Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-23
LOOTING STRANGERS.
Expensive Travelling In Europe-Na-
tiOnal Peculiarities.

George Alfred Townsend's Letter.
The dishonesty Of Germany. and it needs to
be watched lest it conquer the modern world.
is the commission system Of wages, putting
upon the customer or guest the wages due the
merchants servants.
Said James L. Mech, who has charge of the
Lynn electric light company in Europe aud
has over 1000 great illuminating lights in Eu-
rope between Milan and Paris-I met him In
Berlin last Sunday night at theater and gar
den, where they were giving Boccaccio" on
the seventh, or first day, whichever you like.
Said he:
Europe is largely run upon the system Of
paying commissions for trade. The chief por-
ter at the Central hotel in Berlin. pays, 1 am
told, $4,000 per year to the establishment for
his place. He then makes out Of each person
who becomes guest at least one mark and the
sum is 100 900 marks, or $25OO0. 80 that he has
clean commission Of profit of $4,000 More
over. he charges every tradesman, carriage
man. &c.. to whom he recommends any guest,
a commission upon the same. And that is the
habit now all over Europe and fear it will ex-
tend to America. Walters here are seldom
paid anything, they rather pay for their places
and the chances at commissions. caught nv
barber and haircutter at Brussels, where
lived year and a half. paying his commission
upon the three persons in my family to the
hotel porter. Sometimes these commissions
are dealt out with the tradesmen in goods in
stead OF cash. The system extends to railroad
employees. drivers OF cabs and livery teams and
includes both sexes.
SO instead OF paying wages Europe lets it's
labor
PLUMBER THE MOVING PUBLIC
and divides the spoil This system is sinister
and dishonest and accounts for the great cost Of
travelling here beyond the schedule charges one
has provided for. left Paris for Berlin eight
days ago-fares and sleeping borths first-ciass
and better. about S32; yet paid that in eight
days. am out $50, having stopped only "a
hours at Llege. Is hours at Spa, parts. of the
same day at AK and at Cologne, and finally at
Berlin. where / have not yet paid nv bill 1
should put SO day the minimum OF de-
Gently and properly travelling in Europe as be-
comes one who is identified as OF his country,
and all men should feel so. OF the expense |
have given l should think that nearly so per
cent was visible or invisible commissions
Sometimes it il all the commission, as when n
government opens Its galleries free, and still its
unworthy servitors, like servants of liberal
men, hold out their hands to the fettered guest
Dir. Mech. above questioned. further said:
My experience Is that the
MEASKsT NATION IN EUROPE
is the Belgian; they are capable of meaner
cheating than tho French; they make promises
they have no intention to keep, are faithless to
their engagements and do not respect or like
each other. place high among Europeans
the northern Italians; the southern Italians |
place among the lowest of mankind For hon
esty place the Swedes and Norwegians first;
probably the Holianders next"
What Is your observation as to the morals
OF n,an in Europe concerning chastity"
Il think there Is but little difference there
between the nations of Europe; the American
idea of chivalry. and even fear of woman 8 con-
tempt. il nearly unknown III Europe, where thew
ali seem to regard the female as common prev. u
What do you hold as to manufacturing
competition and tariff
sometimes l think that il had better be
hands of and the survival of the fttest but
as to labor, unquestionably the extremely
low figure OF 1t in Europe alarms an American
at first sight with the idea that this might de-
moralize his country. Yet, on investigation
they only receive what they pay for In Milan,
for example, four men, carrying an extension
ladder, light up only as many lights per night
az one man In America, carrying his own
ladder. The American laborer is paid better.
but he is rs good as from three to four of the so
Europeans, who go as they please. By
machinery We are now, with this superior
labor, match for Europe in many DEPART
ments. My wife contends that there is nothing
whatever as cheap III Europe in the United
States"