Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-28
TAKERS OF TIPS.
ITCHING PALMS WHERE ONE MIGHT
NOT EXPECT THEM.
True Stories That Illustrate the Preva.
ience of Tipping and Bribery
Here and Abroad.

Irue Stories That illustrate the Preva
fence of Tipping and Bribery
| Here and Abroad.
IL Is not easy to say where tipping end
and downright bribery begins, any NOR,
than it is easy to decide at what point IL
the social scale one may cease to tip. Eact
OF these points is illustrated BY true stor,
OF English life. An American travelling in
Great Britain fell into conversation with
an Englishman, and presently, of course
was listening to trade against corruption
IN American politics. The American bore
1t all patiently and acknowledged the truth
OF many charges brought by his compan-
ION, but finally asked whether there was no
corruption in English politics. Some;
but not so much as in yours" was the an.
swer. ANY bribsry?" pursued the
American. The Englishman' 8 face changed.
and then, with smile, he admitted that
there was. In fact, he had met with it in
his own experience. Supplies furnished
by him to the Government had been re.
jected on the ground that they were not nm
70 the specified quality. He knew that
they were, and applied to friend for
solution OF the matter. Whom have you
have you bribed?" The contractor was
forced to admit that he had bribed no one
Then go and do it at once, said the Other
begin with the laekey at the door. and
don't stop short of the Secretary
Armed with this advice, the contractor
proceeded to the proper office and began
by tipping half crown to the man at The
door. AThis brought him. not to the Secre.
tary. but to some subordinate's steno
grapher. Once in the presence of the
stenogrepher, the contractor unostenta-
tiously laid five. pound note on the desk,
and propounded his query. The steno.
grapber, with alacrity, referred him to
some one else, and that person was also
tipped. or bribed, as you prefer to regard
the operation. Before the Secretary was
reached, eleven persons were seen, and the
price Was higher with each successive of.
ficial. Finally, when the contractor came
to the Secretary, who is cabinet officer. the
latter touched bell and presently in came
a man that had upon his person eco of the
contractors money. This man brought the
papers in the case. The Secretary con.
ferred with him; there was some noddipg
and frowning, and presently the Secretary
turned to the contractor and said: Make
your mind easy; injustice has been done
you; another mans material was inspected
by mistake for yours"
The contractor probably did not bribe
the Secretary. but the operation cost him
good round sum. 1t was cheap at the price
however. for half his fortune was staked ON
the venture.
The other story sounds like one often
told; but 1t is transcript from an Ameri.
cans experience in England The gentle.
man in question was at Chester, looking
about the Cathedral and wondering how
be should get into the Chapter House.
Presently be saw robed gentleman of re.
spectacle aspect approaching, and deter
mined TO appeal to him. He in robes ex.
planned that the Chapter House was not
ordinarily opened to the public, but if his
questioner would wait for twenty minutes.
until the sitting of the Chapter should end
peep at the place might be obtained. He
was subsequently as good as his word. for
he not only showed the American about
the Chapter House, but explained intelli.
gently many features of interest AS the
pair came out, the American eyed his cice-
rome and decided that half crown was the
proper tip. So, thrusting hand into his
pocket, he drew out the coin. But before
n
lently and said in haste: "Yon't better mt
it into the charity box" They parted with
apologies on one side and soothing assur.
snces on the other, but the American was
not placed entirely at ease when, on point
ing out his recent guide to an underlipp of
the Catheral be learned that the venerable
untipped was the Dean himself. Doubt.
less the very reverend gentleman has often
told the story with applause.
Here is another true story epropos of
tips, bribery and the supposed purity of
earlier times. Many years ago, while
slavery still fourished in Delaware and
many negroes that were not slaves were
bound for term of years, famous old
politician became surety for a negro bound
boy, accused of some criminal offense.
When the time for trial came the master
took the lad to Court, prepared to deliver
him into the hands of the officers. When
the time for trial came the master took the
lad to Court, prepared to deliver him into
the hands of the officers. While the master
was absent moment, however, the lad.
thinking upon the pains Of imprisonment
and rejecting that he was near the lines of
several other States, took 10 his heels. It
meant to the master a forfeiture of bail
amounting to several hundred dollars. But
he took the simple course of going to the
Attorney General, as the prosecuting Off
Ger is called in Delaware, pressing a ten
dollar bill into his hand and begging to
hear 40 more of the case. He had his way.
A species of tipping that cannot be called
bribery is common enough in public offices
in this country. A New Yorker visiting a
public building in Philadelphia was intro.
duced by ''the Major to "the Captain
who should do the honors of the place. In
the course Of the inspection the Captain ex.
hibited pamphlet, which the New Yorker
saw that be was expected to buy. He paid
his quarter, and continued the tour. When
had been seen the New Yorker
attempted to escape, but was detained
while the Captain explained impressiyely
that the inspection had been much more
thorough one than was accorded to the
mob OF visitors. Surely this could not mean
another tip, thought the New Yorker, but
as the Captain continued in the same
strain, his guest began to think that it
could mean nothing else Then an essv
and graceful way out occurred to him. and
he said, half hesitatingly: will you not
come out and have drink The Captain.
untouched in dignity, promptly accepted
the invitation.
New Workers, accustomed to tipping at |
every turn, make the mistake of supposing
that the tip has become national institu.
ton. This is far from true. There are
mean spirited persons everywhere. for
whom the Jingle Of the guinea heals the |
hurt that honor feels" but the great mass |
Of Americans are uncorrupted by this form |
OF petty bribery. Wherever fashionable |
'oiks from the great cities are accustomed |
20 summer, there the natives are open 10 |
tipping. But the greater part of the people |
lUO miles from the Atlantic coast not only |
10 not take tips, but do not understand |
Y hat is meant when tip is offered. In |
me interior this independence of spirit |
1ourishes. along with MONDAY dinners. |
Early rising and soft felt hats. The people |
pave not been Europeanized, and they |
are charmingly unconscious of the fact that |
any considerable number of their fellow
Americans have undergone that process.
PEOPLE WHO ARE TALKED ABOUT.
Emperor William is an ardent amateur
lhOtCOraphor