Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-09
THE CLOAK WOMAN.
WHAT SHE SAYS ABOUT HER RE-
CEIPTS AND EXPERIENCES,

Ladies as Tip Givers-Scenes in the Dress
ing Room Before aud Aftor the Ball.
The Attendants Money Saucer-A Sad
Story. .
Jenny was one Of the maids in the ladies'
dressing room at a club party one night re-
Gently, while George, her husband, served
the gentlemen rs check master in chief and
high custodian OF the overcoats and goloshes.
Jenny came home discouraged and angry.
George was jubilant. Reason why: Jenny's
cash receipts for nearly whole nights hard
work amounted to just f0rty-seven cents,
which was half of what had been taken in.
She had divided equally with her assistant.
George jingled s. Is in silver merrily in his
trousers pocket, and added to Jenny's depres-
sion by asking her sarcastically if she didn't
wish she could work for men instead of
women. dis
She expressed herself freely to a reporter
on the next day, when George was quite out
of hearing
"Do always fare as poorly as this when l
serve the ladies at parties? No, not always;
but never get half what ought to get, and
I'm not grasping, either. Sometimes l get
$3.50; but that's not often. Two or three
times had over IS as the result of the even
ing's work; but that was when an exception
ally generous lady gave whole dollar. Once
a sad looking lady asked me if had any
children, and when told her that l had one
little girl, she put down 81 bill and said,
Get the little thing something nice with that,
and tell her it is from lady whose little girl
has gone away never to come back, and then
she turned and wiped the tears from her eyes"
"What is the regulation tip which ladies
put down on such occasions! l don't mean
what they ought to give; but what they
really do giveT' --..
"Well, I'm sorry to say it's small. Il
rarely rises above ten cents and more fire.
Quently drops to nickel If each one would
give even that much the returns wouldn't be
SO bad. for the ladies outnumber the gentle
men at every party; but, bless you! any
amount OF them do not give anything at all.
1t would make you ashamed of the whole
female race il you could see the way they
dodge around trying not to see that anyo body
is giving anything Tho richest dressed ones,
who como in carriages, are sometimes the
most expert at that They spend every cent
well-silks, ribbons, jewelry, hair dye and
face paint, and gl'udge every nickel that goes
in any other direction I've learned BY ex-
perience that often the modestly dressed
woman who walks to the party, as We know
by the condition of her overshoes is most
likely 20 give the attendant in the dressing
room decent fee. She may do this because
she knows something Of the difficulties Of
shifting along on little herself, and wants to
help US, or she may do it because she doesn't
want others to suspect her poverty"
''All maids Of the dressing room are not
90 expert as you in reading character, are
thsyr'
mo; the most Of them jump to serve the
rich ladies, and turn their backs ON the
plainly dressed oaea Twas that way myself
till learned better. suppose it's natural to
think that people who have money in plenty
viii give money freely. Anyhow, the whole
world acts as If it thought that; but it's O
great mistake, assure you
What is the method Of giving, Do thev
hand the money to you or put it down some
wherer
"'oh, We always have q saucer, plate or
basket set in a conspicuous place We are
not like male waiter1 We can't browbea,
people into tipping US. We won't hang
around as they do and make guests feel mean
and Insignificant if they don't come down
with the coin Wepretend not to be expecting
rlltell you q secret We have to
put some money On tbs: plate ourselves to
start with II we didn't. upon my word,
believe nobody else wouii Sometimes
have tried the plan Of laying silver half
dollar or dollar On top q tie dimes, nickeIs |
and panniss. Sonsstrnss it works and SOMA |
times 1t doesn't. II usually has Ii. effect Of /
startling some Of the give nothinss, any way.
md l secretly enjoy that, although am |
making my face As blank as q white plate all |
he time Again. would you believe it, some |
II them 80 the big piece OF money, and .. |
nee settle it IN their own minds thar a.
has given 20 generously NOTHING a. |
III is needed from them So you sse tiers
$ no infalhole rule for u.akinS them coma 70
ina On. - Tea question: