New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-04

restaurant should be expected TO tax himseiI ior
the benefit of one Of the employees OF inc p"oe.
One does not give tips in establishments oeVo'eu
10 drygoods groceries or vegetables OF c"huy vi
meat or cigars; why should different RUE pre-
vail in establishments devoted 10 food and drink?
Does John Doe, restauratcur pay his WATERS 700
little Then OF course he ought TO give them more
But IL he does reasonably we'll by them theh
on what ground are they allowed to add TO the
reckoning of those on whom they waltz Besides,
saws the anti-tip contingent, the tip hurts the
waiter more than it helps him, the pccuniary
benefit which il confers being Ovcrbalnnced by the
injury done TO his character. The tip tends to
destroy his bump of self-respect; not being his
by right, but by favor, and in most instances the
favor of strangers, in the last analysis 1t is
species OF charity We are fond Of bOaSting OF
our Independence as q Nation But IL a nation
is TO preserve that invaluable characteristic, then
whatever is calculated to make any body of work
men dependent in spirit is to be frowned down
upon. Therefore the tip is to be frowned down
upon-waiters cannot read their title clear to IT,
Such, in substance, is what the folks say who hate
tips on principle.
The other class which would like to see the
tip go is also large Not that its members have
any objection to it, for they haven't. A good
meal well served puts them in capital humor.
and nothing would please them better as they
rise from the table than generously to remember
the waiter who has contributed to their comfort
They regard the tip one of the walters In
alenable rights. II is his by custom, and they
would scorn 10 make innovation. But they
would like 70 see good anttip restaurants estab-
lshed, for the simple reason that they cannot
afford 10 do more than pay for what they eat
at flrst-class establishments The tip is the last
oh niYa anft
lately expressed himself to reporter this way
{" | have been compelled to live at restaurants
for the last six weeks, and have been seriously
annoyed by the tip system, which is in vogue at
all Of those which l care to patronize. / can't
bring myself % give the waiter nothing at all,
I won't give him ) cents, and / can't afford to
give him 10 or more. / do give him at least
TO- so that my meals become extravagances True,
I might avoid the difficulty by going TO a board
ing-house, but that would not meet my con-
veniencc What I am looking for is first-class
restaurant where tipping is absolutely forbidden
where notice to that effect is plainly printed
on the bill Of fare, and the rule. is strictly en-
forced. In one Of the magnificent hotels in
Switzerland perhaps the best in the country,
guests are informed by placards displayed in the
halls and the rooms that gratuites 10 the walters
are strictly forbidden That's the thing Let
walters be paid wages big enough to enable them
TO dispense with tips waiter who knows his
business is great comfort, and nothing would
please me better if I had long enough purse
than 10 strew his path with silver. But haven't
that sort of purse only lean one. And really
when You come TO think of it. it is rather absurd
for q restauratcur to expect his guests not only
to pay his prices without dissent, but to chip in
10 make him solid with his employees
II is not insisted that the tip must go. We do
not believe that it will: there is necessity that
Il should, seeing that there will always he plenty
Of pro.tip people in a great city like this. 1t is
likely to flourish like green bay tree to the
end of time. All the same, we do insist that the
time is ripe for the opening of frst-olass anti
tip restaurants uptown and downtown.