The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-30
HOLIDAY EX.iCTIONS.
The Endiess Array or People who Expect
Christmas GIFTS Or Tips.

Snrlstmns SVts Or I1ps.
New York's Christmas holidays are bccom-
ing more and more expensive overy year.
They arc especially costly to the man who Is
an hnbitu6 of several clubs md rcsta urants.
Almost every club in New York has rule that
no subscription list shall be circulated and that
no subscription shall BIZ solicited or permit
ted from the members within the club house.
EXCEPT with the express sanction OF the House
Committee The house committees with almost
equal unanimity sanction and encourage tho
collection OF money for II Christmas gift to the
employees. About tho middle OF December II
subscription list is prepared for the house ON
rloyees. and is headed by several OF tho most
liberal men in the club. and the paper is then
hung Ivy the clerks desk where every club
member IN asst see IT,.
This list is practically demand for donn-
ton to the club servants. Tho amounts en-
pected vary from So to $50. according to the
club and tho wealth .! the individual m mber.
Tho sum thus collected is not divided among
the walters ami boys who do most OF the
actual service about tho house, tho supcrin-
tendent and clerks who get good wages dur
ing the year and tho chef and other high
priced employees take tho bulk OF tho money
raised. In somo clubs the Christmas box Is
Observation-Disclosures the servants in the propor-
ton Of their monthly wages. so that the
inr. The sum raised often amounts to
fifteen or twenty thousand dollars in clubs
like the Manu- ;tan. onion. ami Mon League
which haven larG" incnhershin ami he names
o. many rich men on their rolls. Til" partici-
patton OF N. superintendent aud clerks in the
emnlu;nent makes them take active efforts to
II mcnii err directly for IL contribution. hut they
can call his attention TO the list in many ways.
ant they keep the paper hum w 50 long
that unless member keepuwu from his cluD
he Il almost builyraggei into subscribing;
To- III" man WHO belongs l TO two a or , three
cal clubs. and professional or trade club this
enforced tax, i, Liable t" amount to sixty or
scventy-!lve dollars.
II he has IN Office in IN Office building he Is
expected to contribute 10 tns jantors innd'
besides giving II present to tho newsboy who
brings his evening papers and tho bootblack
SHOES II he IN srre m or r.n
house he is exrected to c"ntlibuieto III" fund.
for the. various Christmas presentations of
gold watches. silver sets. amt other such things
TO the heads OF departments. and to the various
funds for the undc: cmnloyees:
lives he must contribute to the Jnnit or. the en-
gineer. the elevator boy and all the servants
DO not get i. Thirty or forty dollars is. some-
times. pa id by guest in tho way Of Christmas
tips at hotel I; or SrartMrnt noMIGi IT. might
gifts as payment in full for extra service and
attention during the year; but the Christmas
the ordinary tin. The barter expects IA Christ
mas rrcseut from the regular customer. as
does the barbar's boy. 'rhc owner OF IA horse
must rcmermter with gilt at the stable the
foreman. the hostier and stable boy: possibly
even the EMPLOYEES at the stables whore he
keeps an account for cabs
Something should be done TO keep down the
Craftsmanship nuisance. which is becoming
intocrah!y costly. Il was bad enough when
dollar or two was accepted gratefully and in
fun discharge Of the hest wishes OF the season.
but manv servants are dissatisfied with any
thing undcr -. ana are not grateful Tor ANY,
thing less than 9ln. Some persons hive thirty
or forty People to whom they fancy they should
give Christmas presents. aud often they seek
refuge from the tribute il a three weeks trip
To tho Hormudas or n visit to distant country
relatives. prot rartcd from before Christmas uD-
III after New Years. So many men have
sought this escape from Christmas demands
that tn" servants and e:n poyees have uncon-
sriousiy lengnad together to secure this trih-
ute by beginning the collection of Christmas
presents in the midi" OF Dccem ber. and keep
ing it M until the middle Of January or until
they have made plain demand from every
one 81 their victims that can he reached: The
fold is opon for society that shall insure
against rhristmas tins. or for landlords
and house committees ~ cluhst0 make thom-
selves popular by discountrnnncing Il practice
that Is lttlo better than system OF BLACK
mailing, against which it's victims arc almost
deienccltSs.