some OF them oil two
or three miles, unable IL is feared that one
of them may run down some day In lonely place
and not be discovered till life may be largely OF
wholly extinct f. III. L.