The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-02
THE HOTEL CHAPEReNs DUTY.
She Is Middle Aged, Speaks Several
Languages and Gets S / for Theater.

She Is Middle Aged, Speaks Several
Languages and Gets S / for Theater.
From The Nes0 York Nail and Express.
Has the hotel chaperon come to stay9
Last winter big hotel on Fifth avenue
tried the experiment of having a woman on
hand at all hours of the day and night to
act as guide, chaperoR and information
bureau for women guests. 1t was not a
wonderful success, bat enough to warrant
the hotel in trying it another season. AS
general information bureau the chaperon
proved to be more useful than in her capac-
itY as an escort. The chief hotel clerk
gave some valuable information about the
hotel chaperon.
There are only three or four hotels in tbs
United States that have ohanerons. A
hotel chaperon is generally middle aged,
genial in disposition, speaks three or four
languages, and must have more than ordi-
nary Intelligence. The one in this city is
an accomplished linguist, has an easy ad-
dress and is perfect encyclopedia of local
history. She is not paid any salary by the
hotel, but is permitted to fix her own rates
with the guests who employ her services.
And the rates aBe reasonable or else her
services would not often be in demand. For
a days shopping, from 10 q. IN. to 4 p. m,
she charges So, and to accompany one or
four ladies to a theater her price for the
evening is 81.
Now and then pour-boire 10 given her in
the shape of a few extra shekels, but the
hotel does not encourage tips. Her services
are often employed in shopping expeditions.
which affords excellent opportunity for her
to receive a commission from some favored
house. 1t is against the policy OF the hotel
to permit the chaperon to receive COM
missions from merchants for bringing GUS
TONERS, but whether it is done or not the
hotel has no way OF ascertaini9g. Every
morning the chaperon is put to the expense
OF buying several papers in order to see
what special bargains are offered by the
big shops, and also to keep posted on
current news.
ACTS AS AN INTERPRETER.
The chaperon is stationed on the parlor
floor, and her duties begin at s O'Clock and
sometimes earlier in the morning. Already
the clerks in the hotel have been relieved
greatly in the matter of answering uues-
tions. Many ladies have the Socratic
instinct to ask questions, some OF which are
entirely superfuous and tax the good nature
OF the clerks. The chaperon nov imparts
all the Information possible to questioneps
apd in doing So advertiSes to them the fact
that she is a professional chaperon" and
her time is worth money. There is no
special tariff for answering questions, but
some small sum is expected like 10 or 25
cents. Where the ehaperoR proves to be
of great rvice is in conducting foreign
ladies around the sity She interprets, helps
then to buy in the stores and gives them
instruction in the manners and customs of
the country.
In the summer time the chaperon takes
a vacation because there are not so many
guests. She goes TO the watering places
and gets acquainted with as many people as
possible SO as to advertise her calling. Her
loquacity is not spiced with the hunor of q
commercial tourist, because she is not sup
posed to become familiar in the least but to
observe deferential attitude compatible
with her profession. The ehaperon in this
city has earned as much as S35 per week,
but it was an exceptional week.
Another large hotel on Fifth avenue re-
ceived a huhdred applicants for the place
Of chaperen soon after it became known
that one hotel had employed one. The
head clerk said none OF the applications
were considered, because the hotel could
not find any use for chnperon. When
ever a lady guest desired to have an escort
to theater, which was not twice a year,
the hotel managed to furnish one The
coming winter will decide whether the one
hotel chaperon in this city will become
permanent or prove unnecessary.