Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-03-18
IN MODERN
Tow the Mercen.ry Spirit. Of tho Cock.
noy Exhibits itself on Every Occasion.

The passion of money getting in
America is often spoken OF by the
English as one of the serious blights
that distigure our national character.
This holier-than-thou attitude is
rather amusing in a people that suf-
fer from a greed that obtrudes itself
Extensively at every turn of the street.
The whole system of life in London
Is arranged so as to allow tradesmen,
caterers and servants to make 'cN.
ira" money above fixed charges. The
American is surprised to find that he
often has to pay 4 cents for a glass OF
water at Il ttrst-class table d'hote;
that, in addition to the advertised
price OF the dinner, he is charged &
cents for attendance: that the indis.
pcnsible dcmi-tasse of coffee is an OK.
ira, and that there is Il charge foI
checking ones oyercoat. The charge
for theatcr programs that is still the
custom at most theaters is an evil
dence of the petty greed noticeable
in England. The tip system, more
over, which foreigners arc in the hab.
it OF condemning when they visit
America, is thoroughly devel-
oped here than anywhere else in the
world. Not only is a distinct price
placed upon attendance, but unless
a man throws Il shower of siXpcnccs
all about him his servants ignore him
at once and are uncivil. One maypur.
chase the most perfect and gratifying
3olitcness from English mcnials, but
ha cnppof command IL nt tl,o ror,)oy
price set down for attendance. The
crossing sweeper at the end of my
street will call me my lord and smile
like an unwashcd angel upon me if l
toss him an occasional penny, but he
gazes after my neighbor with a look
that is nothing less than murderous,
and attempts to spatter his shoes when
he passes, merely because the worthy
gentleman refuses to buy his good
will.
The first balcony in D'Oyley Cartc's
Royal English Opera House, where
Sullivan's "Ivanhoc'' has been recent.
ly produced, %rcjoiccs in the title OF
''royal tier, and the price for Il seat
there is 1915 of American money.
The cheapest seats in the house. th;
last three rows in the second balcony.
are $3.50. 1t is astonishing how crowd
ed all the thcaters of London are,
considering the very high charge
made for seats. The usual charge for
desirable seats is S2.75, and yet there
is not Il successful attraction in Lon.
don at this moment where ono may
purchase seats on the night of the
performance. 1t is necessary to buy
tickets fully two weeks ahead for the
Drury Lane pantominc, and such at.
fractions us ''La Cigalc" at the Lvr.
ic, ''Carmcn Up to Date" at the
Gaiety, "Thc Gondolicrs'' at the Sa.
voy, ''London Assurance at the Cri'
tcrion and s'Anton and Cleopatra" a;
the Princess turn people away every
night. The principal music hail,
where prices range higher than i'll
the iirst-class American thcaters. arc
besicged in the same style, and tht
wonder is how it is kept up by a pub.
lie that is said to labor for a small re-
enumeration, and to regard a sovereign
with a respect that is unknown t.
the reckless citizens of our own cities
| witnessed Il rather remarkable in
stance of the mcrccnary principle il
London recently. l was changing IN,
lodgings, after a stay of severa
months here, to a central loca
tion in Piccadiily. l had a four
wheel cab, with several trunks ol
top. While crossing Trafalgar square
Il misunderstanding wretch of tn,
tramp type began running alonsid'
my cab, and made me rather uncom
Portable. After awhile he dropped
behind, but when [ arrived at III.
lodgings, a mile farther on, his re
pulsive face appeared at the window
and he opened the door of the cab
His strength was SO thoroughly shat
tered by drink and bad living that h.
was of no use in helping to lift dow
my trunks. SO 1 gave him a sixpenc
and told him to be off. He looked
d~eprecatlngly at the coin, and said:
81 ran all the way from Waterloo
Station, SIR"
"No you didn't replied. "Yo1
came from Trafalgar square, and
didn't invite you to come, either"
l could not free myself of the fel
low until 1 entered the house an,
shut the door on him. He had beer
sharp enough to notice that m.
trunks had steamer marks on them
and, judging from the direction wa
coming, had decided 1 was a new ar
rival by the way of Waterloo Station
two miles further back than Trafal
gar square, and had attempted to dc
ceive me into thinking he had rul
three miles instead of one. My cat
man smiled at the fellows imperti
hence, and said:
"Thcy're all alike here. A duk
would do the same thing if h
thought the tipwould be big enough.
1 was surprised at the cabman'
speech and looked up inquiringly a
him.
81 used to go to school in Ney
York, SIR" said he. 81 don't kno,
why, but my mother married an En-
glishman, and l was brought owe
here to live. / amt more than hal
cockEcy yct.-Chicago Herald.