Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-03-14
HOW PORTERS THRIVE.
Railroads WIN Not Pay Adequate
SalarieA
So Their Servants Are Compelled 60 EI-
tort Money from che Travelling
Public - The Magical BnOct
OF . Half Dollar.

II is astonishing tie effect Of a half
dollar deposited with a sleeping:car
porter has upon the situation. Like q
magic wand it brightens up all your
surroundings and makes life upon the
wheels endurable. The people who de-
nounce the modern porter as an out
rage on the travelling public fare very
badly on sleeper. They are forced
to have the feeling that they are being
treated like cattle on a stock train,
while their more generous neighbor re-
ceives the attention of prince. Peo-
pie who do not fee the porter get their
passage and nothing more. In
fact says the Chicago Mail, that
is. all they pay for. The railroad
company does not guarantee the
services Of a private servant for the
price of n passage. The porter is only
paid fifteen dollars per month as rule
and seldom more than eighteen dollars.
himself AT railroad restaurants. AS the
companies only pay enough to board
their porters it is apparent that the
travelling public is expected to make up
the balance. A half-dollar paid to the
porter gives the traveller all the advan-
tages of a private servant. The system
Of Tipping" the porter gives the trav-
eler who enjoys luxury Il chance to pur-
chase it, and permits the man who is
satisfied with a plain passage the priv
ilege of dispensing with the little atten-
tions thai tend to make life endurable.
A gentleman accompanied ty lady
en- route for some town in Missouri at
tempted to board a reclining-chair car
the other day that was labeled "only
for through passengers"
1.-The car to the rear" said the porter,
politely, as he directed the travellers to
a car where standing room was at par,
while the one they were about to enter
was absolutely empty, as no through
passengers mad arrived.
but that is crowded." protested the
gentleman.
Cant help it, this car is strictly.
At this point the gentleman handed
the fellow hnlf-dollar, when his tone
changed, and, finishing his sentence, he
said: But will look inside and see
what can be done"
Entering the car he looked thought
fully at the empty seats, as though they
were full Of passengers, and after Sc
Letting the best seat in the middle o1
the car and busting it off he beclkoned
the lady to be seated. Before permit
ting her to do so, however. he took ont
his handkerchief and cleaned the win.
dow at her side. AS the gentleman
who was only taking the lady to the
train, was leaving the car the coloret
| gentleman said: "Boss, I'll look after de
lady and see dot she gifts off alright"
Without the fifty cents given the por
ter the lady, as there was no parlor"car
| would have been compelled to sit In
crowded car or possibly stand.
At night the same porter will prove
! even more Indispensable to comfort thar
during the day. The lavatory, which il
usually so crowded that it is difficult II
enter, is locked by the porter until ON
at u time of his favorites are permitte'
to wash privately. When the lad.
whose husband has contributed tn
"tip" enters the Mushroom, she find
everything clean as her own home
The Porter has been there before he
shining up the washbasin and provid
ing clean towels. In the morning sh
finds her clothes nicely brushed and he
shoes cleaned. while those Of the gen
tlcmen are highly polished. When tn
hunks are lowered the best seats in tn
car are reserved. with the footstOols
for the contributors TO" the porter
Many people accept the attentions G
the porter and then neglect purposel
to pay him.